Pitt FB Recruiting
Pine-Richland’s Andrew Kristofic Gets Pitt Offer
This afternoon, Pitt officially began the process of recruiting one of the top WPIAL players in the Class of 2019.
Pine-Richland offensive tackle Andrew Kristofic (6-foot-6, 240 pounds) and his family visited with the Pitt football coaches and when they left, the big lineman left with an offer from Pitt.
“We went down to watch morning practice and then watched some of the Steelers OTAs, got a tour of the complex. After that we met with the entire coaching staff and then when we were talking with Coach Narduzzi, he told me I had a full scholarship offer to the University of Pittsburgh,” said Kristofic.
Courtesy of Andrew Kristofic
“I’m just excited especially with it being from Pitt. Me being a hometown kid, that’s a team I’ve grown up watching and being a huge fan of my whole life. It means a lot knowing that they think so highly of me by offering me so young.”
“It’s always been my goal to earn a scholarship from Pitt. I definitely wasn’t expecting to receive an offer from them today. I was surprised yet very excited.”
Andrew was excited but so was another person in the room and that’s his father. If you’re a Pitt fan, you might remember the name. David Kristofic played defensive and offensive line for Pitt from 1989-93.
Pretty special moment for the Kristofic family.
Courtesy of Andrew Kristofic
“Both my parents were with me so it was special to experience that with them. They were happy when I received my first offer from Akron but today was a whole different thing,” said Kristofic.
“My dad was a preferred walk-on but then earned a scholarship after a couple of years. It’s fair to say he was probably the second happiest guy in the room.”
Being a Pitt alum, you’d imagine which way his father might be leaning but Andrew says he’ll be objective during the process.
“He’s going to be very active in my recruitment, he’s my dad and we have a great relationship. As far as pushing me towards one school or the other, he’s told me numerous times that this is my decision. Whether it’s Pitt or any other school, he’ll support me no matter what and won’t push me towards any school. He just wants me to know all the opportunities and will lay all the facts on the table for me and what the potential for each school will be,” said Kristofic.
This is a big offer for Pitt because the Pine-Richland lineman is only the second 2019 recruit to receive a Pitt offer but won’t be the last.
Pat Narduzzi taking in the action. — Alan Saunders/PSN
Pat Narduzzi and his staff have done a great job being active in recruiting the 2018 and 2019 WPIAL Classes. Kristofic tells me that’s something him and a lot of other recruits have noticed.
“For sure. Coach Narduzzi and his staff are really good coaches and good people. They’ve done a great job of getting the program back on a different level that it hasn’t been on for a few years.”
“The coaches have turned Pitt into real contenders and are taking them to the highest level of college football. Last year beating Penn State and Clemson is huge for a program that’s building toward becoming one of the top programs in the country.”
“After the year they had last year, it’s hard not to be excited about what’s happening with Pitt being a local kid.”
