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.
