Pitt FB Recruiting
‘It Means Everything:’ Pitt Offers Clairton Freshman Brandon Murphy
When Pitt football and Clairton High School are mentioned in the same breath, the first player that comes to mind is legendary wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who excelled at both schools before going to the National Football League.
Boyd, who won four WPIAL and state titles at Clairton before setting the Pitt program record for receptions and receiving yards, is an idol for young Clairton players like freshman Brandon Murphy.
“A lot of us look up to him and want to be that Tyler Boyd and be that next dude from Clairton,” Murphy told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Murphy — a 6-foot, 170-pound athlete in the Class of 2028 — has an opportunity to follow in Boyd’s footsteps after picking up an official offer from the Pitt Panthers on Saturday.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @coachcsanders I am truly blessed to receive an offer from the university of pittsburgh. @Pitt_FB @bears_hc @CoachDuzzPittFB @TheJuiceOnline @WPIAL_Insider @TheWPIALEdition @PRZPAvic pic.twitter.com/bQVHMbLapb
— Brandon Murphy (@BrandonMurphy04) January 11, 2025
“It means everything,” Murphy said about receiving the offer. “I’ve always dreamed of getting offers from schools, especially from the hometown Pitt and it’s finally coming true.
“It’s kind of crazy because a lot of people from Clairton went there and now I get the offer from there and have the chance to go there,” he added.
The offer came from assistant head coach and safeties coach Cory Sanders while Murphy attended Pitt Junior Day on Saturday.
“I received it at the end of the day right before I left. The experience was great. I loved the energy. The coaches made me feel like Pitt was a good place. They talked to me about different things, they taught me a few things and overall it was a good experience.”
Pitt is recruiting Murphy at defensive back as the coaching staff highlighted what they see in him.
“[Sanders] was telling me to keep working hard and keep elevating my game. They like my physicality and explosiveness,” Murphy said.
As any defensive back getting recruited by the Panthers, the recent success of sending secondary players to the NFL resonated with Murphy.
“I think they can develop me for the next level and help me get where I want to be,” he said.
The Pitt offer comes as Murphy’s fourth, along with Temple, Akron and Syracuse, who offered him before even playing a snap of high school football.
“It’s been real good,” Murphy said about his recruitment so far. “I finished my ninth grade season and I’m already getting some offers. Still three years to go, so we’ll see how it goes from here.”
Clairton’s Brandon Murphy against Greensburg Central Catholic. Sept. 13, 2024 // Ed Thompson. PSN.
Murphy excelled for Clairton in his freshman season with 102 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two passes defended and a fumble recovery. He added 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Clairton put together a 13-1 season and reached the Class 1A WPIAL championship at Acrisure Stadium before falling to Fort Cherry, 21-20.
“It was a great season,” Murphy said. “I got to bond with my teammates really well. We built a brotherhood. We were really trying to change things.”
With his freshman season in the books and four Division I offers in his pocket, Brandon Murphy is already working towards next season.
“I’m trying to improve on my speed. I want to get bigger, faster, stronger.”
