Pitt Hosting Tons of Top Recruits from the WPIAL for Backyard Brawl

PITTSBURGH — Acrisure Stadium won’t just be filled with Pitt and West Virginia fans for the Backyard Brawl, there are tons of top WPIAL recruits in attendance, too.

Pitt is hosting tons of top local recruits from the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027, and it’s a huge opportunity for the coaching staff to make a serious impression on some of the top targets in the class.

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Pitt is rolling out the red carpet for the recruits. Here’s who’s in attendance:

Shep Turk — 2025 three-star offensive line from Thomas Jefferson High

Turk committed to Pitt earlier this year.

Matt Sieg — 2026 four-star athlete from Fort Cherry High

Sieg holds offers from Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, USC, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Brendan Alexander — 2026 three-star offensive lineman from Central Valley High

Alexander holds offers from Arkansas, Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State, Penn State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Da’Ron Barksdale — 2026 four-star athlete from Steel Valley High

Barksdale holds offers from Pitt, Syracuse, WVU and UNLV.

Kory Pitts — 2026 cornerback from North Allegheny High

David Davis — 2026 four-star athlete from Imani Christian

Davis holds offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Adam Gehm — 2026 athlete from Seneca Valley High

Offers from Miami Ohio, Syracuse and Wisconsin.

Jamar Allen — 2026 offensive lineman from Aliquippa High

Allen holds offers from RMU and Temple.

Gabriel Jenkins — 2027 cornerback Imani Christian Academy

Jenkins holds offers from Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Central Florida and West Virginia.

Khalil Taylor — 2027 four-star athlete from Seton LaSalle High

Taylor holds offers from Maryland, Penn State, Nebraska, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.

Larry Moon III — 2027 four-star cornerback from Aliquippa High

Moon holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Nebraska, NC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, Central, WVU and Wisconsin.

Jimmy Kalis — 2027 offensive tackle from Central Catholic High

Kalis holds offers from Duke, Maryland, North Carolina State, Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia.

Carter Bonner — 2027 athlete from Penn Hills High

Bonner holds offers from Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, UNLV and West Virginia.

Jayden Alexander — 2027 Athlete from Central Catholic High

Roman Thompson — 2027 linebacker from Central Catholic High

Thompson holds an offer from Akron.

Zachary Gleason Jr. — 2027 athlete from Central Catholic High

Gleason holds offers from Akron and Pitt.

Sa’Nir Brooks — 2027 running back from Aliquippa High

Brooks holds offers from Akron, Miami (Oh.) and West Virginia.