Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt 2026 Targets: Top Tight Ends To Keep An Eye On
Pitt has added a tight end in each of the last two recruiting classes and the Panthers will look to land another one in the Class of 2026.
Malachi Thomas signed in the 2024 class and Max Hunt in 2025 and both are looking to make strides heading into the upcoming season.
For tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski, he’ll be looking for playmakers at the tight end spot with versatility from run blocking to making an impact in the pass game.
Here are some of the prospects that Pittsburgh Sports Now are monitoring for the tight end position in the 2026 cycle.
Adam Land — Three-star out of Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Fla.
Land has his eye on Pitt and considers it a top choice. He will be in town for an official visit from June 12-14.
The Panthers offered the 6-3, 215-pound Land back on Dec. 3 of 2024. At the end of January, Bronowski headed to Florida to visit Land in-person, along with his family.
Along with Pitt, he holds offers from Baylor, Mississippi State, SMU, Arizona, Houston, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, FAU, FIU, South Alabama, Delaware, Army, UAB and James Madison. He’ll also take an official visit at Mississippi State from June 20-22.
Lucas Shanafelt — Three-star out of Peters Township High School in McMurray, Pa.
Shanafelt has emerged as a key prospect out of the WPIAL and has high interest in Pitt.
Offensive coordinator Kade Bell delivered an offer in-person at Shanafelt’s home in January. The two-way standout then took the short trip to the South Side in February for a visit and then was back for three more times during spring camp. Now, he’ll take an official visit from June 5-7.
Pitt is looking to keep the 6-4, 245-pound talent home and certainly has the edge at this point. Shanafelt’s other offers include West Virginia, Purdue, Stanford, UConn, Navy, Temple, Toledo, James Madison, Eastern Michigan, Akron and others.
Javonte Williams — Three-star out of The Bullis School in Potomac, Md.
Williams is another tight end prospect that has grown close with the Pitt program. He was initially offered in January following a junior day visit and returned for a spring unofficial in March. Williams will take the all-important official visit from June 12-14.
The lengthy 6-foot-4, 215-pound prospect holds additional offers from Rutgers, NC State, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Indiana, Duke and others. Rutgers will be a team to watch after a recent unofficial visit and then he’ll take an official visit there from June 6-8. Indiana will also get an official visit.
Preston Fryzel — Three-star out of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio
Pitt is a contender for Fryzel, but there are a handful of top schools vying for his commitment including North Carolina, Duke, Minnesota and Auburn.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder picked up an offer from Pitt in June of 2024 after camping on the South Side. Pitt has kept contact and he returned for a visit in March.
Fryzel will take official visits at Minnesota (May 30-June 1), Duke (June 6-8). Along with the aforementioned programs, he holds additional offers from Iowa, Arizona, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Maryland, West Virginia, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati and others.
Tyler Ruxer — Four-star tight end out of Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City, Ind.
Pitt became Ruxer’s first Power Four offer back in early March and his recruitment has taken off since then. He’s added offers from Purdue, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Duke, Baylor, Houston, Louisville, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa USF, Colorado State, Air Force and others.
Ruxer visited Pitt on March 22 and now the Panthers are looking to schedule the official visit, but it will be a challenge with an already busy slate that includes Northwestern (May 9-11), Duke (May 30-June 1), Purdue (June 6-8) and West Virginia (June 13-15).
Jude Cascone — Three-star out of Walton High School in Marietta, Ga.
Cascone has interest in the Panthers after picking up an offer from Bronowski and cornerbacks coach Archie Collins in January. The 6-2, 225-pound prospect made an unofficial visit to Pitt on March 15.
Along with Pitt, Cascone has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Memphis, Tulane, Charlotte, Delaware, Appalachian State, East Carolina and others.
Sam DeFrancesca — Three-star out of Trinity Episcopal High School in Richmond, Va.
Pitt has kept its eye on DeFrancesca for over a year now after offering back in January of 2024. The lengthy 6-5, 205-pound talent camped at Pitt last summer and then was at Pitt twice since the new year with a junior day and spring visit.
DeFrancesca holds a short offer list of Pitt, Colorado State, Charlotte, UMass and East Carolina.
