Pitt FB Recruiting
Penn Hills Star, 3-Star QB Julian Dugger Commits to Pitt
It turns out that Pitt didn’t have to look very far for its quarterback in the class of 2024 after all.
After Pitt’s coaching staff recruited quarterbacks from Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey throughout the summer, it turns out that the recent rise of Julian Dugger is what attracted the staff.
Dugger — a 6-foot-4, 205-pound three-star quarterback from Penn Hills High School in Penn Hills, Pa. — committed to Pitt Monday night, deciding to stay home.
Dugger held offers from Massachusetts, Pitt and Toledo, with additional interest from West Virginia and Wisconsin, and it appears that Pitt took his commitment before his recruiting process really picks up during his senior season.
COMMITTED TO MY CITY…. HAIL 2 PITT
💙💛 #HOMETOWNHERO pic.twitter.com/QIbUblg1SL— Julian Dugger (@JulesDugger02) August 1, 2023
Dugger has been to visit a couple of times, including a Junior Day visit and another unofficial visit over the summer, and he impressed at a Pitt camp and then again at the 2Tenths’ Top 150 camp earlier this month.
After his impressive showing at Pitt’s camp in June, Pittsburgh Sports Now caught up with Dugger about his performance and what he was able to show the Pitt coaching staff — Pat Narduzzi and Frank Cignetti Jr. specifically.
“I think I impressed people with my footwork and the fact that we were winning and didn’t get stopped the entire camp,” Dugger said. “During the camp, I had a very high completion percentage. I was doing a good job of throwing the ball on time and throwing to where my receivers were supposed to be and not waiting for them to get to a spot. I was throwing with anticipation.
“I went to this camp with the goal of showcasing to all the coaches there my talent and showing everyone how I really can throw the ball. I also went there with the goal of winning, which I knew would bring me attention.”
It’s the next step in the relationship between the hometown kid and the top school on his recruiting board. Pitt jumped into the equation in May of 2022, with communication here and there throughout, but the recent camp success restarted the relationship.
And now Dugger is Pitt’s lone quarterback in the class of 2024 — bringing an athletic, strong-armed quarterback into the fold.
As the starting quarterback at Penn Hills in 2022, Dugger completed 73-of-130 pass attempts (56%) for 1,137 yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also added 476 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on 61 carries.
He’s a true dual-threat quarterback, and he did it right in Pitt’s backyard — at Aaron Donald’s high school, of course.
On3 rates Dugger as the 45th-ranked quarterback and the 10th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania in the class of 2024 — significantly higher than where the other major services. Rivals rates him as the 40th-ranked recruit in the state, with a 5.5 Rivals Rating.
Dugger’s recruiting rankings will undoubtedly rise in new recruiting evaluations, but Pitt has secured its quarterback in the class of 2024.
It’s a place that is already home for Dugger, as he trains with 2Tenths at the South Side facility and grew up right in Pittsburgh.
“I love it,” Dugger told PSN after his Junior Day visit. “It feels like home like I could go down there any time and all the coaches love me.”
I like it.. and why not HTP 💙💛
Congratulations, so now I guess Jackson’s off the table?
Pitt’s inability to recruit an elite QB is pathetic. Dude’s only Power Five offer is Pitt.
This is not good news and signals that Jackson will not be coming to Oakland.
What a joke.
Don’t sleep on Jules. He started as a true freshman for a good program. He’s bright and a great athlete. With top tier coaching he could be really good
Spin this how you want, but there has been no ability to capitalize on Pickett’s success. Why hasn’t PN been able to get any elite QB talent on campus?
The last two recruiting cycles we have seen many QBs slip away.
Is the OC the problem?
I think the problem is Duzzes preference of transfer qbs over in house ones. Last year he started Slovis over Patti, who showed he’s capable to be a starter in the MSU bowl game . This year starting Jurkovek over Yarnell, who performed well every times he’s played.
Yeah. That’s why Farmer just decomitted…
Narduzzi gets his QBs from the transfer scrap pile. Any top QB recruit should have their head examined for even considering Pitt.
I like his up-side and he’s local. Hopefully being so close enables him to learn the system well in advance.
H2P!
If you read Farmer’s wishy-washy quotes since ‘committing’, I’d have to say Pitt was nothing more than a temporary weigh station for him. He wanted to “lock-down a spot somewhere since the transfer portal is crazy”.
What a terrible decision. Somebody better tell him that Narduzzi gets his QBs from the transfer portal scrap pile.
Run away, kid. Run away.