Pitt FB Recruiting
New Jersey DE Will Smart to Attend Pitt Junior Day on Saturday
This Saturday, Pitt will be hosting a number of recruits for their annual Junior Day at their South Side complex.
Junior players that have already been offered by Pitt as well as players that are hoping to get offers will be in attendance.
One of those players looking to get that news from Pitt is defensive end Will Smart (6-4, 260) from Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. In fact, Smart is still in search of his first D-1 scholarship and would love for it to be from the Panthers.
“Back in the spring of my sophomore year is when Pitt first reached out, I got mail and also got invited to camps that they were hosting. During the summer, they kept in contact and then at the end of the summer, I got an invite to their opener last year vs. Youngstown State. That was when I was able to really meet Coach Salem and Coach Partridge, Since then they’ve watched my film and my highlight tape and reached out to me and invited me up to Junior Day on Saturday,” said Smart.
The constant communication over the last year with Pitt is something Smart has enjoyed and appreciated. He’s being patient with the process and hopes it ends with achieving his ultimate dream of earning a D-1 scholarship.
“Not many players from my area go on to play D-1 football but that’s always been my dream. With Pitt being such a big college program and them reaching out so early, it definitely gave me hope and made me feel like I could play at that level.”
“Coach Salem stopped by my school during the middle of my season and talked to my coach. He said that I’m one of their top guys under consideration. This is going to be a waiting game and it’s definitely a long process. My coach keeps telling me that once that first scholarship comes in that more will definitely follow,” said Smart.
Smart said that, if necessary, he’s ok with attending a summer camp at Pitt to prove himself to the coaches. He’ll do whatever it takes to open someone’s eye and get rewarded with a scholarship.
“I wouldn’t say I’m nervous but I have been thinking about being a D-I football player ever since I started playing football and that’s all I want to do. I believe that with hard work you’ll get what you want. I’m working hard, putting in the hours, a lot of early mornings and late nights. Personally, I know that I’m going to get to where I want to go because I’m confident in my work ethic.”
This weekend, Smart says he’s anxious to check out the campus more and to see Pitt’s facilities.
Aside from Pitt, Smart is also talking to Rutgers, Temple, Buffalo, Boston College, UConn and North Carolina.
