Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Visits Refreshing for WPIAL Three-Star DB as Recruitment Picks Up
Returning to the South Side facility to take in a Pitt practice never gets old for Steel Valley 2026 defensive back Da’Ron Barksdale.
Not only is it a chance for him to strengthen his relationships with the coaching staff and check out his former teammate Cruce Brookins, but he also takes it as a learning opportunity.
“It’s always comfortable there,” Barksdale told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “It’s always amazing there. Being down there, it’s refreshing in a way. You can learn so much just listening to the coaches. You’re seeing everything at a high pace and it’s so competitive.”
Barksdale, who Pitt views as a safety target, has now visited twice during spring camp and has taken a multitude of trips beforehand to check out the program. He was in attendance for several games in the fall, including the Backyard Brawl and for the Syracuse matchup.
Playing for Pitt holds deep meaning for the three-star prospect, especially with the lineage of Brookins and Paris Ford going from Steel Valley to Pitt.
Steel Valley defensive back Da’Ron Barksdale vs OLSH. Oct. 11, 2024 / Nathan Breisinger. PSN.
“It would mean a lot. I would be the third person going to Pitt as a safety from our school. I always tell them, I’m going to be the best out of us three, but that’s some big shoes to fill. I’m close to home. My mom can drive to see me any time she wants. I can go home any time I want. It’s always been a dream to play at the biggest level in your hometown; let all your friends see you and support you,” Barksdale said.
Pitt offered Barksdale all the way back in May of 2023. The Panthers have continued to show a lot of interest with safeties coach Cory Sanders leading the way, but they want to see more of Barksdale’s on-field work before they can officially pull the trigger.
“They want to see me down at camp. They want to see me camp one day just to see if I can move still after my injury. Whenever they see me after my injury, we can talk about other things. They still love me, no matter what,” Barksdale said.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Barksdale tore his MCL in just the second game of his sophomore season after compiling a nice offer sheet with several Power Four schools involved.
Barksdale’s injury had it’s negatives, but in the end, he learned a lot more from the experience.
“It was rough,” he said. “I was staying positive overall. I was staying close to people. It was a humbling thing. What I had to learn was everything ain’t going to come to you, so you have to stay on top of everything. Comparison’s a thief of joy. I always used to compare myself being hurt. I feel like just keeping my head down, focusing on myself because who knows, I could come back and be one of the best players you’ve ever seen. My main goal is to make it to the league. I just wanted to be back.”
Barksdale returned to action as a junior this past September. He compiled 1,100 rushing yards, while posting 48 tackles, eight tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and one interception on defense. Still, his recruitment took a hit. Barksdale was on a trajectory to be one of the top players in the state and even owned a four-star rating at one point, but things cooled down due to his injury.
Steel Valley’s Da’Ron Barksdale against Seton LaSalle. Nov. 15, 2024 / Ed Thompson. PSN.
“I can say it slowed it down. In my opinion, I was going to be a top-five safety or athlete in my class if I didn’t get hurt. I’ve kept my head down. I got my Bible right here. This is all I need. At the moment, I don’t really think of it as derailing, but I think it’s a blessing. Everything happens for a reason. I learned more. I’m quicker. I’m smarter,” Barksdale said.
There is still a lot of progress to be made in his recruitment and Barksdale is in no rush. He wants to hit the field for three camps this summer at Elite 11 in State College, Pa. in May, a possible Under Armour Camp and a Pitt camp.
Barksdale’s offer sheet currently consists of West Virginia, Syracuse, Pitt, Temple, UMass, Bowling Green, Akron, Kent State, UNLV and Sacramento State. Rivals views Barksdale as a three-star athlete and the 14th player in the state.
Along with Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Oregon and others are showing interest.
In the coming week, Barksdale will visit Indiana, Toledo, Kentucky and Notre Dame. He will also be at SMU the following week when he will compete in the OT7 tournament in Dallas, Texas with the 2Tenths team.
He also planned on visiting Oregon on June 13, but that visit is still being considered as the Ducks have told him they would come to Steel Valley to watch him train at school.
