Pitt FB Recruiting
Standout 2026 3-Star OL ‘Blessed’ to Receive Pitt Offer
Edward Baker has known Pitt running backs coach Lindsey Lamar for a while, since before Lamar took the job at Pitt. So, there’s a solid bond there. But for one reason or another, Baker waited a bit to receive an offer from the Panthers.
Baker — a 6-foot-3, 315-pound three-star offensive lineman from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md. — finally picked up that Pitt offer from Lamar on Wednesday, and it was certainly a good feeling.
“The Pitt offer is amazing,” Baker told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “It’s something I’ve been waiting on for a while now. Me and coach Lamar, we’ve been in contact since Week 3 of the season. … But he came back. He checked me out today, he’s seen what he needed to see and he gave me an opportunity. And I was blessed to get it.”
Pitt is just the latest program to extend an offer to the fast-rising offensive lineman in the class of 2026, joining the likes of Alabama, Boston College, Charlotte, JMU, Marshall, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina State, Texas A&M, Toledo, UCF, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
AGTG🙏🏾 Blessed to Receive my 14th D1 Offer From The University of Pittsburgh #H2P @LindseyLamar5 @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachMessay @ryanburbrink @lbcoachchris pic.twitter.com/oHTWpKhALA
— ᴇᴅᴡᴀʀᴅ”ʙɪɢ ꜱᴋɪʟʟꜱ”ʙᴀᴋᴇʀ’ 2026’ 4⭐️ (@3edwardbaker) January 8, 2025
Lamar made the trip to St. Frances on Wednesday, as part of a recruiting trip in the DMV area, and it allowed him to reconnect with Baker for the first time since the season ended. And the talks, like usual, were “amazing.”
“We’ve already had a little relationship going from before the offer even started,” Baker said. “He was talking about how he wants me to come be a part of this great program they got, and we’re working on getting a visit up. They want me to come up this Saturday, so we’re gonna try to see what I can do to get up there. So, we’re gonna try to get that figured out now.”
It’s Junior Day at Pitt this weekend, an opportunity for the coaching staff to get its top targets in the class on campus before the start of spring. Baker is certainly growing into a top target.
The relationship with Lamar (who Baker said is a great dude, someone who keeps it real) is obviously a big factor, but he’s familiar with some of the Pitt players, too. He played alongside Isaiah Neal at St. Frances and faced off against Zach Crothers last season.
Baker has lot watched a few Pitt games over the years, checking out the Cincinnati and Toledo games this season, partially to check in on his old teammate and partially to check out how the Panthers play.
“I think it’s definitely something I could come be a part of,” Baker said. “I would love to check out one of their practices and see how they coach and speak to their players. See the O-line coach and how he develops the guys up there. I for sure know I could fit in their scheme. They run a great offense, good running the ball and passes here and there.”
Baker feels like he could play all five offensive line spots if called upon, but since he’s “shorter” at 6-foot-3, he knows his future might be on the interior. Still, he just wants the opportunity to show he can play somewhere as early as possible.
He’s coming off a junior season at St. Frances in which he allowed zero sacks, earning All-Metro honors for the second time.
247Sports rates Baker as the 34th-ranked interior offensive lineman and ninth-ranked recruit from Maryland. He hasn’t been ranked by Rivals or On3, but that seems likely to change this spring as he takes additional visits. His offer sheet is impressive.
There’s been a lot of recent interest, and he’s hearing from just about every school to extend an offer. And while there isn’t a timeline right now, Baker is looking for a school with a coach who will develop him — and stay. Stability is important.
Pitt is one of the latest schools to offer, but the foundation for a strong relationship has been established.
“Pitt is definitely in the top 12,” Baker said. “Right now, I don’t know where they’re at in the top 12 because I gotta go back and check, but they’re definitely in the top 12. We already had a relationship before they even offered me and there’s a lot of familiar faces up there that I’m aware of.
“So, I know I can always just go ask them — I was just talking to Ghost (Neal) when I got the offer about the program and stuff like that. They’re someone that I’m looking at. If they continue to recruit me the way they’ve been recruiting me and show the interest, they will definitely fit into the top three when it comes to a decision.”
