While all the attention has been focused on Pitt’s class of 2024, the class of 2023 isn’t quite finished yet.
Pitt added a preferred walk-on commitment from Adam Howanitz — a 6-foot-5, 220-pound athlete from Valley View High in Archbald, Pennsylvania — Thursday night over offers from Bucknell, Long Island Post and New Hampshire.
“Very excited to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career. Thank you to my family, friends and to everyone who supported me. Also a special thank you to coach Narduzzi, coach Salem and coach Bates for the opportunity! H2P.”
While Howanitz led Valley View to the playoffs as a quarterback last season, as he would have done as a junior if not for missed time due to injury, showcasing a solid arm and the ability to turn option runs into solid gains, he’s best suited as a tight end at the next level.
As Valley View plays in the Lackawanna 1 conference, a small conference in northeast Pennsylvania, he played quarterback likely because he’s the best athlete on the team. So, he played quarterback, but he was also a starting safety, too.
As a senior, Howanitz threw for 1,379 yards (13.5 yards per attempt) with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions and added 427 yards (3.6 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns.
Pitt has added preferred walk-ons in quarterback David Lynch (Bradenton, Florida) and twin offensive linemen Brody and Graysen Riffe (Winter Garden, Florida), wide receiver Benny Haselrig (Allison Park, Pennsylvania) and athlete Zach Zollers (Royersford, Pennsylvania) already.
Howanitz will likely provide depth in the Pitt tight ends room in the seasons to come.
