Sincere Edwards was committed to UCF before he flipped his commitment to Pitt in high school, but it turns out that he’ll get to play for the Golden Knights after all.
Edwards — a 6-foot-2, 245-pound sophomore from Apopka, Fla. — committed to UCF on Thursday, the program announced on social media. He spent one season at Pitt before entering the transfer portal earlier this month.
Pitt did a good job locking up its important transfer portal risk players this offseason, but Edwards was one that go away. He had a bright future in Pittsburgh, but now it’s only a what could’ve been situation.
Edwards initially committed to Pitt as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, landing him over UCF and a handful of Power Four programs. He built a strong bond with former defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
Edwards burned his redshirt this season, featuring in the defensive end rotation as a true freshman. He racked up 17 tackles (eight solo), six tackles for loss, three sacks and two pass breakups in 13 games this season.
It’s an unfortunate break for the Panthers, but the Pitt coaching staff — and Alliance 412, by extension — did all it could to keep him around.
Pitt needs to replace Nate Matlack in the starting lineup next season, and with Edwards and Borders hitting the portal, Jimmy Scott is the only defensive end with legitimate experience. Nate Temple has a chance to return, and Maverick Gracio, Zach Crothers and signees Denim Cook and Julian Anderson will be in the mix.
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 — and it needs to be.
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