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Pitt 2019 Junior Targets

Could Florida Athlete Leslie Smith be Pitt’s First Commitment?

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This series on Pitt 2019 recruiting is sponsored by our friends at Moon Golf Club. Just a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh lies a 18 hole public golf course worth your time. Moon Golf Club can host your golf events and are now taking outing and event reservations for 2018. Call Moon Golf Club at 412-262-2992.

Pitt fans are wondering when they will see the “Pat Signal” come out again.

The Panthers are still looking for their first commitment for the Class of 2019 and PSN has a name for Pitt fans to keep their eye on.

Leslie Smith (6-foot, 195 pounds) is a 2019 linebacker for Miami Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida. Back on April 26, Smith received his first Power Five offer and it came from Pitt. That has the Panthers tops on his list and it appears things are heating up.

This afternoon, PSN spoke to Smith about Pitt and found out a lot more interesting information. Smith plans on making a visit from Miami to Pittsburgh on June 10.

“I want to go to the camp and then after that, I’m going to go around and see the campus,” Smith said. “They have my major (technology) and I want to see about that and the classes. After that, if my family and I like what we see and if that’s the place I feel I want to spend the next four years of my life, I’m going to commit then. I feel Pitt is the right school for me and that I can go up there and compete for a starting spot.”

Smith played multiple positions, but said Pitt is recruiting him to play outside linebacker and strong safety.

“When I got the offer, Coach Partridge came to my school and watched me practice and offered me after practice,” Smith said. “Before I got it, I didn’t really know if I would get an offer from a school that big like Pitt. I had offers, but none that big and I wasn’t sure if I’d get it. I feel like Pitt made the right choice by offering me. I’m very thankful but I’m going to remain humble and continue to let God do all the work.”

Smith feels his defensive instincts can be a difference-maker at the next level.

“I’d say it’s my smarts on the football field,” Smith said. “As a linebacker, I’m very good at scanning the field and knowing what the opponent is doing, plus I watch a lot of film. Another strength of mine is attacking and getting to the ball carrier.”

Smith says that right now, he’s having the most communication with Charlie Partridge and Rob Harley.

“I have a strong relationship with Coach Harley,” Smith said. “When I got the offer from Coach Partridge, he told me that he was going to send all my practice film to Coach Harley to watch and then he reached out to me. Since then, he’s called me regularly and we talk about Pitt and he tells me how he wants to get me up there for a visit and see the campus.”

Regardless if it’s Pitt or someother school, the day he commits will be huge for Smith.

“All the hard-work and dedication will have paid off,” he said. “I feel like I’ll be starting a new chapter in my life and a very important chapter. It will be a big accomplishment because not many people in my family went to college so I’ll be one of the few that went. That’s very important.”

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
 
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