Pitt Lands Commitment From 2024 4-Star RB Yasin Willis

It took some time for Yasin Willis’ recruiting process to unfold, especially as he received major interest late into the cycle, but he’s made a decision. Pitt is it.

Willis committed to Pitt Saturday night over the likes of Alabama, Michigan and Rutgers — becoming the 21st member of Pitt’s class of 2024.

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Willis — a 6-foot, 225-pound four-star running back from St. Joseph High in Montvale, New Jersey — has been on Pitt’s radar for quite some time, and he made a couple of visits over the summer, including an official visit from June 8-10. His official visit to Pittsburgh was his second and last official visit after he called off an OV to Michigan.

He committed to Pitt over offers from Alabama, Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

Pitt lands another star from New Jersey!

Yasin Willis, the state's No. 1 ranked running back, just announced on social media he's committed to play for the Panthers.

Willis has logged back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and is primed for a huge senior year.

📽️:… pic.twitter.com/hlY5mrb2fK

— Jersey Sports Zone (@JSZ_Sports) July 30, 2023

“I love the culture,” Willis told PSN in April. “It’s a real brotherhood over there, all the guys are real intuned with each other, in the sport but also outside of the sport. I got to talk with Nick Patti. He’s a St. Joe’s alumni, so it was cool talking to him.”

“I stuck with the running backs the whole day, just seeing how coach Powell was coaching them up, teaching them different techniques, when to use certain moves, I really took a lot from that. I’m gonna go work on that, put that into my game and get better.”

It was Willis’ second time at Pitt, his first since making the drive out for Pitt’s spring game last year, and he felt like his most recent trip picked up where it left off. He connected more with Pat Narduzzi, but it was also a business trip.

Willis was also in attendance for Pitt’s win over Virginia Tech last October, getting a front row seat to watch Israel Abanikanda break Tony Dorsett’s single-game rushing record, and he sees a bit of himself in how Abanikanda played.

“Izzy, he’s a big guy, very explosive,” Willis said. “I like how he runs the ball. We kinda look the same, not gonna lie. They’ve been saying that I’m kinda built like him when he was coming in, I may be a little bigger than that.”

At 6-foot, 225 pounds, Willis is a bit bigger than Abanikanda — even current-day Abanikanda. Powell likes Willis’ vision right now, his ability to hit the hole and make defenders miss. Willis likes going through or over defenders, and he’s showcased that throughout his high school career.

Willis has racked up 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons at St. Joseph, putting together a 171-carry, 1,023-yard sophomore season and a 181-carry, 1,133-yard junior season. He’s scored 26 rushing touchdowns over th4 last two seasons.

247Sports rates him as the 461st-ranked recruit in the class (38th-ranked running back and the 10th-ranked recruit from New Jersey) while On3 rates him as the 562nd-ranked recruit in the class (43rd-ranked running back and 10th-ranked recruit from New Jersey).

Rivals is much higher on Willis, rating him as the 187th-ranked recruit in the class (16th-ranked running back and top-ranked recruit from New Jersey).

Willis Pitt’s second running back commitment in the class of 2024, joining three-star Juelz Goff, and he’s an elite pickup in the running back room and the class as a whole.

Pitt’s class of 2024 slowed down a bit through the month of July, but a commitment from a player the caliber of Willis is an excellent way to end the month.