Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Contacts Charlotte Transfer DE Miguel Jackson
Pitt is known for its strong defensive line play, and despite the losses already this offseason, there’s an expectation that Charlie Partridge’s unit will be able to rebound.
Pitt hasn’t officially extended an offer to Miguel Jackson, a transfer defensive end from Charlotte, but according to the Portal Report, he’s at least heard from Pitt since entering the portal Monday afternoon.
It may not be surprising considering Jackson is originally out of Pine-Richland High in Gibsonia, Pa. — giving an opportunity to an edge rusher with experience in the area.
#Pitt has reached out to Charlotte DE Miguel Jackson, @ThePortalReport has reported.
Jackson (6-2, 296lbs) played in eight games for the 49ers last season, recording 16 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 2 sacks. TPR’s No. 8 transfer DE.
— Karl Ludwig (@LudwigKarl8) December 5, 2023
Jackson took 283 defensive snaps for Charlotte in 2023, and he registered seven pressures, five hurries and two sacks, but he also provided seven run stops.
In 2023, in eight games — limited by injuries throughout the season — he recorded 16 tackles (six solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. In three seasons at Charlotte, he’s recorded 56 tackles (23 solo), seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Jackson is a big, sturdy defensive end who will likely need to slim down to fit the Pitt scheme as a defensive end. But if the coaching staff views him as an interior lineman, he’s already at that threshold. It remains to be seen if that relationship with the Panthers’ coaching staff progresses any further.
But Pitt — in the wake of recent transfer portal losses — will certainly need to look toward the transfer portal when it comes to filling gaps on the line.
The Pitt defensive line has been hit hard by the transfer portal, along with a handful of sixth-year seniors exhausting their eligibility, and the loss of Samuel Okunlola was especially difficult in the wake of such loss.
Pitt will now be forced to rely upon Dayon Hayes, Nahki Johnson, Bam Brima and Jimmy Scott on the edge, with a transfer portal addition or two certainly on the way.
For all your college football transfer portal needs, check out the Portal Report and their Transfer Portal Tracker.
So far, I have not seen NarDog extend an offer to any player in the portal from a P5 conference. It’s all been Charlie, Kent State, etc.
Is Pitt even going to try to compete trying to elite players at this point? It just seems like he’s thrown in the towel on recruiting.