Pitt FB Recruiting
2023 Wide Receiver Zion Fowler Impresses at Pitt Camp, Earns First D-I Offer
College programs across the country are hosting prospect camps in order to workout and evaluate potential recruits.
For the second Sunday in a row, the Pitt Panthers hosted one on the South Side and a player from New Jersey earned the day’s headlines.
Class of 2023 wide receiver Zion Fowler (St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey) impressed the Pitt coaches enough that he earned himself a scholarship, which was his first D-I offer. It was a late present for Fowler, who celebrated a birthday on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Sports Now caught up with Fowler on his drive back to New Jersey and asked what his expectations were heading into Sunday.
“I was going to try and perform as well as possible and hoping that was good enough to come away with an offer,” said Fowler. “My mindset was to work and impress the Pitt coaches. Leading up to the camp, I received the invitation from coach (Tim) Salem. I’ve been hearing from him and Pitt thru mail, messages and texts. At first I wasn’t going to come, because I had some personal business to take care of back home but I took care of that in time and decided to take on the challenge and come down to the University of Pittsburgh and take care of business and do what I have to do.”
Fowler obviously did what he had to do and impressed head coach Pat Narduzzi and wide receivers Brennan Marion, who spent a lot of time with Fowler during the workout.
“I want to personally thank Coach Marion for basically staying with me and taking me under his wings during the drills,” Fowler said. “The highlight of the day for me was honestly getting the words, wisdom and knowledge from someone like him that obviously has more skill and knowledge than myself. This was a big day because there was a ton of talent out there today and I worked my butt off and did what I had to do. The biggest highlight was obviously eventually getting the offer.
“I learned that Coach Marion is a really good person and coach. He said to all the receivers, ‘I was at your point earlier in my life and trying to do the same things you are doing now in terms of learning the position.’ He told us that he had to work his tail off, because nothing in life is ever given to anyone. Him saying that really made me understand him better and know the type of person and attitude he has. He just wanted to see all of us just improve. He told us that he was bringing the same coaching technique and coaching aspects that he uses with his players now. That was neat because we were really getting a college practice which I appreciated.”
Great work over this past weekend working on my three step top of the curl. As well as working on getting out of my break faster. More work to get put in 🤝@Cody_High pic.twitter.com/NEa94mYuYP
— Zion Fowler ✞ (@CantGuardZion) May 24, 2021
Fowler also appreciated getting his first D-I offer which is something he’s been working for his entire life.
“I’m just very grateful and it means so much to me because you never know when or if a college is going to pull the trigger with the offer,” said Fowler. “I’m so excited because getting an offer from a school where a very, very great football player like Larry Fitzgerald played is special. Knowing that a school that plays in the ACC conference is extremely exciting.”
