Keylen Adams set a list of four finalists in February, which included Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and Virginia Tech, but as his recruiting process has heated up over the last few months, he had to reconsider.
Adams — a 6-foot-2, 180-pound four-star wide receiver from Green Run High in Virginia Beach — has set a new top five that still includes Pitt and Virginia Tech but now includes Alabama, Ohio State and South Carolina.
His decision wll be made on July 13.
Adams most recently made it out to Pittsburgh for a spring practice in March, spending time with Pitt verbal commit DayDay Farmer, and he’s been busy in checking out his top contenders with visits to South Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Alabama and Ohio State jumped into the chase for Adams quite recently. And it’s not hard to see why.
As a junior on a 13-1 Green Run squad that advanced to the VHSL state semifinals, Adams hauled in 41 receptions for 1,030 yards (25.1 yards per reception) and 16 touchdowns.
“I feel like it’s my route running and just knowing where to be on the field,” Adams told PSN after being offered. “Where to get in the zone or a specific way I need to run a route depending on the coverage. I also feel that I have really good hands along with good speed.
“I try and pattern my game after Jerry Jeudy (Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver). Before games and after practices, I watch and study his college film at Alabama and really focus on how he runs his routes in order to help me get open more.”
247Sports rates Adams as the 180th-ranked recruit in the class (26th-ranked wide receiver and the second-ranked recruit from Virginia). Rivals rates him as the 33rd-ranked wide receiver and the third-ranked recruit from Virginia.
On3 rates him as the 158th-ranked recruit in the class (27th-ranked wide receiver and the second-ranked recruit from Virginia).
Pitt’s class of 2024 already has a commitment from a four-star in Farmer, and Adams would be a very welcomed addition to the class. He’s also the second four-star receiver in as many days to place Pitt among his list of contenders, following Jason Robinson Jr. Friday.
Pitt coaches need to start closing the deal to win top-talent recruiting battles rather than just attain semi-final status.