Pitt FB Recruiting
Top-Tier 2026 Running Back Schedules Official Visit at Pitt
Pitt football has watched one of its top running back targets in the Class of 2026 grow over the past year and the Panthers are taking another step towards landing the four-star prospect.
Favour Akih — a 6-foot, 190-pound recruit out of Rutherford B Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio — camped at Pitt during the summer of 2024 before taking a gameday visit for Pitt-Virginia in the fall that led to an offer from the Panthers. Now, he has scheduled an official visit with the program on June 12-14.
“They are a team that took a chance on me early on so I would like to get an in depth visit and see how they work behind the scenes,” Akih told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
OV locked in!🦈 #H2P@Montgomery_DHHS @CoachWilsonO pic.twitter.com/crF2B0zDRC
— Favour Akih 4⭐️🇨🇲 (@FavourAkih) February 5, 2025
While Akih has built a relationship with running backs coach Lindsey Lamar and linebackers coach Ryan Manalac, he is looking to get an even better understanding of the program when he visits in June.
“I want to build a stronger relationship with the head coach. I want to see their academic advisors as well as meet the trainers, and see how the get better every day,” Akih said.
Akih is rated as a four-star according to On3, ESPN and Rivals and is a consensus top 25 back. On3 ranks him the highest as the No. 76 prospect in the 2026 cycle, while checking in as the seventh-best running back and fifth-highest recruit out of Ohio.
As a junior, Akih rushed for 1,653 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding three receiving scores on his way to First Team All-State recognition.
“I run the ball based off reaction, learning how my o-line blocks and their tendencies really helps slow the game down. I like to embrace contact and shed through tackles, and once I’m at the second level there’s no catching me,” Akih said about his play style back in November.
Pitt is a contender for Akih and a lot of it deals with his priorities matching what Pitt has to offer.
“I want to go somewhere where I would see success on and off the field,” he said. “Pitt does a really good job of developing their guys for the next level as well as making sure they graduate with a degree.”
Akih, who looks to narrow his recruitment by the end of February, holds offers from USC, Penn State, Michigan State, West Virginia, Miami, Louisville, NC State, Purdue, Indiana, Iowa State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, Cincinnati and others
Along with an official visit at Pitt, Akih will be at the University of Miami on June 20-22.
