Pitt FB Recruiting
Communication a Big Part of 3-Star OL Ben Bankowitz’s Interest in Pitt
2026 defensive back Chakai Scott wasn’t the only recruit from Florida to travel to Pittsburgh this week for a Panthers Spring practice.
On Thursday, 2026 3-star offensive lineman Ben Bankowitz at in to watch Pitt’s second practice of the spring. Bankowitz (6’3″, 290-pounds) attends Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida.
Bankowitz received a visit and an offer from Pitt area recruiter and running backs coach Lindsey Lamar on January 23rd. Along with Pitt, Bankowitz holds offers from Arizona, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Appalachian State, Old Dominion and Troy.
Over the last couple of months, Bankowitz has developed a strong relationship with Lamar and Pat Narduzzi but wanted to travel to Pittsburgh to check out the football aspects of Pitt and to meet his possible future positions coach Jeremy Darveau.
“My visit to Pitt on Thursday definitely exceeded my expectations,” Bankowitz told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I really liked it, loved the culture of the program, the coaches that I met, and the facilities were just great.”
Appreciate @Pitt_FB for having me out to Spring Practice. What an amazing place to be. Thank you! #H2P 🔵🟡@CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachDarveau @BrandonBowie_ @LindseyLamar5 @Liam_Egan_ @adamgorney @TomLoy247 @JohnGarcia_Jr @ChadSimmons_ @CharlesPower @PittGuru pic.twitter.com/4x7X8IOuxz
— Ben Bankowitz 3⭐️2026 IOL (@BenBankowitz) March 15, 2025
“When I got there, I measured in, went to o-line and team meetings, got a tour of the facilities before heading out to watch practice. Practice was good, I had the chance to talk with Coach Narduzzi and had lunch with Coach Darveau. After that, I went on a tour of the Pitt campus and then came back to the facility and had another conversation with Coach Darveau.”
The communication with the coaches on Thursday was excellent as it’s been throughout this entire process. Something that’s really impressed Bankowitz is how hands on Narduzzi has been in trying to recruit him.
“I talked with Coach Narduzzi during practice, so it was kind of small talk, but Coach is really a cool guy. Pitt’s recruitment of me has definitely been different than with other schools because I’m mostly in contact with Coach Narduzzi. He’s no doubt one of the coolest coaches that I’ve met, and you can tell that he’s real.”
“The fact that Coach Narduzzi is personally recruiting me shows how much interest they have in me,” said Bankowitz. “It’s also important talking and developing a relationship with the top guy. It means it’s real.”
The multiple conversations on Thursday with Darveau were also important because they were the most meaningful/impactful conversations he’s had with Pitt’s offensive line coach to date.
“Coach Darveau is a really good coach, and I can see why Pitt’s o-line and team is just good in general. The biggest thing that I saw from being at practice is how much the lineman like Coach Darveau. He’s just a cool guy and real, actually all the coaches and everyone at Pitt are real. They’re not coaches that try and fake you.”
As we finished up our conversation, Bankowitz told me that he made a visit last weekend to Central Florida and will be visiting Florida Atlantic next weekend. As far as official visits, he has one scheduled to Appalachian State from June 12-14.
No official visit is set yet with Pitt but that could be changing in the near future.
