Pitt is in the top five for Florida defensive lineman Zyin Thomas, he announced on Friday.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive tackle from Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Florida, narrowed his list to five schools, including Pitt, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.
Pitt football recruiting coverage sponsored by
RM LAW, P.C. is a boutique litigation law firm with a national practice dedicated to protecting shareholders’ interests and promoting improved corporate governance practices.
Pittsburgh Sports Now caught up with Thomas, who said he considered multiple factors when it came to narrowing down his list.
“Alumni base, opportunity to complete for a starting position as well as playing time, major [conference] and the relationship I am building with my position and head coach,” Thomas said.
For Pitt, that starts with his relationship with defensive line coach and South Florida area recruiter Charlie Partridge that starts with honesty.
“Well he has been honest to me so far,” Thomas said. “The great things that my head coach (former Virginia Tech linebacker T.J. Jackson) have told me about him as well.”
With the recruiting dead period extended through Aug. 31, it’s going to be tough for Thomas to get to Pitt for a visit before his senior season starts at Atlantic.
But that’s what he’s hoping to do, make visits to his top five schools and then make his decision before the season. While his other options are closer to home, Thomas is looking forward to making the trip to Pittsburgh.
“It’s an amazing school,” he said. “Im just waiting to visit there.”
Isn’t he a little small to be a DT at Pitt? He must be quick as hell off the snap for Partridge to be interested in him.
Pretty much the same size David Green was in high school. Deslin Alexandre was/is smaller and has played some DT. Shakir Soto played DT at about 265. On the smaller side, but not totally out of the ordinary.
Not a good look if Pitt gets beat out by one of those other 4 schools.