Pitt FB Recruiting
2024 4-Star S Reggie Powers III Names Pitt to Top 5, Taking OV in June
Reggie Powers III holds nearly 30 offers, from some of the biggest programs in college football, but he cut his list to just five schools Thursday: Ohio State, Cincinnati, Pitt, Northwestern and Michigan State.
Powers — a 6-foot-1, 195-pound four-star safety from Centerville High in Dayton, Ohio — is from Cincinnati, and he grew up as a die-hard Ohio State fan, but he certainly has built a strong bond with the Pitt coaching staff over a handful of visits — including a recent visit on April 22.
“It was good,” Powers told PSN in April. “I enjoyed it. It was just me there because I came up on a weekday, so it wasn’t a practice or anything, so I enjoyed just being able to talk to the coaches one-on-one. Seeing the campus for the first time.
“I learned a lot about the defense, about coach Manalac and his background. He’s a good guy, a good personality, so nothing about that worries me. He seems like a cool dude, fun to play for, so I enjoyed it.”
Thank you to all the schools that have given me the opportunity to play Division 1 football. After much consideration here are my Top 5 schools. @Hayesfawcett3 https://t.co/9trG3nuhuP
— Reggie Powers III (@reggie_powers) May 25, 2023
Randy Bates and Pitt officially extended Powers an offer back on Feb. 14, quite a Valentine’s Day present, and it was the continuation of a relationship dating back to his sophomore season at Centerville.
Pitt was recruiting his teammate J.J. Jean-Louis (an eventual Iowa State commit) then, but the relationship picked up over the course of his junior season as he made another visit for Pitt’s win over Virginia Tech last October.
That offer from Pitt didn’t arrive immediately, but the communication never wavered. And it’s only gotten stronger since the offer officially arrived. It’s a plus, of course.
“I talk with them almost every day,” Powers said. “Either every day or every two or three days, they’re always checking up and seeing how I’m doing. They definitely care. They make sure I’m a priority to them, so I appreciate that.”
In talks with Bates, Ryan Manalac and Cory Sanders, watching film with Malanac, he’s seen all about how he would fit perfectly into Pitt’s defense as a Star linebacker as a hybrid player.
He likes playing as a nickel or Star himself. It allows him to showcase his aggressiveness. He prides himself on an aggressive, relentless style of play, but it’s his versatility that shines. His ability to read opposing quarterbacks, along with his speed and quickness, allows him to drop back into coverage — man, zone or slot. But he can also blitz off the edge and understands his run fits, too.
As a junior at Centerville, Power filled that hybrid safety/linebacker role in the defense, and while he will be playing more of a true safety role as a senior, he’s very comfortable in both roles.
He certainly made his impact felt all over the field as a junior, racking up 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 pass breakups and four forced fumbles.
247Sports rates Powers as the 578th-ranked recruit in the class (55th-ranked safety and the 19th-ranked recruit from Ohio). On3 is even higher on Powers, rating him as the 34th-ranked safety and the 12th-ranked recruit from Ohio.
Rivals hasn’t rated Powers yet, but he does hold a 5.6 Rivals Rating.
Powers has already made his first official visit to Northwestern earlier this month, and he has officials lined up for Pitt (June 1-3), Michigan State (June 9-11), Cincinnati (June 16-18) and Ohio State (June 22-24).
With a chance to be the first school to make an impression in June, it will be a big opportunity to wow Powers and his family.
“It’s a cool culture,” Powers said. “It’s not like a too busy campus, which I like, but the culture is cool. I like the coaches. I like what they’re doing down there. And the team is cool. I met a couple of the players, so they seem like good dudes. I like Pitt, it’s a great place.”
Pitt has not yet landed a safety in the class of 2024, but it has landed three-star linebacker Davin Brewton, who projects as a Mike linebacker at the collegiate level.
