Pitt FB Recruiting
Belle Vernon Star Devin Whitlock Commits to Pitt as a Preferred Walk-On
Belle Vernon put together an unbeaten football season in WPIAL Class-4A play last season, and quarterback Devin Whitlock was a huge reason why. The KDKA Super 7 4A Player of the Year put up 1,000 yards through the air and on the ground en route to the WPIAL title game.
While Whitlock, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound athlete from Belle Vernon in Pittsburgh, didn’t receive a ton of major collegiate offers, he received a preferred walk-on offer from Pitt last October and an at-home visit from head coach Pat Narduzzi last month.
The relationship he forged with Narduzzi and Pitt proved to be enough to secure a lasting bond as Whitlock announced his commitment to Pitt Thursday night via Twitter.
@CoachDuzzPittFB @Pitt_FB @Kzovko @210ths @BVAFootball #COMMITED #stayinghome pic.twitter.com/hZgpxbRTmQ
— Devin Whitlock (@DevinWhitlock3) February 3, 2022
“First, I would like to thank god, my family, and my coaches,” Whitlock wrote on Twitter. “I wouldn’t be the man or player I am today without them. I would also like to thank all the people around me that kept me on the right path and never steered me the wrong way. With that being said, I would like to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at ….. THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH.”
With offers from Duquesne, Youngstown State, Citadel, West Liberty, Notre Dame College (Oh.), Livingston College, East Central and PWO offers from Pitt and West Virginia, Whitlock decided to commit to Pitt.
Whitlock threw for 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 1,189 yards and 23 touchdowns for Belle Vernon last season, leading the Leopards to the WPIAL title game following an unbeaten regular season. He’s also starred on the basketball court, helping lead his team to a 17-2 record so far this winter.
The talented athlete has likely skated under the radar because of his height, but there were very few players in the WPIAL who were more explosive or more influential for their respective teams than Whitlock last season.
At 5-foot-8, Whitlock is likely destined for an offensive role at wide receiver or utility back for Pitt in the future.
Whitlock is the second WPIAL star in three days to commit to Pitt as a PWO, joining Central Catholic’s Josh Altsman in pledging to Pitt as a preferred walk-on. With National Signing Day coming on Wednesday, Whitlock is likely one of the final recruits committing to Pitt in 2022.
Whitlock is a great young man and gifted athlete. I love his attitude to prove he can play Power 5 football despite his size. Very gifted athlete and I hope he’s very successful and earns a scholarship.