Pitt FB Recruiting
Report: 2025 5-Star Edge Rusher Visiting for Pitt vs. Clemson
Pitt has a massive opportunity later this month against No. 23 Clemson, a chance to make a push for the College Football Playoff, and there will be a lot of recruits in town.
One of those will be a five-star from Florida.
Javion Hilson — a 6-foot-4, 235-pound five-star defensive end from Cocoa in Cocoa, Fla. in the class of 2025 — is taking a visit to Pitt for the game against the Tigers, according to Adam Gorney of Rivals. He’s coming off a visit to Syracuse last weekend.
Hilson holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF and USC.
He took visits to Florida, Texas, UCF and Florida State over the summer.
Pitt was one of the first programs to reach out to Hilson, extending an offer nearly two years ago in January of 2023. Former defensive line coach Charlie Partridge started the relationship, but clearly, the new coaching staff has maintained his status as a top target.
Hilson is in the midst of a standout senior season, racking up 57 tackles (35 solo), 16 tackles for loss, a team-high nine sacks, a forced fumble, a recovery, a pass breakup and two blocked field goals.
247Sports rates him as the 41st-ranked recruit in the class (sixth-ranked edge and 10th-ranked recruit from Florida) while On3 rates him as the 46th-ranked recruit in the class (third-ranked edge and seventh-ranked recruit from Florida).
Rivals rates him as the 16th-ranked recruit in the class (top-ranked weakside defensive end and top-ranked recruit from Florida).
It will be important to make a lasting impression on Hilson during his visit later this month if the Panthers are to have any chance of securing his commitment before a scheduled Dec. 4 commitment. He would obviously be an elite addition to the class.
Pitt currently holds commitments from three-star defensive end Trevor Sommers (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), three-star defensive end Julian Anderson (Blairstown, N.J.) and three-star linebacker/edge Denim Cook (Columbus, Ohio).
