Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Building Unwavering Relationship with 2026 WPIAL Four-Star
As Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi was preparing to travel to Charlotte, N.C. for the ACC Kickoff, he wanted some input from a local WPIAL recruit on something.
Narduzzi was looking for some inspiration on what type of suit he should wear. For that, he reached out to 2026 Steel Valley product Da’Ron Barksdale.
He said, ‘What type of suit should I wear?’ I said go with the all black. I ain’t never seen the all black,” Barksdale told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
While Narduzzi let Barksdale know that he opted for a blue suit, the conversation held a deeper meaning for the Pitt target and it’s another example of how the program is keeping a close relationship with him.
“It means a lot,” Barksdale said. “As a head coach to text a kid everyday about little things, it means something to me. It might be their job, but some coaches might send a flyer. It’s different, he actually texts me and he called me about three weeks ago just to see how I was doing.”
Barksdale – a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back prospect – is an important target in the Class of 2026. He holds four-star ranking from Rivals.com, while being rated as the eighth-best player in the state of Pa.
On Wednesday, Barksdale made his way back down to the Pitt facility continue developing his connection with the coaching staff.
“It was great. Every time I go there, it’s just straight hospitality. It feels like home,” Barksdale said. “Coach Narduzzi, coach [Cory] Sanders, coach [Archie] Collins, they all stay in contact.”
Assistant head coach and secondary coach Sanders has been in constant communication with Barksdale since day one of his recruitment.
“It’s great. He’s one of the coaches that I can say always stay connected to me. During the season when I was hurt, he would stay connected to me. I don’t think there was a time he didn’t stay connected to me,” Barksdale said.
Those relationships are a priority for Barksdale and his close ties with the Pitt coaches have put the program in great positioning in a tight recruiting process that includes other offers such as West Virginia, Syracuse, Akron, Temple, UNLV and additional high-end interest from schools like Michigan State, Michigan, Alabama and Georgia.
“Coach Cory makes me like Pitt,” Barksdale said. “Even though it’s a great program, but I love Pitt. It’s the fact that I have that connection with him. They will make it far in my list when I commit just because of the connections we have.”
The importance of connections are so high to Barksdale that if he does not have a relationship with a school, no matter if it’s a top-tier program, he will not make it a school of choice.
“I want to have that one thing to take a risk and that’s connections. If I go to a program and have no clue who’s out there and I like the campus, but there’s not a connection with the coaches, I won’t even look at them,” he said.
Barksdale has a closer bond with the Panthers other than the coaching staff. Former Steel Valley star and current Pitt safety Cruce Brookins has a tight relationship with Barksdale.
“We call each other a lot just about life. I stayed at his dorm before. We work out down Pitt a couple times. It’s just a brotherhood,” Barksdale said.
Brookins tries his best to attract Barksdale to Pitt and has the help of other WPIAL talent from the area on the roster, including Munhall native Ty Yuhas.
“It don’t stop,” Barksdale said about them tempting him to join the Panthers. “Ty, he’s from over here and we played little league together with all of us. Nahki Johnson grew up around here. Julian Dugger, we grew up playing him. They always tell me to come up there and commit asap.”
Living within proximity of the South Side, Barksdale has become a frequent visitor of the Pitt program, making up to 10 trips now, he says.
Had a great time and experience at Pitt junior day over the weekend!! Thanks too @BrandonBowie_ @coachcsanders @CoachDuzzPittFB and the Pitt nation 🔵🟡@sharkomartin @DulinOlando @210ths @Evolve2tenths pic.twitter.com/Yv8Hy1vkan
— Da’Ron“Daedae”Barksdale⚡️4⭐️DB (@DaronBarksdale) February 8, 2024
There’s a business-like approach to each and every visit for Barksdale when he makes it down to the school.
“It’s just learning new things and see how programs are ran at the next level,” he said. “If I go to another college, I can see how other programs run things.”
Barksdale believes he would have committed in the near future if it wasn’t for being sidelined with an injury just two games into his sophomore season.
“I would probably committed this year if I played throughout the season. The thing is, I only played two games and my film was three, four minutes of good film,” he said.
As Barksdale prepares for his junior season, Pitt will certainly keep close tabs on one of its most sought-after recruits.
Better hope Penn St doesn’t want him.