Pitt FB Recruiting
Taking A Closer Look at Pitt’s Second Group of Official Visitors – Defensive Edition
There were five Pat Signals after Pitt’s first weekend of official visits, and while there may not be five after the second (with a larger contingency of previously committed recruits in town), it should once again be a busy weekend.
There, also once again, will be a plethora of four-star recruits, on both sides of the football, but we’re looking at just the defensive side of the football in this article.
Here’s a primer on which defensive recruits will be in Pittsburgh from June 8-10.
Elijah Kinsler — 6-foot-4, 260-pound three-star defensive end from Bergen Catholic High in Oradell, New Jersey
Kinsler is just one of a handful of committed and uncommitted defensive linemen who will be hanging out with Charlie Partridge this weekend — and it will be his fourth trip out to Pittsburgh.
He’s picked up offers from Akron, Boston College, Connecticut, Liberty, Louisville, Miami, Pitt, Purdue, Syracuse, Toledo and West Virginia.
247Sports hasn’t rated Kinsler, but Rivals rates him as the 77th-ranked defensive lineman and the 23rd-ranked recruit from New Jersey while Rivals rates him as the 23rd-ranked recruit from New Jersey — holding a 5.5 Rivals Rating.
His official visit schedule has already featured a trip to West Virginia last weekend, and after he visits Pitt this weekend, he’ll be off to Syracuse on June 16.
Photo courtesy of Francis Brewu’s Twitter account.
Francis Brewu — 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive tackle from Thomas Worthington High in Columbus, Ohio
Brewu committed to Pitt in March, and he’s ready to use this official visit to see how he fits with the team and learn everything he can about Pitt.
He chose Pitt over offers from Akron, Army, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Duke, Iowa State, Kent State, Miami (Oh.), Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan and Wisconsin.
247Sports rates Brewu as the 918th-ranked recruit in the class (88th-ranked defensive lineman and 39th-ranked recruit from Ohio) while On3 rates him as the 959th-ranked recruit in the class (52nd-ranked defensive lineman and 25th-ranked recruit from Ohio).
Rivals hasn’t rated Brewu yet, but he does hold a 5.6 Rivals Rating — and he should be ranked in coming re-rankings.
Brewu, despite some late Power Five interest, told PSN that he is 100% locked into Pitt.
Photo courtesy of Jahsear Whittington’s Twitter account.
Jahsear Whittington — 6-foot-2, 255-pound four-star defensive tackle from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Whittington has been a cornerstone piece of Pitt’s recruiting class since he committed way, way back in April of 2022 as just a sophomore.
He committed to Pitt over offers from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Penn State, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, shutting down a growing chase early.
247Sports rates Whittington as the 513th-ranked recruit in the class (43rd-ranked defensive lineman and 13th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania). Rivals is even higher on Whittington, rating him as the 14th-ranked defensive tackle and 12th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania — holding a 5.8 Rivals Rating.
On3 rates him as the 574th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania (50th-ranked defensive tackle and the 16th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania).
Whittington made a multiple-day visit at the beginning of April, spending a few days in Pittsburgh to bond with the team, and now he’s coming back for another few days.
Courtesy Cameron Lindsey
Cameron Lindsey — 6-foot-2, 190-pound four-star linebacker from Aliquippa High in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Here’s a local recruit that Pat Narduzzi and the coaching staff have been targeting for a while.
Pitt has been recruiting Lindsey since his sophomore season at Aliquippa, and now his recruiting process his finally winding down.
He holds offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Duke, East Carolina, Kent State, Liberty, Maryland, Massachusetts, Marshall, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, Temple, Toledo and West Virginia.
247Sports rates Lindsey as the 481st-ranked recruit in the class (44th-ranked linebacker and 12th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania) while On3 rates him as the 497th-ranked recruit in the class (53rd-ranked linebacker and 13th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania).
Rivals rates him as the 22nd-ranked outside linebacker and 11th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania — holding a 5.8 Rivals Rating.
He completed an official visit to West Virginia last weekend, and he’ll be headed to Penn State for an official visit later this month. Pitt will have to fend off Penn State, WVU and Cincinnati it appears.
Terhyon Nichols — 6-foot, 180-pound four-star cornerback from Withrow High in Cincinnati, Ohio
Nichols recently named his top six, which included Pitt, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.
His offer list includes Pitt, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Penn State, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
247Sports rates Nichols as the 329th-ranked recruit in the class (29th-ranked cornerback and ninth-ranked recruit from Ohio) while On3 rates him as the 188th-ranked recruit in the class (26th-ranked cornerback and seventh-ranked recruit from Ohio).
Rivals rates him as the 60th-ranked cornerback and the 18th-ranked recruit from Ohio — holding a 5.7 Rivals Rating.
It will be tough to secure a commitment from Nichols, as he’s visiting Penn State (June 16-18) and Michigan (June 23-25) following his trip to Pittsburgh, but there’s an opportunity as his first visit.
Chasen Johnson — 6-foot-1, 180-pound three-star cornerback from Seminole High in Sanford, Florida
Johnson is a late riser in the class of 2024, and his official visit is just another example of Archie Collins and Cory Sanders scouring Florida for talented defensive backs.
He holds offers from Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Connecticut, FAU, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon State, Troy, UCF and Western Michigan.
247Sports rates Johnson as the 978th-ranked recruit in the class (67th-ranked cornerback and 113th-ranked recruit from Florida) while On3 rates him as the 942nd-ranked recruit in the class (96th-ranked cornerback and 126th-ranked recruit from Florida).
Rivals hasn’t rated him yet, but he does hold a 5.6 Rivals Rating.
Johnson already made his first official visit to South Carolina, and he will be headed to West Virginia (June 16) after his weekend in Pittsburgh.
Photo courtesy of Koy Beasley’s Twitter account.
Koy Beasley — 6-foot, 180-pound four-star safety from LaSalle High in Cincinnati, Ohio
Beasley announced a top four in May that included Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers and Wisconsin.
It came after he narrowed down a list of offers that includes Arkansas, Boston College, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
247Sports rates Beasley as the 147th-ranked recruit in the class (10th-ranked safety and the third-ranked recruit from Ohio) while On3 rates him as the 102nd-ranked recruit in the class (15th-ranked cornerback and fourth-ranked recruit from Ohio).
Rivals rates him as the 44th-ranked safety and the 17th-ranked recruit from Ohio — holding a 5.7 Rivals Rating.
Beasley will be heading to Wisconsin (June 15) and Purdue (June 23) after making his first official visit to Pitt, and like some of the other recruits in town, it will be a chance to make a strong first impression.
