Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt 2026 Targets: Five Running Backs to Know
Pitt has yet to land a running back in the 2026 class, but the coaching staff has made some solid ground on a handful of prospects.
Three running backs are slated to take official visits come June and a few more intriguing options were on campus this spring.
Runnings back coach Lindsey Lamar and offensive coordinator Kade Bell have dialed in on smaller but speedier backs that can make an impact out of the backfield as well.
Here are some of the names Pittsburgh Sports Now are monitoring in the 2026 cycle.
Damon Ferguson — Four-star out of Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore, Md.
Ferguson is one of the top running backs on Pitt’s board and is a prospect that has high interest in the Panthers’ beyond including them in his top 11 schools. He has visited multiple times and was back in town for a spring visit to check out a scrimmage. He’ll be back in Pittsburgh for an official visit from June 5-7.
Top Pitt running back target Damon Ferguson during a spring visit. Photo courtesy of Damon Ferguson.
The 5-11, 180-pound talent has built a strong relationship with Lamar and sees a fit in the offense. The Pitt staff is hoping to lock in a commitment when he returns in June. On3 rates Ferguson as a four-star recruit and the 25th-best running back in the class.
His other top choices consist of Virginia, Cincinnati, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, NC State, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State. He’ll take other official visits at Indiana (April 25-27), Duke (May 30-June 1), Virginia (June 13-15) and North Carolina (June 16-17).
Kory Amachree — Four-star out of Haslett High School in Haslett, Mich.
Amachree is another important prospect for the Pitt coaching staff and he tells PSN that he’s very interested in the Panthers. He will take an official visit at Pitt on May 15. On3 sees him as a four-star prospect and the 22nd running back in the class.
The 6-1, 205-pound talent initially received a Pitt offer in May of 2024 from Archie Collins and has stayed in contact with the Lamar since then. He was on campus back in August to check out the fall camp opener and was impressed with the program.
Pitt will battle for Amachree with other top offers from Michigan State, Louisville, NC State, Syracuse, Duke, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Purdue and Arizona State. He recently took an official visit to Kansas.
In just six games as a junior, Amachree rushed for 1,102 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns.
Christian Lawrence — Three-star out of Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Ga.
Pitt offered Lawrence back in November and is contending for the speedy talent with a handful of schools, including rival West Virginia.
Lawrence will be at Pitt for an official visit from June 5-7, while taking other officials to West Virginia (June 13-15), Virginia Tech (May 30-June 1) and Wake Forest (June 20-22). 247Sports sees him as a three-star prospect and the No. 55 running back in the class.
As a junior, he rushed for 1,468 yards and 18 touchdowns on 161 carries, along with 22 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns. His versatility flashes in his film and he is a playmaker that would fit into Pitt’s offense.
Kaj Baker — Three-star out of Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Baker received an in-person visit at school from Bell in January and then took a trip to Pittsburgh on March 22.
During his spring visit, Baker grew closer with the Pitt staff and sees himself thriving in the Panthers’ offense. He told PSN that Pitt has a good chance of landing him.
What’s up Pitt @Kb1Raw @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/vf3o53Lztc
— Kaj Nitro Baker (@NitroKaj) March 21, 2025
Along with Pitt, Baker holds offers Miami, Oregon, Florida State, Duke and others. On3 rates him as a three-star prospect and the 45th running back in the class.
Last season, Baker was voted a First Team All-County player as he collected 422 rushing yards, 722 receiving yards, 356 returns yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
SirPaul Cheeks — Three-star out of Varina High School in Chesterfield, Va.
Cheeks is a recent target for Pitt after picking up an offer in late February. He was then in Pittsburgh for a spring visit in April and is a potential official visitor candidate.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder is a fast-rising recruit that has added offers from West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Temple, USF, East Carolina, UConn and others. On3 rates Cheeks as a three-star recruit and the 64th running back.
According to a post on X, Cheeks runs a 4.37 40-yard dash and totaled 1,495 all-purpose yards last fall with 16 total touchdowns. He is a versatile athlete that played at running back, wide receiver, cornerback and kick and punt return.
