Pitt FB Recruiting
Former 4-Star Clemson Defensive End David Ojiegbe Commits to Pitt
Charlie Partridge is continuing to rebuild the Pitt defensive line through the transfer portal.
David Ojiegbe — a 6-foot-3, 240-pound redshirt freshman defensive end from Largo, Md. — officially committed to Pitt Tuesday following an official visit over the weekend. He’s the third defensive lineman to commit to the Panthers this weekend, joining former Kansas State defensive end Nate Matlack and former Indiana defensive tackle Nick James.
With the losses to the defensive line, from a line that did not reach the standards it set before the season, it’s a major renovation to perhaps the most important unit on the roster.
COMMITTED #H2P@CoachPartridge @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/fpZxQIXLK3
— David Ojiegbe🥀 (@bigbossdae) December 19, 2023
He entered the transfer portal when it opened on Dec. 4 and almost immediately received an offer from Partridge and Pitt — his first in the portal. He played in just two games at Clemson as a true freshman last season, preserving four full seasons of eligibility.
Ojiegbe obviously didn’t see the field much last season, but he’s not far removed from leading St. John’s College (D.C.) High to a state title. He recorded 30 tackles for loss and 16 sacks on the way to earning MaxPreps’ D.C. Player of the Year.
He committed to Clemson out of St. John’s College over a long list of offers that included Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina State, UNC, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.
Ojiegbe, with four full seasons of eligibility, is a player who should be able to grow immensely under the tutelage of Partridge and the defensive coaching staff. His upside is immense, and it’s likely he will contribute immediately.
Pitt — despite Nate Temple deciding to return to Pittsburgh after entering the portal himself — needed to upgrade a defensive line room that did not reach the standards Partridge set for the room before the season. And with four defensive line starters and a rising star in Samuel Okunlola gone, there were a lot of needs.
Pitt returned Dayon Hayes as the leader of the defensive ends, but Pitt needed more. Much more. The additions of Ojiegbe and Matlack — with James inside as a tackle — are a major boost.
Pitt will also return Jimmy Scott, Bam Brima, Nakhi Johnson, Sean FitzSimmons and Elliot Donald and there are a plethora of young, talented tackles and ends rising through the system.
I hope these guys will fit right in. Sometimes it’s chemistry amongst your fellow teammates instead of just how many stars you having coming out of high school. H2P!
This sounds like a good one. Portal lottery is; ya win some and ya lose some.
But we’re getting formerly higher ranked players than they normally recruit.
So…..spin the Portal Lottery Spinner !
Nice to see us throwing some NIL money out there.
This looks great on paper
If Pitt plays these younger, higher ceiling players over these guys like Temple and Hayes, then progress will be made on D- line. All last season more skilled players had to share time with lesser talented players. It’s looks like a favoritism system. That’s why Pitt lost Jules and Sam O.. Hopefully this defensive coaching staff have learned from their mistakes. Why go get guys then start players that have proven that they’re not play makers!
Jules was a bench player behind Kancey. He could not carry Kancey’ equipment bag. That was his 4th year in the program. He has no high ceiling. He is in his last year of eligibility. So your take is extremely flawed. As far as Sam O. there is nothing special with him. He got a lot of snaps last year and the line underperformed. . Prior to this year Pitt had Deslin Alexander and Baldanado in front of him. He is not better than either of them and that is why he did not see playing time. It had nothing… Read more »