Pitt FB Recruiting
2025 4-Star Linebacker Sets Up Official Visit to Pitt in June
Pitt has locked in an official visit in June with a fast-rising Texas linebacker.
CJ Ross — a 6-foot-2, 200-pound four-star linebacker from North Shore High in Houston, Tx. — told Pittsburgh Sports Now that he will be taking an official visit to Pittsburgh from June 13-15. He has also scheduled an OV to Houston.
Pitt was the first Power Five school to extend Ross an offer, back on Feb. 2, and he’s since received offers from Baylor, Cal, Houston, LSU and Yale. He also holds offers from Arkansas State, Texas State, UTEP, UTSA and Montana State.
Randy Bates made an in-school visit to North Shore earlier this month, back when the contact period window was still open, and while he didn’t extend an offer then and there, he made sure to hop on a call with Ross and give him the good news right after.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @BatesBacker, I’m BLESSED to receive my sixth D1 offer from the University of Pittsburgh to further my academic and athletic career. I’d like to thank #GOD, my #FAMILY @RecruitEastside @coachgcross @jackson_dipVYPE @SWiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/GBpFArMwiS
— Charles CJ Ross (@Legendary_Ross_) February 2, 2024
“It’s a blessing,” Ross told Pittsburgh Sports Now earlier this month. “It’s a great school, amazing facilities. We actually talked two days ago, and we kept in contact, he watched my film, he liked my film and he gave me a call to let me know.”
Pitt is obviously a recent offer, but he’s heard a lot from Bates since the offer was extended — even if it’s the first time he’s heard from the staff. The Pitt coaching staff sees him as a linebacker at the next level.
“(The coaching staff) just like how I play,” Ross said. “Very versatile player.”
He didn’t know much about Pitt or the city of Pittsburgh before receiving the offer, but he’s done his research and heard a lot from the coaching staff already — including how the Panthers share a facility with the Steelers, which certainly stands out to Ross.
“It’s amazing, I love what (Pitt has) going on,” Ross said. “They’re sending many guys to the next level, and without football, they still have something going if you don’t make it to the next level. You can go do something with your degree.”
Ross was a major cog in the defense of one of the best high school teams in not just Texas but the United States as a junior. He racked up 71 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two pass breakups. And on the track this winter, he’s already legged out a personal best 10.63 in the 100-meter dash.
247Sports rates Ross as the 55th-ranked linebacker and 73rd-ranked recruit from Texas, holding an 87 grade. On3 is even higher on him, rating him as the 263rd-ranked recruit in the class (27th-ranked linebacker and 40th-ranked recruit from Texas).
As his recruiting process has picked up in a major way over the last month, he’s received more options. But he’s still looking forward to taking some visits this spring (hearing how a coaching staff will utilize his talents and how he fits into a program) before narrowing down his recruitment.
Pitt has been able to stand out through the early process, enough so to earn one of his official visits over the summer. And it seems likely he’ll be in town for a spring practice.
“(Pitt has) all the resources,” Ross said. “They send many guys to the NFL, amazing coaching staff, so that’s really it.”
June, which will likely have three official visit weekends, is still rather far away, but it’s clear that the Pitt coaching staff is looking ahead. There will be additional official visits locked in in the coming days, weeks and months.
