Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Extends Offer to Another Imhotep Star, 2026 3-Star LB
Imhotep Charter has produced Pitt players Javon McIntyre and Jahsear Whittington over the last few recruiting cycles, and Charles Belser has been looking to follow in their footsteps.
Now, Belser — a 6-foot-2, 215-pound three-star linebacker from Philadelphia, Pa. — has a chance to do so.
He picked up an official offer from Pitt safeties coach Cory Sanders on Thursday during an in-school visit, adding to a list of offers that includes Duke, Indiana, Kent State, Maryland, Notre Dame, Penn State, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia Tech.
“It means a lot, especially since we got one of my former teammates out there, Jahsear Whittington,” Belser told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I’ve seen how good he’s doing, I’ve seen the development. So, it means a lot to me that a big program like that is interested.”
Blessed to say I have received my 10th offer from University of Pittsburgh @coachcsanders @cy_woodland @yusuftribble @TepFootball pic.twitter.com/v2FED6QJUw
— Charles Belser (@chucky33333333) January 9, 2025
Belser has been building a bond with Sanders for a while now, which has been made easier by Sanders’ frequent stops to Imhotep, but the relationship has progressed with the official offer — Sanders is a coach Belser could see himself playing for.
“We just talk about life stuff,” Belser said. “The bond is getting there, we just talk on a normal, personal level. He tells me about the program, too.”
The connection with Sanders is there, as is the connection with Whittington and the fellow Philly kids, and Belser has grown fond of the program because of those connections. He likes what he sees.
“I actually really like Pitt,” Belser said. “I like how they’re run from what I hear, and from what I see. I like how they’re run the program down there. I like the facilities and stuff down there, too.”
Pitt, and the other schools recruiting Belser, see him as a linebacker. And he certainly made an impact as a junior at Imhotep. According to MaxPreps, Belser led the squad with 53 tackles (19 solo), eight tackles for loss and an interception in eight games.
“I would fit great,” Belser said. “It looks like my type of defense.”
247Sports rates Belser as the 45th-ranked linebacker and 24th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania while On3 rates him as the 54th-ranked linebacker and 27th-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania. Rivals has given him a 5.5 Rating.
Belser is hearing from Duke, Michigan State, Penn State and Syracuse, but it’s still too early to narrow anything down. Pitt is in contention, as are all the schools currently recruiting him.
He’s starting to plan his visits now, which mostly include Junior Day visits right now, and he isn’t sure yet about making it out for one of Pitt’s over the next couple of weeks. But the Panthers are in consideration.
Belser is looking for a school to make him feel at home during his upcoming visits. That will be an important factor in wherever he decides to commit.
“They just gotta be like my second home,” Belser said. “Not even just on the football field, I just want to be able to give back when I get to the league and to have it be like family.”
