Mutual Interest Between Pitt and 4-Star Defensive Tackle Clyde Pinder

Pitt’s success recruiting in Florida has been well documented.

Aside from Pennsylvania, it’s the only state that Pitt has a handful of coaches recruit during the year. While Charlie Partridge gets a lot of attention for the work he does there, other assistants have done a nice job as well.

Currently, Rob Harley seems to have established a solid relationship with a talented defensive lineman from Tampa.

Defensive tackle Clyde Pinder (6’2″, 295) attends Armwood High School and on Thursday, his recruiting profile changed and he’s now rated as a 4-star recruit.

“It’s nice for my play to get noticed,” said Pinder. “Stars aren’t everything or that important but they do get me more attention and will help out in the recruiting process.”

Last night, Pittsburgh Sports Now talked with Pinder about his recruitment and the relationship that he’s been able to establish with Harley and Pitt.

Courtesy of Clyde Pinder

“We talk every day, me and Coach Harley,” said Pinder. “We talk about a lot more than football. He wants to know about how school is going for me and how my family is doing. He asks me about how life and everything else is going. The relationship that we’ve established is really good.”

“Yes, I’d love to play for Coach Harley. He’s a great man, a truthful man and keeps his word. He’s a good, special man.”

One of the first things that Pinder brought up when talking about Pitt is a name most will recognize.

“Me and Aaron Donald are the same height,” said Pinder. “A lot of people talk about my height but I’m a good player. I always grind and am always working, trying to get better. Pitt gave me a shot early and were one of the first big schools to offer and they gave me a shot. That means a lot.”

I asked Pinder what’s going to be his biggest strength and thing that people notice about him most in college?

“Leadership, I’m a leader.”

https://twitter.com/clydepinderjr99/status/1073971852811399169?s=21

Currently, Pinder holds offers from Pitt, Minnesota, Boston College, South Florida, Florida Atlantic and a few others. He tells me the schools that are in contact the most with him are Pitt, Minnesota and Clemson.

“Yeah, I’m definitely coming to visit Pitt soon,” said Pinder. “I was supposed to come down for their Junior Day but a family situation came up and then I couldn’t get a flight there. Me and my family are aiming to come make a visit in the spring.”