NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—With the presence of his family, coaches and teachers, Maurice Ffrench signed a National Letter of intent to play football for the University of Pittsburgh, accepting a full-ride scholarship on February 3.

Ranked as the 45th best player in New Jersey, Ffrench received All-White Division and All-Greater Middlesex Conference honors this past season.

A dangerous and versatile player, he compiled 1,375 rushing yards, 727 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns.

He has lined up as a wide receiver, running back, quarterback, kick and punt returner, punter, and defensive back, excelling in each position.

Ffrench, a 6′-0”, 180 lb senior, gave his verbal commitment to the University of Pittsburgh, a division I program, back in June after they were the first and only school interested in him.

“They want to use me on both sides of the ball, including special teams, as well,” said Ffrench. “They say I can have a role from the beginning, I’ve just got to come hard.”

As Ffrench continued to impress throughout his senior season, he began to receive late offers from Rutgers, Penn State, Buffalo and Army.

It wasn’t until December that new head coach Chris Ash took the reins of the hometown favorite Rutgers University Scarlet Knights.

Ash immediately made Ffrench an offer to play for the Big Ten school.  But, unfortunately for the new Rutgers coach., Ffench is a man of his word, and remained loyal to Pittsburgh.

“Coach Ash came [to the school]. He came like the first day he got the job,” said Ffrench. “It was shocking, but it really didn’t affect me because I already knew where I was going. But if I was uncommitted, it would have made me think about something. But Pitt is where my head is.”

This past season, Ffrench helped lead the Zebras to the playoff semifinals for the first time since 2006, scoring the game-winning punt return to edge past Freehold Township 21-14.

The touchdown captured Maurice Ffrench’s career in a nutshell.

Whenever his team needed a big a play, French would always step and deliver.

A player with great field vision, determination, and incredible athleticism, Ffrench would often cause opposing teams to design their game plan around him.

Ffrench talked about the recruiting experiencing, saying for his family, “It’s all new to all of us because we’ve never been through something like this. All my brothers and sisters went to college and graduated. Getting a full scholarship and playing football at the next level was something big for all of us.”