Pitt FB Recruiting
Florida Safety Dane Belton Making Official Visit to Pitt
Marquis Williams, V’lique Carter and Damarri Mathis are defensive backs from Florida that Pitt has landed in the last two recruiting classes.
The Panther coaches are hoping Tampa Bay’s Dane Belton is the next Florida defensive back to join them.
Belton (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) is a 3-star safety from Jesuit High School that tells Pittsburgh Sports Now that he has scheduled an official visit to Pitt the weekend of June 15-17.
The hard-hitting prospect has a nice list of offers that includes Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota, Maryland, Missouri, Rutgers, Central Florida, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.
This afternoon, PSN spoke to Belton and asked him about Pitt and what interested him enough to want to make one of his official visits there.
“The coaches and the relationship that we’ve developed, which I feel is genuine. Plus, the academic aspect of the university with physical therapy and kinesiology which are some of the top programs in the nation. Academics are a big part of my future so I want to come up and see what it’s all about. Plus, seeing the city of Pittsburgh and everything around it, I’m excited to come see everything,” said Belton.
“I’ve been talking with Coach Harley, Coach Sanders and Coach Narduzzi. They’ve been telling me about the city, the facilities which are top notch, everything the university does to help the student athletes and how I would be a great fit in their defense.”
Belton describes himself as a versatile defensive back, and as a corner/safety that can come up in the box but also covers guys in the slot. He also says that he’s a smart, physical player that always plays fast and makes plays.
During his junior season, Belton collected 56 tackles, 34 solo, 4 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and had four interceptions.
The Tampa native currently is one of eight Florida players visiting Pittsburgh during the weekend of June 15-17 and likes the priority that Narduzzi has placed on his state.
“I know of the former players from that they have gotten and they want to get players from there because Florida has the best talent in the country. The fact that they’re trying to get all these players from here like me could be a factor,” said Belton.
Aside from Pitt, Belton tells me that he also has a visit scheduled for Georgia Tech this weekend and an official visited to Iowa planned for the weekend of June 22.
Belton has plenty coaches and programs contacting him but instead of getting stressed, he’s taking everything in stride and enjoying everything.
“I feel like all of this is fun because I know that something like this will only happen once in my life.” said Belton. “All of this is a gift from God so I’m just cherishing the moments and the fact that all these schools want me and think that I’m good enough to play for them, it’s all a blessing. This experience is something in my life that won’t happen again.”
