Pitt FB Recruiting
2023 WPIAL Star S Donovan Walker Continues to Build Relationship With Pitt, Looking for Offer
A lot of pieces clicked for Aliquippa to make a run to the PIAA Class-4A state championship and bring home yet another state title, and one of those pieces was ball hawk defensive back Donovan Walker.
Walker (6-foot-0, 165 pounds) recorded 80 tackles, eight interceptions (with three returned for touchdowns) and added 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air offensively as a junior in 2021.
As a recruit in the class of 2023, Walker’s recruiting process is starting to wind down now, and while he’s been a part of the group of Quips being recruited by Pitt that includes 2024 four-star linebacker Cameron Lindsey and 2025 running back Tiqwai Hayes, he hasn’t picked up that Pitt offer.
had a great time today at the pitt camp 🟡🔵 thanks to @coachcsanders @ARCHIECOLLINS_ i learned a lot today ‼️ @CoachDuzzPittFB @PghSportsNow @wpialsportsnews pic.twitter.com/t8l0GQA0Af
— Donovan Walker (@DonovanWalkerr) June 19, 2022
However, that doesn’t mean that Walker hasn’t continued to build a relationship with Pitt and make his way out to camps — as he did last weekend.
With Pitt’s Senior Elite II camp Sunday, Walker felt like he learned a lot from the coaching staff while still being able to impress on the field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The feedback from the staff was positive, and he just wants to continue to work.
Walker was able to communicate with Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi before the camp, and a lot of the communication during was with safeties coach Cory Sanders and defensive backs coach Archie Collins.
“It’s a good relationship,” Walker told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I feel like it ain’t nothing too major, but it’s a relationship that could build and grow if they stay in touch with me.
“I think if I just put some more weight on and get bigger and stronger, and then just perform how I performed that last year, (the offer) should come.”
Walker currently holds offers from Air Force, Akron, Albany, Austin Peay, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Monmouth, Navy and Ohio, and he’s planning on narrowing his offer sheet to a Top 6 or 8 on Aug. 26 — his birthday.
However, Pitt is still on his mind, especially considering the legacy of the Aliquippa to Pitt pipeline. Which currently includes M.J. Devonshire and Eli Kosanovich — and associate athletic director, football administrator Chris LaSala.
“I think it’s very important, especially being right up the road and then knowing that M.J and Eli go to Pitt and they from Aliquippa,” Walker said. “People from Aliquippa look up to them like I feel like I could be one of those type of players.”
Devonshire and Kosanovich have been in contact with Walker, mentioning how Pitt feels like a home away from home, and with the proximity to Aliquippa, it truly just feels like home.
Walker plans to return to Pitt for a game this season, possibly the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia, and if it makes sense for an unofficial visit, he’ll do the same. He’ll be camping at Penn State on Friday, playing 7v7 and running the 40-yard dash, etc., but he’ll also do the same at Pitt on Sunday.
Pitt hasn’t officially offered Walker, but “it would impact it a lot, they’d definitely be in the top schools for sure,” Walker said.
