Pitt FB Recruiting
Top 2026 WR Target Gary Hadley Jr. Talks Pitt Recruitment
As 2026 Pitt wide receiver target Gary Hadley Jr. navigates his recruitment, he is considering some important priorities that go beyond the field.
Hadley is looking at programs that can develop him further not only as a player, but also as an individual to prepare him for life after football.
“The priorities for a program I’m looking for, I would say somewhere I find home; somewhere that fits me. I can be a man, grow, meet new people, build relationships and bonds,” he told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Pitt offered Hadley — a three-star receiver out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Florida — in January and since then, he has learned from the coaching staff that it is a program that can do exactly what he is looking for when it comes to development.
“They’re all great people. I feel it may be the best situation for me. I can build, be a better man, a better person,” Hadley said.
Offensive coordinator Kade Bell and wide receivers coach JJ Laster have spearheaded Hadley’s recruitment and view him as a top priority receiver in the 2026 cycle, which is part of the reason he has locked in an official visit for June 5-7.
“It means a lot to me,” Hadley on what its like knowing Pitt is pushing hard for him. “It means keep going, keep striving to get greater to be the best at what I do. Get better, strong, faster, just everything.”
Since the Panthers offered Hadley in January, Laster has taken the steps in pursuing the talented receiver out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. with an in-person visit.
Blessed to receive a Offer from the
University of Pitt! #AGTG✝️@CoachJjLaster @Redskins32 @5manfree @D1Blackwell8 @Coach_Harden_8 @On3Recruits @Andrew_Ivins @247recruiting @Rivals pic.twitter.com/5Z7nXJ1L9g— GARY “ Deuce” HADLEY JR. 3⭐️ (@DEUCES__2) January 17, 2025
“Me and coach JJ kind of got in contact with each other. Talked a little bit, got to know each other and it went off from there. It was an in-school visit. It was a great visit. We talked, communicated, got to know each other a little bit,” Hadley said.
Hadley has kept an eye on what Pitt’s offense has done in Year 1 under Bell with the impact of players like Raphael “Poppi” Williams, Desmond Reid and others.
“It’s a very good offense. I feel their offense very much fits me. They have a bunch of explosive players. I just feel I can grow at Pitt.”
The 6-foot-3, 184-pound Hadley says the Pitt coaching staff likes his all-around playmaking ability, but there is another characteristic he considers as his best.
“The best attribute about my game is basically being a team player. I like to see all my other teammates get the ball in their hands, make sure they are doing well, pushing them to be great on the field and off the field as well,” he said.
Hadley is back at Cardinal Gibbons High School after spending the years at Blanche Ely in Pompano Beach, Fla. During his junior season, Hadley hauled in 30 passes for 740 yards (24.7 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. He also filled in as a backup quarterback, completing 33-of-44 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
A lil work from this past weekend at “BATTLE OF MIAMI” @D1Blackwell8 @JhakariHarriso1 pic.twitter.com/gYekaEvqg0
— GARY “ Deuce” HADLEY JR. 3⭐️ (@DEUCES__2) January 24, 2023
When Hadley makes his way to Pittsburgh for the first time in June, he is excited to check out the area and meet new people within the program.
Along with Pitt, Hadley has scheduled an official visit with Tulane. He is also expecting to visit the likes of UCF, LSU, UCLA, Missouri and Indiana during the spring window.
His overall offer sheet stands at Pitt, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Indiana, UCLA, Minnesota, UCF, Appalachian State, Eastern Michigan, FAU, Georgia Southern, Ohio, Temple, Tulane, Western Kentucky and Alabama State.
Pitt is a school that stands in his top 10 at the moment while he lets his recruitment play out with no commitment timeline in sight just yet.
Check out the junior Hudl highlights of Gary Hadley Jr. here.
