Florida Safety Derek Bermudez Reacts to Pitt Official Visit

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Lost in the disappointment of Pitt’s loss to Boston College in the regular season finale was the fact that the Panthers hosted an elite defensive back on his official visit.

2020 3-star safety Derek Bermudez (6’2″, 180) from Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Florida arrived on Friday and stayed through the weekend. Following the coaching change at Florida State, Pat Narduzzi and his coaches were one of the first programs to contact Bermudez to express their interest in him. Bermudez decommitted from the Seminoles program after former head coach Willie Taggart was fired.

Bermudez holds over 25 offers including ones from Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Miami, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rutgers, Central Florida, Virginia and West Virginia.

Considering that list of offers, it won’t be easy to land Bermudez but it sounds as though Pitt made a good first impression with him. Pittsburgh Sports Now caught up with Bermudez this morning to get his thoughts on his first ever visit to Pittsburgh.

“What impressed me is that Pitt has a great legacy and tradition in college football and the NFL,” Bermudez told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I was also impressed by the Pitt coaches and the community.”

Speaking of the coaches, we asked Bermudez what he’s hearing from the coaches on where he would fit in with Pitt and how they’re trying to recruit him.

“They said that they looked at my film and believe that I have an opportunity to play and compete for playing time as a freshman. Also, they said that I would have the opportunity to play both cornerback and safety.”

“Pitt’s defense is one that definitely fits me and is one that would allow me to be a playmaker and big plays in as a freshman,” said Bermudez.

In terms of official visits, Pitt was the third for Bermudez with the others being at Georgia Tech and Oklahoma. Bermudez tells PSN that his last two official visits will be to Ole Miss and Virginia Tech but he’ll have to get them in before December National Signing Day.

“I plan on signing in December and definitely Pitt is a school I can see myself playing at.”

One other note, Pitt assistant Cory Sanders will be in Florida tomorrow to visit with Bermudez.