Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Secures Commitment from Utah State Transfer Defensive End
Blaine Spires may have gone out west to advance his football career over the last couple of seasons, but he will finish his journey much closer to home.
Spires — a 6-foot-3, 230-pound rising senior from Youngstown, Ohio — committed to Pitt on Saturday, following an official visit over the last couple of days, he told Pittsburgh Sports Now. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports first reported. He spent the last two seasons of his career at Utah State, after beginning his career at Bowling Green.
He’s the fourth transfer target to commit to Pitt, joining wide receiver Deuce Spann, kicker James London and offensive lineman Kendall Stanley.
He committed to Pitt over offers from Southern Miss, UTSA, Tulsa, Kent State, Nevada, UAB, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and JMU.
In four games this season, he recorded eight tackles (four solo), three tackles for loss and a sack.
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.
Pitt is replacing Nate Matlack in the starting lineup next season, and with Sincere Edwards and Chief Borders both hitting the transfer portal, it left Jimmy Scott as the lone returner. 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. Spires adds some solid depth on the edge at the very least.
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.
