Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Coaches Building Relationship With ‘Top’ Priority Recruit
Building relationships on the recruiting trail is crucial in order for teams to land the necessary players that fit their program and for Pitt, they are doing that with one of their top priorities in the Class of 2025.
With Pitt pushing hard to land one of the “top” guys on their list, it helps when they have one of the best coaching relationships with that player in three-star athlete Elijah Dotson.
Just with Pitt prioritizing Dotson, he reciprocates that sentiment, telling Pittsburgh Sports Now that Pitt is one of his top schools as well.
“I got a great relationship with Pitt, probably the best relationship with any coach right now. Everything’s been good for the most part. They’ve been recruiting me pretty hard,” Dotson said.
Ever since Pitt provided Dotson – who is being recruited by the Panthers as a defensive back — with his first offer, the Panthers’ coaching staff has formed a strong connection with secondary coach Archie Collins leading the way.
The bond between Dotson and Collins has furthered with the coach making multiple visits this offseason at his Belleville High School in Detroit, Michigan where the two have discussed a lot together.
“He’s a great coach,” Dotson said about Collins. “He teaches me a lot. He wants what’s best for me. He’s there to answer questions. I watch film with him. We talk a lot.”
Courtesy Elijah Dotson
Dotson plans to return for an unofficial visit to Pittsburgh on March 22, nearly a year after he made his first trip to the school back in April.
“It was a great experience,” Dotson said. “They showed they cared. I got to talk to coach Narduzzi. I had a great time there. I was out there for a long time.”
All the love that Pitt has shown towards Dotson holds a lot of meaning for the young playmaker.
“It’s exciting to know that someone actually cares about you,” Dotson said.
Pitt has also made strides to create a welcoming environment for Dotson’s family when they spent time visiting the school.
“They showed a good time to my family, and family is important to me. Having my family liking it there, that stuck out to me,” Dotson said.
Dotson’s father, Charles, played collegiate football at Bowling Green as a linebacker and has been an important role model for his son during this process.
Courtesy Elijah Dotson
“My dad played college football, so he knows how it goes,” Dotson said. “He talks to coach Collins every now and then. My dad’s supportive of my decision. He wants me to be happy where I’m at. If he feels comfortable and my family is comfortable, that’s where it’ll be.”
With the drive from Detroit around four and a half hours, the proximity has also been a factor for Dotson.
“For it to be somewhat close to home, that’s a positive thing,” he said. “My family being able to come to games is a big deal for me.”
While Dotson is listed as an athlete in recruiting circles, he is being courted as a defensive back by Pitt, and it’s no secret that the Panthers and Collins have sent a growing number of players from that side of the field to the NFL.
“My goal is to go to the league,” Dotson said. “Coach Collins produces guys like that and obviously that would be a great fit and if he can get me to the league, then that’s my best option. It’s exciting to be able to work with somebody like him.”
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound athlete, who also stars on the track as an All-American, works at being the best version of himself.
“I work at what I do. I work every day because I know there’s someone out there that’s working. I got to get better every day to reach my goal of being in the NFL. If that’s taking time off of doing different things to get better, than I’ll do that.”
JUNIOR FILM!!
Offensive Stats: 43 rec 1653 all purpose yards 18 total tds‼️Defensive Stats: 66 Tackles 3 Int 11 Pbu‼️https://t.co/QsLhrT0qCj
— Elijah Dotson 4⭐️ATH (@ElijahDotson06) November 10, 2023
Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State are among other schools that are pushing hard to land Dotson.
Yeah he has a great relationship with… the highest bidder.
Whomever is the highest bidder, is who he will sign with.
That may be true but this recruit did not elude to that at all. He said he wants to play in the NFL. Maybe this guy is smart enough to not cash in now while waiting for that bigger more rewarding payday that could come down the road?