Replenishing the depth for the future of the defensive line has been a priority for Pitt this offseason.
Of their 10 early commitments in the Class of 2024, four have been from defensive lineman, with four-star defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington as the headliner.
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Despite these four commitments, Pat Narduzzi isn’t finished recruiting more d-lineman this season.
This week, the Panthers have hosted two talented defensive linemen from Florida, four-star defensive end Sincere Edwards and three-star defensive end Gavench Marcelin.
Marcelin traveled to Pittsburgh earlier this week from Miami, Florida and is being recruited to Pitt by Charlie Partridge. Marcelin (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) holds Power Five offers from Pitt, Boston College, Pitt, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota, Syracuse, USC and West Virgina.
Marcelin and his family spent two days in Pittsburgh and like a majority of the visitors who spend time around the Pitt program, left impressed — and an all-new opinion of Pitt.
“I really liked it, and it was really not what I expected in a good way,” Marcelin told PSN. “I always knew that they were close to the Steelers, and I thought I knew what Pitt was about, but I really found out on my visit. Getting to go there and see Pitt’s Like Skills Program, how they treat their players after football, to see how strong their academics are, to see how intense their practice meetings are. Being able to see all of that, really showed me how good Pitt really is.
“During my visit, we went on a little tour of the campus, got to see the dorms that the athletes stay in their first couple of years. We got to see how really close they are with the Steelers organization. Being so close, it really gives you a taste of what the NFL is, it lets you know that you’re right there. The atmosphere of the city was very calm, and I really liked how diverse it was. I got to see a lot of different types of people. I was impressed with the city, the buildings and the history of the city, I really think it’s a place that I believe I could call home.”
Along with seeing the city, the campus and their facilities, Marcelin was able to watch the Panthers practice and afterward, he had meaningful conversations with both Pat Narduzzi and Charlie Partridge.
“I spoke with both of them separately but they both were similar as they both preached hard work,” said Marcelin. “When you come to Pittsburgh, you know that you’re going to have to work for your spot, you’re going to have to work for your playing time. You don’t come to Pitt and expect to be a starter, you need to come here with no expectation. The expectations you have is what you put into it. Also, I spoke with the strength and conditioning coach, I learned that they will give you the tools you need to be the best player that you can be, but again, you have to dive into it and put into it, what you want to get out of it.”
Marcelin told PSN that right now, the three schools pursuing him the hardest are Pitt, West Virginia and Minnesota.
“Right now, I don’t have a list of my favorite schools, I really don’t,” he said. “In terms of my timeline, I would like to have a decision by the start of my senior year but if things don’t work out and I’m not really sure, then I’ll push things back. So, when the time is right, the time will be right.”