Pitt FB Recruiting
3-Star OT Tai Ray Becomes Third OL to Commit to Pitt Over the Weekend
When Pitt entered the final official visit weekend of June, there wasn’t a single offensive lineman committed to the class of 2023. With a few linemen on deck for visits, it was an important window for Pitt to land a few. A couple of days later, Pitt officially has three lineman commits, including Tai Ray.
Ray, a hulking 6-foot-7, 300-pound three-star offensive tackle from Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida has officially committed to Pitt after his official visit. He committed to Pitt over offers from Indiana, Alabama A&M, Appalachian State, Bryant, Charlotte, Dartmouth, Florida Atlantic, Howard, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, Troy, Tulane and USF.
1000% committed!! @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachBorbs @CoachTimSalem @Pitt_FB #H2P 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/q5psYpzFze
— Tai Ray (@67TaiRay) June 27, 2022
Ray made his only other official visit to Indiana last weekend, but after his experience at Pitt this weekend, it was too much to pass up.
Pitt only jumped into the equation for Ray earlier this month, extending an offer on June 14, which came after Ray officially scheduled his official visit a week beforehand. The relationship has blossomed after his unofficial visit to Pitt’s spring game in April.
“I believe coach (Dave) Borbely and I are building a great relationship and will continue to build it during my official visit,” Ray told PSN in June. “Pitt tells me that they like my size and my ability to move for that size. At the recent Florida State Mega Camp on June 5, they said that my 1-on-1 reps were very impressive. They’re telling me that I am high on the board for them recruiting-wise.”
247Sports rates Ray as the 1,186th-ranked recruit in the class (107th-ranked offensive tackle and the 174th-ranked recruit from Florida) while Rivals and On3 haven’t rated him yet — although he does hold a 5.5 Rivals Rating.
Ray is joined by three-star offensive linemen Colin Van Rooy (Strongsville, Ohio) and Ryan Carretta (Columbus, Ohio) in Pitt’s class of 2023.
Patrick Jones was a 2 star recruit playing for the Minnesota Vikings now your assessments are a bit of a stretch. I’d much rather have team players without the inflated egos that develop into bonifide starters.
Welcome to Pitt, Tai Ray. Can’t wait to see you on the line. H2P !
If you see him on the line we are in trouble. He is not an ACC player.
deleting comments now?
Linemen are hard to rate. Brian O’Neil was a 3 star TE recruit, Jim Morrissey was a walk-in. Both are in the NFL. We had Alex Booker in that class and how did he end up. I trust the coaches.
I’m not saying you can’t take a big, athletic tight end and add lbs. or strike gold on a walk-on (that doesn’t cost you a scholarship until they earn it). But if all you have/get are low 3* most will play at that level, it’s the norm not the opposite. Clemson, Florida State, Miami are loading up 4 and 5* on defense so eventually it will be a problem
Thanks for your voice of reason
State schools have a decided advantage (we are state related not state supported). Last private school to win a national championship was USC more than 2 decades ago. So state schools are going to get the 4 & 5 star recruits. It’s what you do with the talent. Narduzzi has assembled a great coaching staff. Those that left went pro or thought they were passed over for promotion. Give the kids a break we’ll see the results in 3-years.
3-star….???? Not with that offer list !! Another flop for Pitt ! GOooooo WVU !!