Pat Narduzzi, Frank Cignetti Jr. and Jonathan DiBiaso spent the week reviewing film and making evaluations on high school quarterbacks across the country.
Following those reviews, the Pitt staff have been on a mini run of extending offers to a number of those players.
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This afternoon, DiBiaso reached out to the coaching staff of one of the top freshman quarterback prospects in the country.
Courtesy Colin Hurley
The Panthers officially offered freshman Colin Hurley from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. Hurley (6’1″, 215) was named the 2021 Florida High School Class 2A Player of the Year, throwing for 2,146 yards and 24 touchdowns. Other season accomplishments for Hurley included his team defeating three nationally ranked teams (Clearwater Academy International, American Heritage Plantation and Raines High School. Hurley now owns the distinction of being the 1st freshman quarterback to defeat those three perennial powerhouse programs.
The early list of offers that Hurley has already received indicates the type of long-term national recruit that he’s bound to develop into. Pitt joins programs like Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Ole Miss, South Florida, Central Florida and Jackson State.
Following his latest offer, Pittsburgh Sports Now was able to catch up with Hurley to get his thoughts on Pitt and about his bright future.
Courtesy Colin Hurley
“I was able to speak with Coach DiBiaso and told me how they loved how I play the game,” said Hurley. “He was especially impressed at how I combined intensity, velocity, intent, anticipation and accuracy in all of my throws. He said ‘You play smart and fearless and you’re years ahead of your game, Colin. I can see and hear leadership in you.’ We spoke about family, academics and life. He said he knows Trinity Christian plays a monster schedule, with tough opponents and that he was impressed with my play, leadership and ability to lead my team. I told him I was honored, humbled and grateful to him and the staff at Pitt to receive an offer and I said, ‘I play the game different. I play with passion and a love for the game. I lead, I win, I rip it, I have fun, I play smart, with no fear and no regrets.’ I think he liked that [laughing].”
Being so young and not from the state of Pennsylvania, you would understand if Hurley didn’t have a ton of immediate knowledge about Pitt. However, Hurley has one big thing that he knows about Pitt Panther football.
“I know Dan Marino played there and he’s my all-time favorite football player. I know they’re a solid ACC program and in school, I recently learned in school that, the people in Pittsburgh are hard working people. If you were to ask my high school coaches, teammates, teachers and football trainers, they’d all tell you no one works harder than me, so I respect that. My parents worked hard for me and taught me I could achieve anything through hard work.
As we wrapped up our chat, I asked him what sort of advice he’s getting in terms of handling all this national attention and interest that he’ll be getting over the next few years. It sure seems like a bunch for a young kid to handle.
Courtesy Colin Hurley
“I have a small, but great circle of people that includes my parents, my high school coach, my pastor, a teacher, my QB trainer and a advisor,” said Hurley. “We meet regularly and privately to discuss every aspect of my football process. We build a plan, work the plan, adjust the plan and trust the plan.”
“As far as the attention, I’m honored, humbled and grateful to the coaches and colleges who have expressed an interest in me. I take the recruiting process serious but I’m also enjoying playing this game. I don’t try to overdue the social media stuff too much. Yes, I build my brand and care about it, but I’m a football player first. I don’t chase offers like some of the people out there. I don’t go overboard with the camps. I compete. I win championships. I lead my team. I give credit to my teammates, coaches, trainers, teachers and parents and I give Glory to God. There’s a lot of very talented QBs in the ‘25, ‘24 and ‘23 Class and I respect all of them, but I believe I’m “Built Different” and am the top of the list, in the entire country. I bring the whole tool belt to the game – size, strength, power, speed, rare arm talent, velocity, accuracy, IQ, understanding defenses, leadership and a passion to play the game.”
Damn, he’s big for a freshman. If QB doesn’t work out he’s got a bright future at LB.