Pitt FB Recruiting
Top 2019 WPIAL Targets For Pitt
With Aliquippa’s Kwantel Raines commitment to West Virginia, that might’ve ended Pitt’s 2018 recruiting of WPIAL prospects.
Is that 100% certain? Of course not. Pine-Richland’s Kenny White definitely has D-1 talent but Pitt hasn’t offered. As we’ve reported, Pitt has shown interest in Penn-Trafford running back John William Gay. I’ve also been told that Pitt has had some recent contact with Hempfield quarterback Justin Sliwoski.
We’ll see if a late offer comes to any of those three players.
At this point, Pat Narduzzi has been able to land five local commitments in Thomas Jefferson’s Devin Danielson and Noah Palmer, Butler’s Jake Kradel, Central Catholic’s David Green and Belle Vernon’s Blake Zubovic.
Courtesy of Jake Kradel
What do things look like for the Class of 2019?
As of today, Pitt has extended offers to four 2019 WPIAL players.
Andrew Kristofic (6-foot-6, 270 pounds), OT, Pine-Richland
I would guess that this talented offensive tackle is Pitt’s top local target. He’s a big-time talent left tackle prospect. Kristofic has offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Northwestern and Indiana. Kristofic recently visited Wisconsin and left very impressed so the Badgers are a threat.
“I don’t have a list right now. I am focusing all my energy towards our season now and will worry about that once we are done playing,” said Kristofic.
Being the son of former Panther, Kristofic has kept his eye on Pitt and has been impressed with what he’s seen lately.
”They started off slow but they are on a roll now and hopefully can keep it going and get to a bowl game this year.”
Courtesy of Andrew Kristofic
Kyi Wright (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), LB, Farrell
Wright is a tremendous athlete and could play numerous positions in college. At this point, Pitt is recruiting him as a linebacker. He received an offer early from Narduzzi, who’s been looking for an athlete like Wright to play linebacker for him since arriving at Pitt. Wright has a similar build to Raines could end up playing the position that Pitt wanted for him. Wright holds offers from Pitt and UCLA. Wright would be a tremendous get for Pitt.
Jayvon Thrift (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), S, Norwin
Thrift was the first local 2019 recruit to receive an offer from Pitt. In fact, the talented safety received the offer from Pat Narduzzi himself. Thrift has offers from Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia, who could turn out to be the team to beat for him. Thrift is a player that Narduzzi would love to be the leader of his secondary. Big talent.
Courtesy of Jayvon Thrift
Joey Porter (6-foot-1, 165 pounds), CB, North Allegheny
Porter received the Pitt offer right before the start of the season. While he plays both wide receiver and cornerback at North Allegheny, Porter has the frame and skill to be an elite cornerback in college. Pitt is the first Power 5 offer for Porter.
Potential Future Offers
Who will be the next local player to get the big news from Pitt? I’d guess that it could be one of the following players: Central Catholic’s Brian Dallas,
Courtesy of Rahmon Hart
Central Catholic’s Corey Thomas, Aliquippa’s MJ Devonshire or Imani Christian’s Rahmon Hart.
All four players are D-1 talent and when it comes time to make a decision, will all have plenty of offers to choose from.
Dallas (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) is a defensive end that has visited Pitt multiple times and I’d say it’s only a matter of time.
Hart is a big, physical specimen (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who might be the best WPIAL receiver since Clairton’s Tyler Boyd. I’m a big fan of Hart and if he picks the right system has a chance to be a very productive college receiver.
Both Devonshire and Thomas have elite talent and it’s only a matter of time before major offers start rolling in.
This morning I asked Thomas his thoughts on Pitt and what’s impressed him.
”I feel Pitt is getting better each game. It’s nice to see how many WPIAL defensive backs they’re playing.”
A couple of other names to keep your eye on are Indiana quarterback Luke Thomas, Seneca Valley linebacker Jake Stebbins, Steel Valley linebacker Todd Hill and Peters Twp defensive tackle Logan Clark.
”I love the hometown feeling of Pitt when you go on a visit. You look up in the crowd and see so many familiar faces because it’s your hometown and you could be the hometown hero. I love the coaches especially Coach Partridge. Our relationship has been building ever since the Pitt camp this past summer. I’m planning to get back down there after the season. Hopefully some time in the near future an offer will arise,” said Clark.
