Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt is “Top 2” for Big 2024 OL Target Ryan Howerton
Ryan Howerton and his family showed up at Pitt’s South Side facility a little too early Saturday. Check-in was set for 10:30, but the Howertons were there a little before 10.
Instead of sending them away, Pitt showed a lot of love. And that isn’t lost on him.
“Everybody in the whole building was just nice,” Howerton told PSN. “Everybody in there was welcoming. They all actually had information. When we asked questions, everybody had answers. It wasn’t like they were sending me around to certain people, they actually knew what they were doing and they all had something to tell me.”
Howerton — 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from St. Vincent Pallotti in Laurel, Maryland — made it out for Pitt’s Junior Day Saturday with the family.
But a great first impression may have set the whole visit off on the right foot, but the best part of the day?
Had an amazing time at the University of Pittsburgh today!!! @CoachAPowell @CoachDuzzPittFB @JimHammett @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/XEpnqMpLkb
— Ryan (Mountain) Howerton (@RyanHowerton78) January 22, 2023
“Is it crazy if I say the food there? Oh my gosh,” Howerton said. “We got there, the second we sat down, we paid the 10 dollars. I see why the Steelers are so big.”
It wasn’t just an afternoon of food and first impressions though. He was able to speak more with coach Andre Powell and coach Dave Borbely — and head coach Pat Narduzzi.
Borbely ran Howerton through some practice drills, asking him questions the whole time, and Powell walked him all around the South Side facility. He made a trip out to the Petersen Events Center for a Pitt basketball game, too.
“Because we got there early, we actually got to talk to some of the players doing their workouts,” Howerton said. “And they were talking highly of the school, so it was cool. We got to do a couple of individual talkings with the coach for each position, and they were able to break down stuff. I could understand it right now, and I’ve never been in the system.”
It was Howerton’s third time out in Pittsburgh, following a camp appearance with his St. Vincent Pallotti teammates over the summer and a game visit for the Syracuse game in November, and he’s seen how the relationship has progressed with each visit.
“It’s gotten so much stronger, like me and coach Powell are texting every other day,” Howerton said. “He said he’s about to come down to my school on Monday just to check in with me and a couple of my teammates. It’s getting strong.”
Howerton is the resident starting right tackle at St. Vincent Pallotti, and he often uses his size and strength to overwhelm defensive linemen who have the misfortune to line up across from him.
While neither 247Sports nor Rivals have rated Howerton yet, another summer of competing at camps before his senior season will likely see his stock rise quickly. He’s already picked up offers from Akron, Boston College, Maryland and West Virginia.
His visit schedule has consisted of James Madison, Maryland, Penn State and of course Pitt.
The most recent visit to Pittsburgh was the best yet, with the chance to see the facilities and interact with the coaching staff at an increased level, and he can see why Pitt can be a powerhouse in the ACC. And he can feel the love, too.
“They’re definitely top two, for sure,” Howerton said. “They’ve shown probably the most love of any school.”
Top 2
Pitt and Akron
I bet you’re right. He’s a smart kid for ranking Akron over Ped State.
Penn State didn’t offer….they stay away from unranked players and sign 5* OL (J’ven Williams and Alex Birchmeier)
I have shared this thought before, but feel it worth repeating when reading your most recent comment. I am always amazed how anyone could confuse Penn State with a successful football program. Since Pat Narduzzi has taken over the Pitt program Pitt has averaged just under 8 wins per season with the last two years at ten wins. This puts Pitt in conversation with only a few elite programs. If you consider Penn State under Franklin, they are only slightly better at just over eight wins. Not much of a difference. Considering Penn State plays in a weaker conference only… Read more »
If you can’t understand how people know PSU is a successful football program then I can’t help you. In the time duzz has been at shi*t, Franklin has had 4 eleven win seasons. They won the BigTen once and finished 2nd twice. Wins in NY6 bowls. duzzy, not so much. I like your semantic on pitt’s recruiting philosophy. “Tough minded, hard working, coachable players. Players with something to prove”. That translates to low 3 star and unranked players. PSU looks to recruit 5 and 4 star players. Those kids have something to prove as well. Who said duzz is “one… Read more »
The question still remains, can you consider yourself an elite program playing in a weak conference where you cannot beat the only three respectable programs. Penn States record against Michigan 3-6, Michigan State 3-6 and Ohio State 2-7 is terrible. This is despite all of these top recruits (top 15 average in the last 5 years). Again, are you a premier program if you can’t beat the best teams? When Michigan and Ohio State (two of the top three programs) play in the championship does it not open a spot for the lower tier Big 10 programs such Penn State… Read more »
prospects get better because they are now opened up more in the West Coast market.
If duzz is so good and respected why no pursuit of him for bigger jobs? MSU didn’t even want him back.
