Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Showing Interest in Utah State Transfer Defensive End
Pitt added its first couple of transfer portal players Friday, and that’s only the beginning. The Panthers will be very active in adding at a few positions in the coming days and weeks.
There’s a clear emphasis to add at wide receiver, offensive lineman and defensive lineman, and the coaching staff has shown interest in a former Utah State defensive end.
Blaine Spires — a 6-foot-3, 230-pound rising senior from Youngstown, Ohio — has received interest from Pitt, he told Pittsburgh Sports Now. Spires is coming off a season in which he only played four games due to injury.
In four games, he recorded eight tackles (four solo), three tackles for loss and a sack.
He’s received offers from Southern Miss, UTSA, Tulsa, Kent State, Nevada, UAB, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and JMU since entering the portal.
Utah State DE transfer Blaine Spires recruiting update:
• Southern Mississippi (Offered)
• UT San Antonio (Offered)
• Tulsa (Offered)
• Kent State (Offered)
• Nevada (Offered)
• UAB (Offered)
• Arkansas State (Offered)
• South Alabama (Offered)
• Coastal Carolina… pic.twitter.com/ziys9HTkMi— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) December 20, 2024
According to PFF, he played 178 defensive snaps this season. He’s credited with 11 pressures, four pressures and six quarterback hits — serving as the Aggies’ top pass rusher when healthy.
Spires was originally a two-star recruit in the class of 2019, committing to Bowling Green. He spent three seasons at Bowling Green, racking up 66 tackles (34 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a recovery and a pass breakup.
In two seasons at Utah, missing all but four games of his second season, he recorded 35 tackles (17 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
It remains to be seen whether the relationship will progress to the point where Pitt extends an official offer, but things move fast in the transfer portal.
Pitt will need to replace Nate Matlack in the starting lineup next season, but there’s a solid base returning with Jimmy Scott (who already announced he’s returning next season), Sincere Edwards and Chief Borders. There are some younger pass rushers on the roster, but it’s been a priority for the coaching staff to target defensive ends in the portal.
Pitt has its core defensive tackles in Sean FitzSimmons, Nick James and Isaiah Neal (with Francis Brewu and Jahsear Whittington primed for bigger seasons), but the need for edge rushers will be addressed.
That’s cool but I’m waiting for an interesting offensive lineman or two. The most glaring need.
I thought I saw Tyrese Fearbry in the portal. Maybe a return to Pittsburgh could be in order.
He’s received offers from Southern Miss, UTSA, Tulsa, Kent State, Nevada, UAB, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and JMU since entering the portal. Again this isn’t a guy anyone in power 4 is after. He wasn’t even a top player at Utah State which has significantly better players in the mountain west than the MAC. This is a depth player at best he’s not a power 4 starter probably not even rotational player at that level. Just because he’s from Youngstown doesn’t mean we should take him Flinstone! What are they doing. 🤦
Marty.
He has potential to play at this power 4 level without having to pay six figures. You are the same kind of person who would criticize Pitt for signing Desmond Reid., who had no power 5 offers.
You are so negative. It does not help Pitt recruit with such a negative fan base.
You have not scouted this player. But you are the expert?
Donate at least $100 k to the program. Otherwise please stop with the negativity and make positive comments and be more welcoming to our new players.
You have no clue if I watched his tape, played college football or if I’m a season ticket holder. Fact is this isn’t a player a big time program would want and to be honest you’re part of the problem happily accepting to be average at best.
For Pitt to be successful in this NIL environment, we have to find players under the radar. If you insist on buying players from big time programs, then be a fan of a program that has a $30 million payroll. Then you can celebrate getting players from “big time” programs.
Meanwhile, I will support a financial underdog, scouting and offering hungry players with upside potential.
Have you ever donated a 100k or even a season ticket holder? I highly doubt it bud.
Marty, “You have no clue if I watched his tape, played college football or if I’m a season ticket holder”
Your quote tells us you’ve done neither.
Seems that Justus Boone just committed to Arkansas not long ago.
I’m starting to think the 412 Alliance offers $4.12 for players.
We actually had a guy that transferred to Utah State from Pitt in Teague Anderson and I saw that he signed with N.C. State recently and had a decent transfer rating in the portal.
Instead of trying to sign offensive lineman in the portal it would be nice if we could properly identify the good ones we already had and let go.