Pitt Continues to Show Love to 2027 Central Catholic DB on Spring Visit

Central Catholic 2027 defensive back Zachary Gleason Jr. is off to a busy spring visit schedule and that will carry on as he plans on traveling from Wisconsin down to Atlanta, Ga.

While Gleason continues to develop relationships with programs from across the country, Pitt will always have a strong standing within his recruitment.

Pitt offered Gleason following a camp during the summer of 2024 and he has returned for a handful of visits, including this past Saturday to check out a Panthers’ spring practice.

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“I love seeing those guys compete,” Gleason told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “They go at it hard in practice more than most of these other programs that I’ve seen. They really love to compete with each other and make each other better, which I like.

“I love how the coaches show me a lot of love always coming up to talk to me giving me conversations and asking me how things are going about football.”

Safeties coach Cory Sanders was the one to offer Gleason after watching him closely during the Pitt Rising Stars camp. Saturday provided an opportunity to connect once again with Sanders, along with cornerbacks coach Archie Collins.

“Always when I go up there, they show a lot of love, talk to me and ask how things are going and show their support to me. That’s what I really enjoy from going over there. They always give me their time. After practice, coach Collins called us into his office to talk to us about football and how they do things at Pitt, which is really special,” Gleason said.

Pitt has yet to specify where they see Gleason, who stands at 6-foot, 165 pounds, fitting into the secondary. All that matters is Gleason can slot in wherever they need him

“Me and coach Collins and coach Sanders talked about this the other day; they’re trying to see where I fill out eventually. They like me at both. When the time comes, that’s a decision we will have to make.

“They like how aggressive I am playing corner. That’s why they think I can play safety, too because I’m an aggressive DB. They like how I can take coaching in and use it right away on the field. When they offered me at camp, they liked my man-to-man coverage skills, good reach, good size. Overall, how versatile and how I can fit in where they want to have me in their program.”

During the fall, Gleason took the opportunity to take a gameday visit for the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. He also remembers going to games growing up, including Pitt’s victory over Clemson in 2021, which makes the Panthers’ interest in him that much more important.

Thank you @Pitt_FB for having for the backyard brawl great game! H2P 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/WNnYRON2rB

— Zachary Gleason JR (@ZacharyGleason_) September 17, 2024

“It means a lot. Growing up, hometown kid, you look up to the Pitt players going to games you really enjoy watching Pitt and being a Pitt fan. Them offering me and expressing hospitality towards me and my family means a lot. Growing up watching them, you always want to be a part of that family that they have and it’s a big offer to have being a hometown kid,” Gleason said.

The Pitt program is also standing out to Gleason’s parents, who have been vital to his recruitment process.

“They like Pitt. Every opportunity we’re going to get, we’re going to like because it’s an opportunity for me and my family. Pitt really stands out being hometown. They really think Pitt would be a good option for me,” he said.

At this point, the WPIAL product holds offers from Pitt, Syracuse, Indiana, California, Akron, Miami (OH) and Sacramento State.

On Monday, Zachary Gleason Jr. was in Columbus, Ohio taking an unofficial visit with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

I had an amazing time visiting @OhioStateFB can’t wait to get back on campus!#GoBucks 🌰 @OGWalt_ @CoachMHunter @TonyJCoach @taverj @PCC_FOOTBALL @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/qPxHNvZkHb

— Zachary Gleason JR (@ZacharyGleason_) March 17, 2025

“It was great to meet the coaches up there and meet them face to face,” he said. “They seem like they have a strong interest in me. I was talking to the DB coach, safeties coach, assistant DB coach. All those dudes seem really interested in me. They like my film, they like my size. They want to get me out to camp this summer and potentially offer me depending on my performance.”

Gleason further told PSN that he has upcoming spring visits with Penn State, Wisconsin, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Check out the sophomore Hudl highlights of Zachary Gleason Jr. here.