Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Provided the Perfect Fit For 2023 3-Star WR Commit Kenny Johnson
College football recruiting is in high gear as players from around the country started making official visits this weekend.
Players have the opportunity to take five official visits before making their decision, but that’s not a necessity. Some players like Kenny Johnson see and hear everything they need on their first visit and make the decision to end their recruitment after just one visit.
The 3-star wide receiver from York, Pennsylvania had other official visits scheduled to Penn State, Rutgers and West Virginia but made the decision to commit to Pat Narduzzi and Pitt. After making the biggest decision of his life, Johnson has accomplished a lifelong goal of his which was to attend college and play for a major college football program.
“After going through the recruiting process, it was like a fantasy and not really real yet,” said Johnson. “But once you make a commitment and start hanging out with the players, which are going to be my future teammates, it feels real now and honestly this all just feels amazing. I just can’t wait to be a part of the Pitt family.”
Courtesy Kenny Johnson
Of all Pitt’s six commitments this weekend, Johnson was probably the most surprising. In fact, every recruiting analyst were forecasting him as a lock to eventually commit to James Franklin and Penn State. Johnson admits that in a way, he was even surprised that he decided to commit this weekend.
“100% it surprised me, but I got that feeling in my gut, you know,” Johnson tells PSN. “I just knew that this was the right decision, and I wasn’t going to steer myself wrong and trusted my instincts. I had the feeling that this was the spot for me. I obviously had some other schools that I could’ve attended but ultimately it came down to the fit and where I fit the best and where my family fit the best. I believed that Pitt was the best situation for me and the best place for me to succeed.”
Johnson made the trip to Pitt with his family, which was their first time in Pittsburgh. I asked him if there was an exact moment that he knew that he was going to make his commitment to Pitt?
“We were eating dinner with all the families and all of the recruits. There was this energy in the room and just an amazing vibe with all the families and coaches. I was just talking with all of the recruits, and it was just an instant bonding and honestly a feeling of family. We just all clicked like that and I knew right then and there. Pitt is building something amazing right now with the culture they have. With that energy I knew that this was my place and the place that I needed to be.”
“Coach Underwood has been super involved in my recruitment,” said Johnson. “He’s been recruiting me since he was at Rutgers. My family just absolutely love him, he’s their favorite position coach. I’m not going to lie, Coach Underwood coming in sealed the deal with me deciding on Pitt. I love Coach Narduzzi, I love Coach Cignetti, I love Coach Stacc but Coach Underwood was it for me. I can’t wait for him to coach me.”
For any @Pitt_FB fans, here's a little taste of what @Kennyjohnson05 can bring to the team. I have a hunch we'll have a few more highlights this fall with @DTown_Football. pic.twitter.com/PFhg9Q4s6A
— Alex Cawley (@Cawley_TV) June 4, 2022
Another thing that Johnson is looking forward to is to starting working with his future quarterback Kenny Minchey, someone he was able to meet for the first time this weekend and the two started to create a bond.
“Man, that dude is super humble, super humble. We were talking and chopping it up. At first I was like, who is this dude, he is so humble. That dude can play, he’s going to the Elite 11. He’s a great, great quarterback and it’s not easy to get invited to the Elite 11. I watched his tape and his ability to get the ball out, the way he throws the ball and the mental clock in his head. He’s special.”
