Top Target 2023 4-Star ATH Rodney Gallagher’s Visit Builds Upon Previous Bonds

During Rodney Gallagher’s hours-long (four or five hour) visit to Pitt Tuesday, it was more about meeting the new coaches in place. He built his bond with former wide receivers coach Brennan Marion, but he was able to speak in-depth with Tiquan Underwood.

“It was really just how (Underwood) runs things, and how he produces his athletes, just different stuff like that and what all goes on,” Gallagher told PSN. “He seems high. I’m getting a good relationship with him, we’ve been talking for the last couple of weeks, so I’m excited.”

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Underwood, Pitt’s new wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, has been an early factor in Pitt’s pursuit of 2023, 2024 and 2025 talent, but his relationship with Gallagher could be the key factor in bringing the top in-state talent home. However, Gallagher was also able to meet with new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. and new quarterback Kedon Slovis during his visit Tuesday.

Gallaghers liked what he’s seen of Pitt so far, and head coach Pat Narduzzi has been a key factor in continuing Pitt’s bond since Marion left.

“(Narduzzi and I) talked today, he was just breaking me down about all these opportunities I have there and just breaking down their roster for the year, all that type of stuff,” Gallagher said.

H2P. #notcommitted #unofficial #panthernation pic.twitter.com/TG8uKKHu0W

— Rodney Gallagher 3rd (LLC💕) (@Rodney_G3) April 18, 2022

While Gallagher hasn’t narrowed down his list of official visits yet, with further visits planned for Notre Dame and Penn State (in April) and Minnesota and Oklahoma State (in June), he’s getting closer to narrowing down his decision. And Gallagher said Pitt is most likely going to be an official visit.

“I just have to go around campus,” Gallagher said. “I haven’t really gotten to see that, but that’s really what the official visit is for and also to hang around the players.”

While Gallagher hasn’t been able to hang around with Pitt’s players yet, aside from meeting Slovis Tuesday, he’s hopeful of that opportunity soon. And in looking at Pitt’s roster, getting to know Underwood a bit more, Gallagher feels like he’d be a good fit at Pitt — especially working under Underwood.

“(Pitt is) a great school,” Gallagher said. “I’m all open right now, that’s why this month is full of visits and hopefully next month, I’ve got a couple more. And then it’ll come to an official one. But (Pitt is) up there, they’ve been recruiting me since my freshman year, so that obviously means a lot, but my recruitment is still completely open. No decisions close to being made yet.

“Since (Pitt was) in so early, that does hold a little bit on me since they believed in me so very early in my recruitment, and at the age I was at, so that means a little bit,” Gallagher said.

With a busy summer ahead, Gallagher will have his hands full navigating unofficial visits and his eventual official visits, but he’s hopeful his commitment will come this summer. However, he said he’s in no rush to announce.

With a list of suitors including Arizona State, Houston, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, Gallagher’s offer sheet is vast.

247Sports rates Gallagher as the 97th-ranked recruit in the class of 2023, slotting in as the 10th-ranked athlete and the second-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania. Rivals rates him as the 106th-ranked recruit in the class, slotting him as the 18th-ranked wide receiver and the top-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania.

However, his recruiting chase is beginning to narrow down as his college choice inches closer, and Pitt’s hometown connection and early offer continues to remain a factor.