Pitt FB Recruiting
Steel Valley Pipeline: Da’Ron Barksdale Latest to Get Pitt Offer
It’s been a busy last few months between the Steel Valley High School football program and the Pitt Panthers.
Things started with the commitment of Class of 2023 three-star defensive back Cruce Brookins. On Thursday, the Panthers got a commitment from former Steel Valley standout linebacker Todd Hill, who will transfer to play for the Panthers after starting his college career at Duquesne.
On Friday morning, Pat Narduzzi and Cory Sanders made the decision to extend an offer to Steel Valley defensive back Da’Ron Barksdale, one of the top freshmen in the state. This becomes the fourth Division I offer for Barksdale, with the others coming from West Virginia, Syracuse and UNLV.
Late Night Workout👏🏽 @Evolve2tenths @210ths @DulinOlando @sharkomartin pic.twitter.com/zVBt4p89y0
— Da’Ron“Daedae”Barksdale⚡️🧟♂️ (@DaronBarksdale) May 4, 2023
Moments after he got the news, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with Barksdale who was excited and admitted that this offer, from his hometown school, is a special one.
“The feeling of getting this offer was a lot different,” said Barksdale. “I know so many people with Pitt. Cruce just committed, we got Todd Hill at Pitt now, we had Paris Ford. So, this Pitt offer really means a lot to me. I was just told (by Pitt) to keep working. Over the next few years, you’re going to be getting a lot more offers but they said with this offer, you might as well just commit now (laughing).
“Every day I wake up and I say, I can’t believe all of this. But I do know that I have to try and remain humble through all of this. I need to keep working hard because you just never know. I just pray every day that good things continue to happen, and I pray that every day is amazing.”
Being so young and being a Western Pennsylvania resident, Barksdale has been experiencing a very successful time for the Pitt football program. The wins, the ACC Championship, getting players drafted into the NFL are all things that he’s noticing and sounds like he might want to be a part of in the future.
“I’ve been following and around Pitt my whole life,” said Barksdale. “Working out so much at their facilities. Honestly, Pitt is one place that I really want to go to. That’s the one college that I really love. Alot. The environment around their program is amazing. Their coaches are amazing. Everything about them is amazing.”
While he has the athletic ability to play on both sides of the ball, Barksdale told PSN that he wants to and believes that his future in college is as a defensive back. The talented freshman still has three years to decide where that will happen but as things stand today, Pitt seems like a possiblity.
