Pitt FB Recruiting
2024 3-Star RB Josiah McLaurin Holds Pitt in Top 3, Making OV June 22-24
Josiah McLaurin has never been to Pittsburgh, but even so, as he narrowed down a top three with his parents, Pitt made it into the list. So, of course, he knew he needed to take an official visit to Pittsburgh.
McLaurin — a 6-foot, 180-pound three-star athlete from Clinton High in Clinton, North Carolina — is taking an official visit to Pitt from June 22-24, making it out to visit for the first time. And what’s he looking for?
“Everything that the coaches have told me about,” McLaurin told PSN. “I’ve googled some stuff, it looks beautiful, and I want to see the facilities and everything.”
Official visit locked in June 22-24 💙💛@CoachAPowell @FBCoach_Collins @CoachDuzzPittFB pic.twitter.com/d5JS1IDntX
— Josiah Mclaurin (@josiah_mc2) May 25, 2023
Pitt first extended McLaurin an offer back on Nov. 14, with Andre Powell serving as his lead recruiter, and he’s picked up offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, James Madison, Liberty, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech — with interest from Maryland and North Carolina State.
Powell has been able to break down what Pitt is able to offer to this point, bringing up how Pitt shares a facility with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it’s certainly been something that has caught McLaurin’s eye.
It’s been consistent communication since the offer in November, with talks on a weekly basis, and Powell has been recruiting him as a running back. As a running back and slot receiver at Clinton, McLaurin has certainly turned heads. He’s an electric threat with the ball in his hands, and Powell has lauded the way McLaurin plays the game.
While it’s tough to describe himself as a player, McLaurin certainly models his game off a couple of NFL players. Texans rookie Tank Dell and 49ers star Deebo Samuel. He’s a true dual threat.
As a junior at Clinton last season, McLaurin ran the ball 103 times for 903 yards (8.8 yards per attempt) and 18 touchdowns and added 33 receptions for 490 yards (14.8 yards per catch) and four touchdowns.
He easily paced Clinton in both rushing and receiving yards (and touchdowns), and he even returned four punts for 231 yards (57.8 yards per return).
247Sports has rated McLaurin yet, but On3 rates him as the 52nd-ranked athlete and the 31st-ranked recruit from North Carolina. Rivals evaluates him as the 28th-ranked recruit from North Carolina — giving him a 5.5 Rivals Rating.
McLaurin will be in Pittsburgh over the last weekend in June, and he will spend June 8-10 at East Carolina. Maryland has been in contact about a potential official visit, but there hasn’t been anything worked out to this point.
He isn’t super familiar with Pitt, knowing that Israel Abanikanda was a superstar last season and watching a bit of Kenny Pickett two seasons ago, but Pitt has made an impact. It will come down to which school is willing to afford him the opportunity to be a true dual threat at the next level though.
“My commitment date is Aug. 16,” McLaurin said. “Nothing really has to happen on the official visit; it’s just what they want me to do. I really want to play both, and if they don’t — if a school doesn’t offer me to play both, I don’t want to go there.”
It’s still a work in progress with where he would play at Pitt to this point. He talked to Powell earlier this week, and Powell told him that he was needed at running back. Which does mean that Powell wants him in his position room.
Regardless of where Pitt’s coaching staff sees McLaurin playing at the next level though, it has been a strong enough relationship to earn an official visit, and that comes to down to communication — talking every week — and that’s important for McLaurin.
Pitt currently holds a commitment from three-star Juelz Goff, and there are official visits scheduled for three-star Sam Cooper and four-star Yasin Willis next month. It appears Pitt is headed for another two running back class in 2024.
