Getting to Know: Maurice Ffrench

The 2016 recruiting class will arrive on campus in two months, but before they get to Pitt, Panther-Lair.com is taking a closer look at the newest additions to the Panthers. Today, the Getting to Know series continues with Maurice Ffrench, the 6'0" 192-pound receiver from New Brunswick, New Jersey.

PITT BIO
Distinguished himself as a rusher, receiver, returner and defender...on offense, rushed for 1,375 yards on 106 carries (12.9 avg.) and had 28 catches for 727 yards (25.9 avg.)...scored 24 total touchdowns (15 rushing, five receiving, two on kickoff returns and two by punt returns)...compiled 55 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions on defense...MSG Varsity All-New Jersey...Home News Tribune Offensive Player of the Year...All-Great Middlesex Conference...led New Brunswick to a 9-2 record and the Central Group 5 semifinals, the program's winningest campaign in nearly a decade...four-year team captain

What was the most memorable moment of your high school career?

I think my favorite play had to be against Carteret. I was wearing all Volt - Volt sleeves, Volt socks, Volt everything. Coach Salem was there, too. I was the punter and the snapper snapped the ball over my head. It went 15 yards back, so I picked it up and zig-zagged through everybody and ran like 75 yards for a touchdown.

What college or NFL player do you try to model your game after?
I would have to say my favorite player is DeAnthony Thomas. He doesn’t play much, but at Oregon, he was my favorite. He’s fast and he plays slot, running back, special teams; that’s my type of player.

Who has helped you the most in your development as a football player?
All the coaches throughout my high school career. In high school, I had two different coaches; one got let go but he was always there for me, even when he wasn’t my coach. And the new coach still continued to help me out and put me out there to the colleges, helping me get scholarships and make plays and become a better player and man. And also my mom. She’s a single mother and that always gave me the motivation to do better. Not being able to get whatever you want but working hard to get it, she helped me with that and always pushed me to do better.

What was your favorite part of the recruiting process?
To be honest, it was the whole thing. I never did something like that before and I would have never thought I would see a college coach come and offer me. My first couple years of high school we won one game, zero games, three games, and I thought nobody was coming through these doors.

What was the craziest thing a coach said to you?
The most negative thing was that a coach told me we don’t even have our own field, that we use the Steelers field. I was like, okay. It doesn’t matter because the Pitt fans still come to the stadium regardless.

What shocked you most in the process?
I didn’t expect to get the Penn State offer, knowing that’s our rival and all. It was so late in the recruitment that I didn’t think any more offers would come in, but they offered me the first day I was really talking to them. I never even saw them. They just contacted me through Twitter and a phone call. They tried to get me to come for a visit but it was too late. Signing Day was coming up and I didn’t really think about it; there was no point in starting the whole process over. I was already committed since junior year.

What was the biggest reason you picked Pitt?
I visited Pitt three times and I felt like all three times were a success. I loved everything about it. I loved the city, the atmosphere, the coaching staff and the players on the team. I didn’t feel that connection anywhere else.

What do you see yourself doing after Pitt?
I want to go to the NFL. If that doesn’t work out, maybe something with football, athletic training or something like that.

What do you plan to major in at Pitt?
Sociology and minor in athletic training

What number will you wear at Pitt and why?
I would like to wear 5. I wore 6 in high school because DeAnthony Thomas wore it and also because it was the tightest jersey we had at our school. It seemed like all the jerseys were mediums and larges, and I wanted the smallest one so nobody could pull my jersey. In my junior year I wore 3, it was a medium, it was a little baggy and I used to get tackled with people hanging on my jersey all the time.

What are the biggest things you need to work on at Pitt?
My route-running, catching better in traffic, learning the playbook, continuing to get stronger and working on my craft.

What are your goals for your freshman season?
My goal is, I would love to go to the playoffs and win it or win a bowl game and have a good record. Individually, I want to become a freshman All-American and be an impact player. The coaches said they could see me in the rotation. I don’t think I will start, but I was to start, I would love to but I would have to work hard.

What are your goals for your career at Pitt?
I definitely want to be a Hall of Famer for Pitt. Tyler Boyd made a name for himself at Pitt; I want to do the same thing that he did, but even better. That was cool to see him get drafted.

What is one thing you'd like people to know about you that they can't tell from your Rivals.com profile?
All my pictures online look very serious, like you won’t see me smile. But I’m a very funny guy and I like to relax and have fun. People probably think I’m a scary person or something.