Great attempt at not answering my question to you regarding Penn State and the inability of Franklin to produce a winner. Here is a quote from a well respected reporter for a Penn State publication offering an honest assessment … “Franklin signed a ten-year, $70 million in December, and Penn State is still getting the same results. It can beat the teams it’s supposed to, mostly coasting on high-end talent, but when it’s time for Franklin and Penn State to live up to the hype by being an elite team, they come up small, being out-coached and outclassed.” Here is… Read more »
Thanks for the long response, more clicks means more cash for me…. I don’t deflect. What do you mean a winner? 11 games and a Rose Bowl victory? BigTen titles? just because duzz slams his fist on the podium and says he’s staying at pitt doesn’t mean he was offered. duzz doesn’t under perform? OK… what do you say about duzz and his punishment for a woman beater? Does an extra heavy lifting session with the strength coach work for you? Do you have daughters? If you believe the Humphries claims (been thrown out many times) then you obviously didn’t… Read more »
This conversation is going to a place beyond the fun and fanaticism of following the university I proudly graduated from to arguing about the morality of the men who lead these programs. Pat Narduzzi does not need me to defend him and his actions. In my opinion he stands above reproach. You can argue and debate his decisions but you can never deny his level of high integrity. He never denied the alleged/actual actions of one of his players. He never lied. I shared with you an account of one of James Franklins players alleging a conversation they had. Your… Read more »
WOW!! Pedo State has a lopsided losing record to even Michigan State — a team that does not have much success in landing 4 and 5 star recruits that Pedo State supposedly does. MS is a team that Pitt nearly beat with their 3rd string QB (and would have if #2 didn’t get injured). What a messed-up program Pedo State is.
Losing record to MSU? You are severely mistaken but thanks for the follow and reply…so easy here.
Again beautiful!!
With a stack cupcake out of conference schedule … it is what it is🤡 They are beating nobody..
Unrivaled in the league of “showering with the boys”. The sad and criminal part? They were actually boys. What a stain. That will never go away. An embarrassment to a fine Commonwealth..Yet you call my school Shitt. Ah, central Pennsylvania. Almost Kentucky.
The Athletic recently interviewed a few high school coaches and here were some of their thoughts on Narduzzi:
Coach Narduzzi got glowing reviews from the New England coach…one of the coaches I would want my son to play for.
A South Florida coach held the same view, thanks to Pat’s straightforward nature.
Another Florida coach said he likes Narduzzi because he likes genuine, real people, don’t BS me. Just tell me straight up.
Sounds like your statements are pretty accurate Maz, at least according to these h.s. coaches.
Oh, The Athletic….cool.
Thanks for sharing this information. What you shared speaks volumes about the type of program Pat runs. I have read articles that have reported parents of recruits actually having tears in their eyes after visits to Pitt. They speak to how they trust their son into the care of Pat and his team. The Cathy and John Pelussi life skills program is second to none. These young men at Pitt are not treated like commodities valued only by their star ranking or on field contribution. I can understand why Pat and his staff at Pitt are so well respected. We… Read more »
I’d have tears as well after leaving the Oakland area..drugs, guns, needles.
So perfectly stated.
Beautiful…👀 truth has been Spoken!
Wow. The kind of loser you have to be to continuously post on another teams site just to try and get people riled up…just incredible. I’m glad you’re not a fellow Pitt alum
You know when you have to call a company’s customer service number and are required to go through the automated system before you get an actual person even though you know a real person is only one who can help. Yeah he’s that kind of annoying.
Thanks for taking the time to formulate that response and replying…so easy here.
And you replied…does that mean you are riled up?
haven’t been riled up since they broke the sandusky story
who says I do this to get people riled up? Maybe I’m paid handsomely by PSN for engagement and clicks? Your comment got 22 upvotes. Keep the votes and replies coming, I’m getting even wealthier by the day!
Whether you’re doing it to be an antagonist or trolling for $ (which is a crock), it truly speaks to your character as a person. 22 “upvotes”- you think anyone cares about that when they post here? Give me a break. Your posts don’t rile me up at all. I actually genuinely feel sorry for people like you. Now, back to football. A few thoughts: 1) like it or not, Penn State is a very solid football program and academic institution. I have a number of friends who attended there and they’re great people. That said, the administration and football… Read more »
lots to unpack here, and I appreciate your level headed view on the football product. However… You don’t know me so don’t judge my morals. It’s so easy to get replies here (thanks for yours by the way, $). Some, I’m not saying you, feverishly type away with anger to my sh*t talking here. It amazes me how insecure pitt fans are. Not one PSU fan would ever condone rape of any kind. These players, and this administration were not here when it occured (same with OSU and Michigan). I guess the Ped State comments will continue in perpetuity but… Read more »
Alright, let’s wrap this crap up: 1) Every individual is judged by their actions and words. If you don’t want to be judged negatively, don’t be a douche (i.e. visit an historic rival’s website and bust balls, brag about how much money you make, etc.). You’re right, we don’t know you…but you’ve said enough to justify judgement for sure. Seems to me that you’re lacking some basic social skills. Words and actions lead to consequences/judgements- elementary stuff here bud. 2) I agree that no PSU fan would condone rape, and that no current players/administrators had anything to do with what… Read more »