Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt 2026 Targets: Important Offensive Line Recruits
As Pitt is laying the groundwork for its second recruiting class under the current offensive staff, including offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau.
The Panthers’ offense wants to go fast and they are looking to add linemen that can fit the scheme and tempo. Darveau inked four linemen in the 2025 class with Akram Elnagmi, who enrolled early, Shep Turk, Torian Chester and Jordan Fields.
Those Panthers have a long way to go until they begin making an impact in the offense, but now Darveau is focusing on the 2026 class.
Pittsburgh Sports Now has a list of names to follow when it comes to the o-line and the 2026 cycle.
Tyler Duell — Four-star out of West Chester East High School in Pennsylvania
Duell is an important recruit for the Panthers and one that they are looking to keep in-state. Darveau traveled across the commonwealth to visit with Duell in January as he looked to further the relationship with the priority recruit.
The 6-6, 280-pounder is equally interested in the Panthers and that has been known for a while. He visited in the fall, returned for a spring visit and now will be back for an official visit from June 19-21.
Rutgers, Kentucky, Syracuse, Missouri, Cincinnati are some of the schools to watch for the four-star. He’ll take additional official visits at Rutgers (May 30-June 1), Cincinnati (June 13-15) and Kentucky (June 16-18)
Lucas Tielsch — Three-star out of Copley High School in Ohio
Tielsch is one of the longer standing linemen recruits Pitt has maintained a relationship with. He camped at Pitt back in 2023 and then eventually picked up an offer nearly a year ago in June.
Since then, he was in town for Pitt-Clemson in the fall and then again for a junior day visit in January. At this point, it’s a matter of Pitt getting the lengthy 6-foo-7, 310-pound prospect back on campus for an official visit.
In the meantime, he has official visits set up with Northwestern (May 30-June 1) and Minnesota (June 13-15). He holds other offers from Maryland, Syracuse, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Cincinnati, Kentucky, USF, Harvard and more.
Wilson Zierer — Four-star out of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia
This is one of the more unique prospects on Pitt’s board and one with a lot of upside. Zierer stands at 6-6, 285 pounds and only recently picked up a four-star rating from On3. The other three main recruiting websites have yet to rate him.
Still, Zierer has seen his recruitment explode since the end of his junior season. He’s picked up offers from Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, USC, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Duke, Kansas State, Maryland, Wisconsin, UCF, USF, Memphis and others.
Pitt was one of the first programs to offer back on Jan. 16. and Darveau was in to visit him just a few days after. He has since scheduled an official visit for June 4-6. This would be a major get for the Panthers if they can make a strong push in an already firm relationship.
Nathan Zappitelli — Three-star out of Lake Catholic High School in Mentor, Ohio
It’s a short two-and-a-half hour drive between Zappitelli and Pitt. That’s why Darveau has visited a few times and then the 6-4, 279-pound recruit visited in spring. Zappitelli was also in attendance for Pitt-Cal in October.
Pitt offered Zappitelli on March 1 as the bond continues to grow. Now, Pitt will look to get home on campus for the official visit. He already has two set with Cincinnati (June 6-8) and West Virginia (June 13-15).
Landry Brede — Three-star out of Mentor High School in Ohio
Another nearby Ohio recruit, Brede was in town during spring camp on March 20. The 6-6, 290-pound prospect has been on the Panthers’ radar for a while now after initially picking up an offer while at a spring visit in 2024.
Along with Pitt, Brede holds offers from Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Michigan State, Maryland, NC State, Syracuse, Louisville, Boston College, Virginia, Georgia Tech, UCF, Wake Forest and others.
Rhett Morris — Three-star out of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey
A former Wake Forest commit, Morris has been pursued by Pitt over the past few months. Darveau was in to visit him in January and Morris then took a trip to Pitt in the spring.
The 6-3, 305-pound Morris will be back for an official visit from June 19-21. Pitt will compete with the likes of West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Temple, Army, James Madison, Coastal Carolina and others. He’ll take an official visit at WVU from June 6-8.
Mason Wilhelm — Three-star out of St. Edward High School in Ohio
Wilhelm is another key prospect to watch on the offensive line and Pitt has been in contact with him long before it offered. He visited in the fall for a gameday experience against Clemson. He also returned in the spring and picked up an official offer on March 22.
The 6-4, 290-pound prospect will be back for an official visit from June 12-14. He’s also taking an official at North Carolina (May 30-June 1). He holds additional offers from Baylor, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Syracuse, Tulane and others.
Day’Jon Moore — Four-star out of Willis High School in Texas
On3 rates Moore as a four-star and the ninth-best interior lineman in the class. He’ll be at Pitt for an official visit from June 12-14.
Defensive coordinator Randy Bates visited Moore for an in-home visit in the Lone Star State in January. Pitt will have to battle with offers from Ohio State, Florida State, Maryland, Kansas, Baylor, Arizona State, Nebraska, Georgia Tech. He’ll take an official visit at Maryland from May 29-31 and SMU from June 20-22.
