Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Extends Offers to Handful of Southern Recruits in Class of 2025
Pitt has extensive recruiting ties in the south, especially in the talent-rich states of Florida and Georgia (as evidenced by 15 commits from the two states over the last two cycles), and that isn’t likely to change.
With the new hires, new offensive coordinator Kade Bell and new running backs coach Lindsey Lamar specifically, the Panthers’ influence in the south is as strong as it has ever been — and it always will be with Charlie Partridge on staff.
The Pitt coaching staff was active in extending offers Tuesday, with a bunch of recruits from Florida and Georgia in the class of ’25 picking up offers. And there was an offer to a recruit from Ohio and a recruit from Florida in the class of 2027.
2025
Cole Funderburk — three-star edge from North Gwinnett in Suwanee, Ga.
Funderburk (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) holds offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Georgia South, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
Seaonta Stewart Jr. — three-star athlete from Winton Woods in Cincinnati, Ohio
Stewart (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) holds offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, UMass, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Isaiah Gibson — four-star edge from Warner Robins in Warner Robins, Ga.
Gibson (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) holds offers from Charlotte, Clemson, UConn, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB, UCF, USC, USF, West Virginia and Western Kentucky.
Gibson is viewed as one of the top recruits in the class of 2025, ranked in the 247Sports’ top 100.
Lasiah Jackson — safety from Lee County in Leesburg, Ga.
Jackson (6-foot-3, 170 pounds) holds offers from Iowa State, Pitt and USF.
Chastan Brown — four-star offensive lineman from Northside in Warner Robins, Ga.
Brown (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) holds offers from Boston College, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa State, Pitt, Troy and Tulane.
Brown is viewed as one of the top offensive linemen in the class, ranked in the top 20 nationally by 247Sports.
Rasean Dinkins — four-star safety from Warner Robins in Warner Robins, Ga.
Dinkins (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) holds offers from Charlotte, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, UMass, Michigan State, North Carolina State and West Virginia.
Dinkins is rated as one of the top safeties in the class, with 247Sports viewing him as a top 20 safety nationally.
Jonathan Rousseau — safety from Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Rousseau (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) picked up his first collegiate offer from Pitt.
2027
Omar Gonzalez — wide receiver from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Gonzalez (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) picked up his first two collegiate offers from Purdue and Pitt Tuesday.
It is great to see the level of activity in recruiting the south. I am cautiously optimistic about the new coaches we have added to our staff that brings a youthful excitement to recruiting. Hopefully this translates to success on the field. My question or observation is regarding positioning. Our new coaches appear to have strong ties to the southern states and in particular Florida. Although I do understand the level of talent in those locations I wonder if we are limiting the search to these areas. I have commented in the past about the need to increase Pitt’s presence… Read more »
Maz, agree with Philly market. Pitt has been weak in WPIAL too. These great programs also has assistant coaches that can recruit. Like a Assistant Offensive Line Coach etc. Always wondered why Pitt never had like retired Steelers that might be interested in a coaching roll, to start as assistants. Example a Keisel, Harrison, Batch etc. Recruits would like to talk to them. Extra money and still involved in football.
Def talent in that area as well as South Jersey. We just added J Wash and recruited several of his teammates. That area is recruited by EVERYONE so it’s tough but agree Pitt should and will continue to compete there.
Also this response is to Irish Protection as well. I have completed an analysis regarding this that you might find interesting. There are 562 schools that participate in football in Pennsylvania. Most do not produce division one football recruits. In building Pitt’s staff and especially recruiters, why doesn’t Pat Narduzzi and Pitt prioritize the Philadelphia area and in particular Section 12? I looked at the top 50 recruits from 2021-22-23. That is a total of 150 players. Of those 150 players, 39 are from Section 12. Section 12 is the Philadelphia public schools, charter schools, Catholic diocese schools, and the… Read more »
Maz, agree and your information on certain areas Pitt should address in recruiting was tremendous. Agree with your views on extending coaching staff and Luke is the type of local talent that could be tremendously beneficial. Other programs utilize assistance in local retired talent in recruiting and building their programs. Great info.
Pitt has been recruiting fairly well in Florida for several years. We had more proven recruiters than Bell in those areas for years. Hopefully, now that he is at Pitt, instead of Western Carolina, he can land some recruits that can compete in the ACC.
I am not sure if the point I was trying to make was clear. Florida, Georgia and the Metro DC area through the Virginia tidewater region has proven to be a solid recruiting source. These hires after looking at their histories should continue to be a solid source. My point is that Pitt should find another coach or two with ties to other areas that produce power five talent. This in my opinion would be the Philadelphia area and in particular Section 12. Like Irish Protection mentioned it would be a great get to find a former NFL player that… Read more »