2019 California Athlete Spencer Lytle Visiting Pitt

UPDATE 7/14/2017: Spencer Lytle tells PSN that he will be visiting Pitt on July 24th. Below is our original story from May with quotes from Lytle.

California is a state that the Pitt football program doesn’t recruit very often.

However, the coaches have spotted a sophomore athlete that they want to be a future Pitt Panther.

Spencer Lytle (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) is a 2019 tight end/linebacker from Servite High School in Anaheim, California and earlier this week received an offer from Pitt.

“I’m really fired up about the Pitt offer. They’ll be in my top schools regardless of the number of offers I receive,” said Lytle. “Coach Salem has been out to Servite before and watched my practice. He also recruited my brother Tyler who is now a freshman quarterback at Colorado. I also met Coach Watson when he was at Indiana and recruiting my brother.”

I asked Lytle why is a kid from California fired up about getting an offer from Pittsburgh?

“I got to know both coaches through my brother. My family holds both coaches in high regard and we were all hoping that I get that opportunity to play football at Pitt. To have both coaches on the same staff now is huge. I’ve called Coach Watson and spoke to him a few times and just started communicating with Coach Salem recently, but he seems like he would be a blast to play for. My family has met both coaches and are big fans of both of them.”

Courtesy of Spencer Lytle

“Pitt is a great school football wise and academically. Nine national championships says a lot regardless of how long ago. Their desire to get back to the top is obvious talking with the coaches,” said Lytle.

“Their Katz School of Business is also a big attraction for me academically. I also know they share facilities with the Steelers which is another attraction.”

The offer from Pitt was the fifth for Lytle with the others being from Colorado State, Indiana, San Jose State and Western Michigan.

Lytle was recognized at the recent Nike Opening Regional Camp in Los Angeles and was named one of the camps top linebackers. He has the ability to play both linebacker and tight end but Pitt hasn’t indicated yet which position that they’re recruiting him to play.

“I believe the strong points for me are I’m a disciplined, unselfish player. I love contact on defense and not afraid to catch the ball in traffic on offense. I also like the dirty, uncelebrated work like blocking and special teams. On defense, I enjoy separating guys from the ball, getting picks and honestly just enjoy playing the game,” said Lytle.

Courtesy of Spencer Lytle

“I want to play where they need me and really don’t have a preference of offense or defense.”

Would Lytle have any hesitation about moving from the west to the east coast?

“Distance won’t play a role in my decision. We moved a lot due to my dads job (Washington, Arizona, Florida and California). I have family all over the country.”

Pitt has made such an early impression on Lytle that he tells Pittsburgh Sports Now that he plans on visiting Pittsburgh this summer.

I’d say Spencer Lytle is definitely a recruit that Pitt fans should keep their eyes on.