Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt announced last week that Maurice Williams, a sophomore… Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt announced last week that Maurice Williams, a sophomore receiver, will sit out the 2008 season after being ruled academically ineligible.

Williams, who caught 10 balls for 100 yards and a touchdown last season, had a strong spring and was fighting for a starting role. Williams led all receivers during Pitt’s annual spring game with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

“We’re disappointed for Maurice, but academic performance is a major priority for our program,” said Wannstedt in a press release. “We believe Maurice can achieve a lot at Pitt both academically and athletically, and our expectation is for him to use this as motivation for improvement.”

Williams is expected to redshirt this upcoming year and rejoin Pitt as a sophomore in 2009.