Pitt FB Recruiting
‘I’ve Always Loved Pitt:’ Offer Holds Deep Meaning for Reston Lehman
For Pitt football’s home opener against Kent State at the end of August, a handful of Peters Township football players were in attendance to watch one of their own star for the Panthers.
Since transferring to Pitt from Florida, safety Donovan McMillon has been a key piece of the Panthers defense and has made an impact on his alma mater, including defensive end Reston Lehman.
“I went to Pitt vs Kent State and asked Donavan McMillon for a towel, and he hooked me up and I wore it for a game and played great and have worn it ever since,” Lehman told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
The white towel with the blue and gold Pitt script has been noticeable over the past few weeks when Lehman takes the field and foreshadowed what came on Sunday.
Lehman – a 6-foot-4, 230-pound 2026 edge rusher – picked up an official offer from the Pitt Panthers.
“It means a lot,” Lehman said. “I’ve always loved Pitt. My dad went there to play lacrosse and I always went to games since I was a kid. Just to have the opportunity to go to a big-time school like Pitt is a true blessing that I still can’t wrap my head around it.”
#AGTG After a great conversation with @coachdaoust I’m blessed to receive an offer from The University of Pittsburgh!! @CoachDuzzPittFB @BatesBacker @coachcsanders @Pitt_FB @PghSportsNow @Coach_Plack pic.twitter.com/m1q1YCUxQF
— Reston Lehman (@Reston_Lehman) September 29, 2024
Pitt and the Lehman family have been long connected from his father playing lacrosse and mom taking a liking to the football program.
“They love it. My dad is an alum there and he knows the campus very well and shows me around. My mom is also a Pitt fan. She loves the coaching staff there,” Lehman said.
Defensive line coach Tim Daoust called Lehman to extend the offer as the two have built a strong relationship.
“My relationship with the coaching staff is at a great status and will continue to grow as I get further into my recruiting process. Coach Daoust is absolutely awesome he’s an amazing coach and a great man to talk to I really enjoy the conversations we have,” Lehman said.
As an defensive end recruit for the Panthers, Lehman knows about the recent history and success Pitt’s defensive line has had.
“That shows me and other recruits how much of an opportunity you get when you commit to Pitt. They take pride in their defense. I know Coach Narduzzi is a big defensive guy and they always have guys go to the league every year on defense and when I think of Pitt D-lineman my mind goes to Arron Donald,” Lehman said.
While Lehman was at Acrisure Stadium for the home opener, he followed that up with a return trip for the Backyard Brawl.
The Backyard Brawl was an experience like no other,” Lehman said.
With the Pitt offer, the Panthers immediately become a contender for the 2026 recruit.
“It stands high. I still have a lot of thinking to do on where to continue my career,” Lehman said.
One school that Pitt will compete hard with is the Penn State Nittany Lions, who offered Lehman Saturday night during a game day visit in Happy Valley.
“The Penn State visit was awesome,” he said. “They made it a great time and the offer was an unbelievable feeling. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact I have an opportunity to go to a school like Penn State to continue my football career.”
Along with Pitt and Penn State, Lehman also holds offers from Boston College, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Akron and Central Michigan.
While Lehman has a lot to think about over the next year in terms of his recruitment, he does know what matters most to him when it comes to picking a school.
“I narrow it down to three main categories: education, team culture and opportunity,” Lehman said.
