Pitt FB Recruiting
Peters Twp 2021 S Donovan McMillon Remains Priority for Pitt
Pat Narduzzi targeted Peters Township safety Donovan McMillon early on as a priority for Pitt’s Class of 2021 and he remains a wanted player.
On Saturday, McMillon was set to attend junior day at Penn State. Instead, McMillon decided instead to join elite local recruits Elliot Donald, Nahki Johnson and Dorien Ford Saturday at Pitt’s junior day.
It’s not a secret to anyone including McMillon how much badly Pitt would like him to stay in Pittsburgh and become a hometown hero.
Monday night, Pittsburgh Sports Now the chance to talk with McMillon about his time in Oakland and I came away impressed with his thoughtfulness and maturity.
“I hope to think that I’m a big priority for them,” McMillon said. “The entire staff is super nice and have always been 100% honest with me and what they want me to do. We talk about what the future might hold for me.
“I love to be able to get those 1-on-1’s with Coach [Cory] Sanders and Coach [Archie] Collins about my position. Because of that, I’ve been able to learn the ins and outs of Pitt’s defense and the different techniques they use.”
McMillon said that Sanders and Collins love his motor on the field, his ability to get to the ball, make the sure tackle and the fact that he can cover 1-on-1 without needing any help.
Saturday was special for McMillon because he had the opportunity to spend quality time with two current local stars Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford.
Courtesy Donovan McMillon
“First off, it was like a dream come true,” he said. “They sat right in front of me and I was super excited at first. I got the chance to talk with them about everything, like what football is like there on a day-day basis and the overall atmosphere.”
McMillon’s first extensive conversation with Hamlin and Ford was very important. The most important thing he took from their talk?
”To keep my eye on the prize and never be satisfied. They told me to keep grinding because you never want anyone to pass you because you’ve settled. Keep grinding, grinding and grinding.”
Something else that made an impression on McMillon was the fact that Hamlin and Ford passed on the NFL to spend another year playing for their hometown team.
”I think that shows me that Coach Narduzzi is doing a wonderful job and that them staying back for another year in college when they both have the opportunity to play in the NFL shows that Pitt is really helping and that Pitt could 100% possibly be a home for a lot of us like me, Elliot and others,” said McMillon.
Maybe the most special part of the day was that Narduzzi invited one of McMillon’s younger brothers to come to experience junior day with him.
”I loved bringing him with me,” said McMillon. “He got to come to the meetings, he got to see everything that I did and everything I’d be going through next year. I loved that he loved it and I’m going to be able to bring my other two brothers on my next visit.”
Courtesy Donovan McMillon
”Pitt seems like it would be a home away from home, which is what I’m looking for. I’ve got my three younger brothers at home who are always with me and being at college, I’d miss them a lot, but being at Pitt which is a 20 minute drive from home would be awesome.”
It sure seems like Pitt has a great chance of landing this important player. Have Narduzzi and his coaches talked to McMillon about making his decision?
”I can honestly feel that they want me to commit but right now it’s about getting to really know them and them getting to know me. I want to build a strong bond and trust between each other.”
As far as upcoming visits, McMillon will going to Vanderbilt on Feb. 1 and plans to return to Pitt in March.
