Pitt 4-Star DL Commit Earns Public League MVP Honors

Jahsear Whittington has been one of the most impactful defensive tackles in Pennsylvania high school football over the past few seasons, and his prep career has finally come to an end. Pitt is up next.

Whittington — a 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia — capped his high school career with another PIAA title, knocking off WPIAL champs Peters Township, and he’s been anointed the Public League MVP for his efforts.

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Blessed🍞🍞 pic.twitter.com/jEhhUnxB8O

— 4⭐️ Jahsear “Breadman” whittington (@jahwhitt) December 13, 2023

Whittington racked up 62 tackles (40 solo), 24 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and two fumble recoveries to lead the uber-dominant defense of an unbeaten Imhotep squad — his tackles, TFLs and sacks led both Imhotep and the Public League. He hit all the benchmarks he set for himself before the season.

“This year I definitely want to get 15 plus sacks,” Whittington told PSN in March. “Me, personally, I really want to win a state championship. So, 20 plus TFLs, more than 60 plus tackles, and just having a dominant season.”

He was coming off a junior season at Imhotep, which earned his second of back-to-back-to-back All-State honors, in which he racked up over 40 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three fumble recoveries. And when it comes to his playing style, Whittington can only describe himself in one way.

“(I’m) a dawg,” Whittington said. “That’s as much as I can say. When you look at Jahsear Whittington, look at his tape, you go to a game, you’re gonna see 25 on the field making plays no matter what.

“My biggest strength is just showing no doubt. I never doubt myself, my team or anything. Whatever I do, I do it with passion, so I can say that’s my biggest thing. I never think the game is over, and I never, ever feel any lineman in front of me can block me.”

Whittington committed to Pitt way back in April of 2022, choosing Pitt over offers from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Penn State, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. And he’s been the leading voice of the class ever since.

“When I committed, I wasn’t really worried about being the first commit, but after a while I started realizing it was a big thing, so I’m happy to have those guys commit, they’re great players,” Whittington said. “I watched a lot of them, if not played against some of them, so I’m just excited for our class. I’m praying everybody stay, we all sign together and we come in the class and get to work.”

247Sports rates Whittington as the 536th-ranked recruit in the class (56th-ranked defensive lineman and 13th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania) while On3 rates him as the 572nd-ranked recruit in the class (56th-ranked defensive lineman and 14th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania).

Rivals is even higher on Whittington, rating him as the 241st-ranked recruit in the class (14th-ranked defensive tackle and 12th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania) — holding a 5.8 Rivals Rating.

National Signing Day is set for Dec. 20, just under a week away now, and Whittington is set to sign his letter of intent and officially join the Pitt Panthers. And from there, it’s only a matter of time before he’s finding his way onto the football field.