Pitt All 105: WR Zion Fowler-El Working to Crack Wideout Rotation

All 105 is a Pittsburgh Sports Now series profiling each of the 105 members of the Pitt 2024 training camp roster. 

Zion Fowler-El, a redshirt freshman wide receiver from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J.

2023 season: Fowler-El played in just one game as a true freshman last season, preserving his redshirt

Stats: Fowler-El recorded one reception for -3 yards in the season opener against Wofford

Camp outlook: Fowler-El is going to work with the 1s and 2s throughout the summer, and with a strong showing during camp, he could find himself in the mix for increased playing time in 2023

Projected role: Fowler-El is in the mix for the second wide receiver unit, and considering the wide receiver unit will be deeper than in seasons past due to the speed of Kade Bell’s scheme, he has the opportunity to work his way into a key reserve role

Zion Fowler-El (6-foot, 190 pounds) initially committed to Pitt in 2021, an early member of the class of 2023, but he decommitted a month before signing day, so it was a surprise when he re-committed just before signing day.

Fowler-El didn’t enroll early out of St. Peter’s Prep but arrived last summer and immediately showcased his athleticism. He’s continued that showing throughout the offseason — highlighted by a pair of highlight-reel catches in the spring.

“Kenny (Johnson)’s been good. Lamar Seymore has been really good. Zion has — he had a nice catch earlier, Zion had a nice deep ball catch today,” Pat Narduzzi said in March. “Had one the other day 1-on-1, not in the team period.”

Konata Mumpfield, Kenny Johnson and Daejon Reynolds round out the starting trio entering the summer, and Fowler-El, Censere Lee, Poppi Williams, Lamar Seymore and Che Nwabuko are in the mix for the rotation.