Pitt FB Recruiting
Recruits Reaction to Pitt Football’s 2023 Season
The struggles of the 2023 Pitt Panther football team have been well documented, and those struggles are likely to continue throughout the rest of the season.
The question on the minds of Pitt fans is whether or not these struggles will parlay into their recruiting, in particular their Class of 2024.
Because of what’s gone on this season, the talent that Pitt is scheduled to bring in next season, which is pretty strong, has been somewhat forgotten. Currently, Pitt’s current class of 21 commitments is ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com and includes five 4-star recruits.
Pittsburgh Sports Now has reached out to these players to get a pulse on what they’re thinking about Pitt and if anything has or could be changing? The good news is that everyone appears to be still locked in with the Panthers.
PSN will add more comments to this story as we receive them.
Davin Brewton, 2024 3-star LB (Red Bank, New Jersey)
“It’s been a tough season for Pitt this year but that’s football, you’re going to have your ups and downs. I know Coach Narduzzi and the staff are goin make changes to make it better, I have a lot of faith in them. I am not going anywhere I’m staying right where I am because Pitt is a great program and our 24 class is going to make a great impact on the team and I’m excited.”
Jahsear Whittington, 2024 4-star DT (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
“The season doesn’t change my perspective on the football program at all. They are in a rebuilding stage. A lot of young guys have to step up and play at a high level. I still have very much trust in the coaching staff that they know what they’re doing. This is the same coaching staff that recently won an ACC Championship, it’s just a matter of time before everything comes together. I talk to Coach Partridge every week, he’ll let me know how the dline did and just say they are preparing for the next week.”
Photo courtesy of Jahsear Whittington’s Twitter account.
Francis Brewu, 2024 3-star DL (Worthington, Ohio)
“Winning a lot of games is cool but that’s not why I picked Pitt. I picked them for so much more. When it comes to personal development at my position, it just doesn’t get better than what Coach P is doing over there and the main goal is getting to the NFL, so yes, they are struggling a bit right now but it’s something I know that will get turned around, so I’m not worried about it at all. I got a lot of faith in the staff and in the 24 class as well so I believe we will be fine and get back to being a top ranked team in the nation! I still talk to the coaches’ multiple times a week and always enjoy getting to chat with them and the message is the same, the message I get is that they will turn this around for the better and I know it will.”
Photo courtesy of Francis Brewu’s Twitter account.
Jeremiah Marcelin, 2024 3-star LB (Miami, Florida)
“I love Pitt, I mean everyone sees what is going on with the season and they just have to clean up some things in house to start getting back on track. I still communicate with the staff regularly and they know what they need to do to improve now it just has to be put in place. They got a big one again this week at home and they’re looking to put on a better performance and bring home the W.”
Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Marcelin’s Twitter account.
Mason Lindsay, 2024 3-star OL (Hyattsville, Maryland)
“Pitt’s rough patches this season are just due to some new faces, the new quarterback changes we’ve had and injuries on the offensive line as well. I believe Pitt’s program and coaching staff are and still is amazing. This same staff won the ACC back in 2021 but every team goes through a rough season every now and then, but this doesn’t impact my thoughts or opinions on leaving Pitt or flipping my commitment. I still speak to the coaches every week, I just finished speaking to Narduzzi today actually.”
Allen Bryant, 2024 3-star DB (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
“No, this season doesn’t have any impact on me from a communication standpoint neither does it from a commit standpoint. Obviously, you see the team you are going to play for losing and you kind of feel some way about it. Well, I know I do cause I’m a competitor and I don’t like to lose but I also realize that programs have up and down years. It just comes with the territory, but I know that when I get to campus, I’m gonna make sure I do my part to make sure this don’t happen again.”
Moritz Schmoranzer, 2024 3-star OL (Roanoke, Virginia)
“I am still fully committed to the program and university, and I’m pretty sure the rest of the ‘24 class is as well. Pitt has had better years, that is for sure, but every team has its ups and downs and I think that’s motivates my class even more, to help the team get out of that low and rise again. This season is just more of a motivation for me personally, gotta get to work and get better. When I talk to the staff and players, they don’t really question me if I’m still committed because they know I am. When I talk to Coach Narduzzi or coach Borbs, it is very personal and that’s what Pitt values and I like that. Me and the coaches and staff in general have a very good relationship, because for me there is more than one option to get on the field, Coach Narduzzi told me that he also likes my D-Line film a lot, he already talked to Coach Partridge and he is enthusiastic about it, and also on special teams like punt and field goal teams.
Photo courtesy of Moritz Schmoranzer’s Twitter account.
Juelz Goff, 2024 3-star RB (York, Pennsylvania)
“I just feel like there’s some adversity that’s being faced and that’s going to happen. It’s a part of the game. Not everything will go as planned, or as you expect it to. However, it’s not shying me away or changing anything for me. I’m still locked in.”
Photo courtesy of Juelz Goff’s Twitter account.
Cameron Lindsey, 2024 4-star LB (Aliquippa HS)
“It’s been a rough season for Pitt so far. The way I feel about the program hasn’t changed. I still feel good about my decision on being a Pitt Panther. I’ve been keeping contact with some of the staff throughout the weeks, so I still have a great relationship with Coach Manalac, Coach Narduzzi, and the rest of the staff. It’s still some time to change their season around, they just have to get it going and find their spark.”
Photo courtesy of Cameron Lindsey’s Twitter account.
Cameron Monteiro, 2024 3-star WR (Brockton, Massachusetts)
“How I look at it is it’s just a down year. They finished in the top 25 two consecutive years. They had some quarterback issues at the beginning of the year that set them behind. I’m in contact with them weekly. There always checking up on me. Their staff is filled with could people that believe in me and I believe they can do the best for me.”
Chances of these recruits saying they’re considering a switch is about zero. Also will be shocked if Bartholomew sticks around.
I love Brewu thinking about the NFL as a three star and not playing a down yet.
I agree, but let’s hope he makes an impact and does reach his dream of the NFL.
One consistent theme is the number of three star recruits. I did a simple search of Notre Dame’s OL last week before the beat down. All but one (high three) starters on the OLine were four star with two having former NFL fathers. To compete at the level we are hoping for these three stars need to become four stars.
Yeah, that’s why ND got whopped by Louisville.
They seem to have a great attitude, if they take it with them to the team, this incoming class just might be the one to over come a lot of the error of their ways staff and be the class that jump starts the rise again.
One season of losing almost never affects the current recruiting class. Generally, multiple consecutive losing seasons causing wide spread coaching changes, is what affects a current recruiting class. Having said that, in our current recruiting climate, all commits are potential decommits.