Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Looking to Flip 2026 ACC LB Commit Currently on Official Visit
Leading up to Pitt football’s final official visit weekend of June, all things were quiet.
There was a possibility that the Panthers were not going to host anyone, but now Pitt has an important linebacker on campus that’s committed to another Atlantic Coast Conference school.
Markel Dabney — a 6-foot-1, 210-pound consensus three-star recruit out of Huguenot High School in Virginia — is committed to SMU, but began a Pitt official visit today, he confirmed with Pittsburgh Sports Now. He originally had an official visit scheduled to Pitt for the first weekend of June, but took it off his schedule once he committed to SMU.
Chad Simmons of On3 first reported that Dabney was taking a Pitt official visit a weekend after he visited Michigan. Simmons reports that Dabney is expected to flip his commitment this weekend to either Pitt or Michigan. Dabney posted on X that he has an announcement coming on June 21.
Heading on an official visit to Pitt today. Visited Michigan officially last weekend.
The LB in Virginia is committed to SMU, but expected to change his commitment this weekend to the Panthers or Wolverines. https://t.co/9OAts86THO https://t.co/NijweEm5lj
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 19, 2025
It’s an interesting development with Pitt already securing three linebacker commitments in the 2026 class with Marcus Jennings, Isaiah Simmons and Desmond Johnson.
Pitt was the first Division I offer for Dabney coming all the way back in October of 2021 and linebackers coach Ryan Manalac has pushed for the longtime recruit over the years. Dabney was in Pittsburgh for a junior day visit in January and then Manalac spent time with him during an in-home visit earlier in the spring.
Dabney committed to SMU on May 13 after an official visit in Dallas, Texas. He selected the Mustangs over top five finalists in Pitt, Penn State, Michigan and Virginia Tech.
On3 rates Dabney as a three-star prospect, the No. 53 linebacker and the 18th-ranked Virginia prospect.
As a junior, he starred on both sides of the ball at Huguenot. He hauled in 45 receptions for 1,001 yards and 13 touchdowns, along with 71 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, two pass breakups, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
