Pitt FB Recruiting
2025 Wide Receiver Officially Decommits from Pitt
Last Wednesday, Pitt football signed every player that verbally pledged to the program heading into the early National Signing Day except for one prospect.
That recruit happened to be Kha’leal Sterling — a 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide receiver who has been committed to Pitt since June — and he announced on Monday via X that he has officially decommitted from Pitt.
Thank you all to the University Of Pitt coaching staff! 🤝🏾 I will be de committing from the university of Pittsburgh. #Love³
— Kha’leal Sterling ³ (@ks3hree) December 9, 2024
It was only a matter of time before Sterling backed off his pledge from the Panthers after the program signed three wide receivers, including a surprise commitment from Cam Sapp, who flipped from FAU. Bryce Yates out of Matoaca High School in Virginia and Tony Kinsler from Spruce Creek High School in Florida make up the other wide out signees, leaving Sterling as the odd man out.
Sterling is a three-star prospect from Miami Central High School in Miami, Fla. 247Sports ranks him as the 180th receiver in the 2025 class.
He originally committed to Pitt on June 22 after taking on official visit to the program. He selected the Panthers over other offers that included Arizona State, Arkansas, Bowling Green, FAU, FIU, Indiana, Liberty, Oregon, SMU, Temple, Tulane, UAB and West Virginia.
On his official visit, Sterling connected with wide receivers coach JJ Laster and offensive coordinator Kade Bell as he learned how the Panthers initially planned on using him in the offense.
“Kade’s offense, everything is about moving fast, everything he wants is playing fast,” Sterling told Pittsburgh Sports Now in June. “He wants me to get in and out of my breaks and make plays with the ball in my hands. So, I love the feel for the offense coming up.
“He just wants me to be a Tyreek Hill, Zay Flowers type of guy in that offense. That’s what he always preached to me, so he wants me to bring that fast route running, that crispy route running coming in and out of breaks, catching the ball in open space, making the first man miss, YAC, and just making a lot of plays with the ball in my hands.”
During his senior season with Miami Central, Sterling hauled in 12 receptions for 265 yards and three touchdowns.
