Pitt Hosting Athletic New York Defensive End on Official Visit

Quante Gillians received his first collegiate offer from Pitt in January, and now Pitt is one of the first schools he’s scheduled for an official visit.

Gillians — a 6-foot-5, 245-pound athlete from Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y. — announced Tuesday afternoon that he will take an official visit to Pitt from June 13-15. He is also scheduled to visit Boston College (May 31) and Michigan State (June 21).

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He holds offers from Boston College, Buffalo, Colgate, Fordham, Georgia Tech, Lafayette, Michigan State, Minnesota, Monmouth, Pitt, SMU, Toledo, USF and West Virginia.

Blessed🙏🏾#H2P#uncommitted pic.twitter.com/ErxnmflHKG

— Quante Gillians (@QuanteGillains6) May 7, 2024

Former tight ends coach Tim Salem initially extended an offer to Gillians, but he’s obviously built a strong bond with the new coaching staff. The Panthers were his Division I offer on Jan. 4.

Gillians is a long, athletic target at tight end, but it appears that his future is on the defensive side of the football.

Gillians was an All-State honorable mention as a junior at Aquinas, playing tight end in a run-heavy offense and coming off the edge as a defensive end — voted a team captain.

He hauled in 10 receptions for 169 yards (16.9 yards per reception) and racked up 27 tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, a team-high 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a recovery and two pass breakups in 10 games last fall.

Gillians hasn’t been rated by the major recruiting services (247Sports, Rivals or On3), but as his recruitment continues this summer, that will change.

Gillians has not yet visited Pittsburgh, so his official visit — obviously — will be important. It’s still a long way to go until Gillians is scheduled to visit, with a month in today’s college football longer than ever, but if he makes it on campus, there’s a good chance he leaves as a Panther.

Pitt currently holds three commitments in the class of 2025, three-star wide receiver Bryce Yates (Chesterfield, Va.), three-star defensive lineman Trevor Sommers (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and three-star quarterback Mason Heintschel (Oregon, Ohio), and it’s not unlikely that a couple more soon join the class this spring.