Report: Texans Sign Former Pitt WR

The Houston Texans reportedly signed a former Pitt Panthers wide receiver.

Nov 26, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Jared Wayne (5) breaks the tackle of Miami Hurricanes linebacker Caleb Johnson (40) to run for a touchdown during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH -- The Houston Texans reportedly signed former Pitt Panthers wide receiver Jared Wayne to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.

The Texans waived Wayne, who they removed from the injury reserve with an injury settlement on July 22. They signed him as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft, waived him on Aug. 29, 2023 and re-signed him to the practice squad. They released him on Nov. 8 and re-signed him on Nov. 17 to the practice squad. Wayne also signed a reserve/future contract on Jan. 23.

Wayne hails from Peterbrough, Ontario in Canada, about 75 miles north of Toronto. He played his senior year of high school football for Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Fla., near Tampa.

He compiled 61 receptions for 1,157 yards (18.9 avg.) and 14 touchdowns in leading Clearwater to an 11-0 mark, the first undefeated season in school history.

Wayne committed to Pitt in the Class of 2019, with 247Sports and Rivals both rating him as a three-star. He picked Pitt over other schools in Bowling Green, Central Michigan, USF and Central Michigan.

He played in eight games and started four contests as a true freshman in 2019. He made 18 catches for 261 yards and one touchdown that season and had the first 100-yard reception performance for a true freshman for Pitt since Tyler Boyd in 2013.

Wayne appeared in eight games and started three games in the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, with 21 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown, making a season-high five catches in three games.

He played in all but one of 14 games in the ACC Championship 2021 season, starting four contests. He finished tied for second on the Panthers with 47 catches and 658 receiving yards and tied for second with six receiving touchdowns.

Wayne would start all 12 games in his final season at Pitt in 2022, leading the team with 60 catches for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns on the season. He had 11 catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season finale on the road vs. Miami, with his receiving yards ranking as the sixth most in a game in Pitt history.

He finished his Pitt career with 146 catches for 2,308 yards and 13 touchdowns, with his receptions and receiving yards ranking No. 10 and No. 9 in program history, respectively. His 1,063 receiving yards rank 10th best in a season in Pitt history too.

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