Pitt Makes the Final Five for Elite 2024 4-Star DE Elias Rudolph

Elias Rudolph cut his extensive list of offers to just 10 on Christmas Day, and Pitt was amongst those in contention. After a second cut Sunday, Pitt is once again still in the running.

Rudolph — a 6-foot-4, 220-pound four-star defensive end from Deerfield Beach High in Deerfield Beach, Florida — named a top five of Cincinnati, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Pitt.

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– Only 5 left and only 1 Home🏡 🫶🏾#GianniRudolph pic.twitter.com/TA2ZrXjxP7

— Elias Rudolph (@EliasRudolph6) May 14, 2023

Pitt first jumped into the fray for Rudolph over a year ago, with Randy Bates extending an offer on Jan. 18, 2022 — while he still attended Taft in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pitt was the first Power Five school — and the second overall — to extend him an official offer.

Bates and Charlie Partridge have served as Pitt’s main recruiters, but it helps that 2024 three-star cornerback commit Tayshawn Banks and 2024 three-star wide receiver target Jay’Quan Bostic are good friends with Rudolph.

As a junior at Taft, Rudolph made quite the impact. As the Senators put together an 11-3 season, he racked up 92 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and recorded four touchdowns — hauling in numerous postseason awards and honors.

Rudolph will spend his senior season competing in Deerfield Beach, competing in Florida.

247Sports rates Rudolph as the 222nd-ranked recruit in the class (15th-ranked edge and the 34th-ranked recruit from Florida) while Rivals rates him as the 208th-ranked recruit in the class (16th-ranked weakside defensive end and fourth-ranked recruit from Ohio).

On3 rates him as the 260th-ranked recruit in the class (29th-ranked linebacker and 39th-ranked recruit from Florida).

Pitt has secured commitments from a handful of defensive linemen so far, including four-star defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington, three-star defensive tackle Francis Brewu, three-star defensive end Zachary Crothers and three-star defensive lineman Ty Yuhas.

Rudolph would be a very strong addition as a pure edge rusher — and yet another Florida commit in the defensive line pipeline.

It will be important to land Rudolph on at least an unofficial visit, if not an unofficial and official visit, over the course of the summer.