Pitt FB Recruiting
2023 Michigan OL Brendan Dignan Begins to Build Relationship With Pitt After First Visit
Brendan Dignan has made a number of unofficial visits over the last couple of months, and his trip to Pittsburgh was able to stand out among the throngs of potential suitors.
Dignan, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound offensive lineman from Warren De La Salle Collegiate in Warren, Michigan from the class of 2023, made his first visit to Pitt last week, and he was able to meet with offensive line coach Dave Borbely, sit in on a spring practice last Thursday and get a feel for Pitt’s facilities.
“I got the opportunity to watch practice and really enjoyed it,” Dignan told PSN. “After practice, I was given a tour of the facilities. What really stood out to me is how their facilities are shared with the Steelers. Some other takeaways to me were the weight room and the ACC championship trophy. I love how rich their culture is and how they’re a championship culture. It’s expected to work hard and earn championships, I love that.”
While Dignan’s relationship with Pitt is still in the early phases, in the early phases of building relationships with Borbely and safeties coach Archie Collins, his experience at a Pitt practice stood out because of the tempo and way the coaching staff ran the entire day.
“I was pumped up seeing practice,” Dignan said. “It felt good seeing everyone hitting one another. I loved the tempo practice had and how everyone was always moving. I took notice of the offensive line independent periods, and I really like coach Borbely’s philosophy on the run and pass game.”
Dignan was able to sit down and watch film with Borbely, working at watching how his game comes off on tape and how he’ll be able to take what he learned at Pitt and put that into his game back at Warren De La Salle.
“Coach Borbley is a great coach,” Dignan said. “I really liked his approach to the run and pass game. I learned a lot when he focused on twists and other defensive line stunts with the o-line. … Some examples are if I could make the blocks from the certain positions he was talking about and pulling with depth and on a line. I spent some time watching a couple of clips of practice film with him. His advice to me was to come out for a camp so he gets a proper evolution of my skill set and gets the opportunity to see how I move and bend.”
A huge, mauling offensive lineman, who is capable of playing all three spots across the line at Warren De La Salle, Dignan is a versatile option who will continue to grow into his already immense frame as a senior. And opposing schools have already taken notice.
Dignan has visited Maryland, JMU, Duke, Tennessee, Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan and Toledo since winning an MHSAA Division II title following an unbeaten 13-0 season with Warren De La Salle. With interest from the Ivy League all the way through the SEC, Dignan said he’s focused on putting himself in the best position to enter summer camps at his peak.
With hard work in the classroom and in the weight room, regardless of offers that roll in this summer, and there will be quite a few, Dignan just wants to be able to enter his senior season on top — and with a strong summer of visits and camp appearances.
While Dignan doesn’t have another visit with Pitt lined up yet, he does see himself making another visit back. Borbely actually suggested a return visit, and if a strong camp performance over the summer catches the Pitt coaching staffs’ attention, he could leave with an official offer.
