Pitt Chooses Quality Over Quantity On Signing Day
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – Pitt revealed 15 committed recruits on national signing day including Pennsylvania's top recruit, Jordan Whitehead of Aliquippa.
"You couldn't have a better addition to the class," head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "He's a guy that's hung on and again had faith and trust and is a guy that loves the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania. He can do it all."
In addition to landing the number one player in the state, 11 out of the 15 recruits are team captains at their high schools, an accomplishment that Narduzzi looks for in his athletes.
"The most impressive thing about this class is the character," Narduzzi said. "Major character. When you talk to these kids, you've got a bunch of leaders. We've got a group of character individuals that will lead this football team into the future and guys that you really want to be in the foxhole with."
Narduzzi spoke about the importance of recruiting individuals that were the right fit for the team in the long term rather than just filling a spot with anyone even under the last minute recruiting circumstances.
"It was not about quantity it was about quality," Narduzzi said. "We were getting the best available and we were not just going to take a guy just to take a guy because we had a position of need. Because you have to live with that guy for four or five years."
Upon Narduzzi's late arrival there were only two on scholarship quarterbacks in the program. He said this became an obvious need in his first recruiting class at Pitt and it was one he was able to fill.
Of the 15 recruits two of them are quarterbacks including graduate transfer Nathan Peterman from Tennessee and Pine-Richland's Ben DiNucci. Narduzzi said they didn't go after DiNucci just because of the convenience of being a local recruit.
"I have no doubts in his capabilities to lead this offense in the future," Narduzzi said. "He's a very smart kid he's very composed he makes all the throws and he's athletic enough to run."
The following is the list of all Pitt's incoming recruits for the next season:
- LB Saleem Brightwell (6'0, 195 pounds) – Palisades Park, New Jersey / Paramus Catholic
- QB Ben DiNucci (6'2, 190 pounds) – Gibsonia, Pa / Pine-Richland
- DL Allen Edwards (6'4, 235 pounds) – Miami, Fl, Dean College Massachusettes / Immaculata-La Salle (Fl)
- RB Darrin Hall (5'11, 215 pounds) – Youngstown, Ohio / Austintown Fitch
- DB Malik Henderon (6'0, 175 pounds) – Plantation, Fl. / Hallandale
- WR Quadree Henderson (5'8, 170 pounds) – Wilmington, Del. / Alexis I. du Pont
- WR Gentry Ivery (6'1, 195 pounds) – Mansfield, Texas / Mansfield Legacy
- DB Dane Jackson (6'0, 165 pounds) – Coraopolis, Pa / Cornell (Quaker Valley)
- LB Anthony McKee (6'2, 200 pounds) – Columbus, Ohio / Marion-Franklin
- OL Alex Paulina (6'3, 300 pounds) – Canonsburg, Pa / Canon-McMillan
- QB Nathan Peterman (6'2, 220 pounds) – Fruit Cove, Fl / Bartram Trail High School, University of Tennessee
- OL Tony Pilato (6'5, 315 pounds) – Greensburg, Pa / Hempfield Area
- DB Jay Stocker (6'2, 185 pounds) – Coatseville, Pa / Coatesville Area
- WR Tre Tipton (6'0, 170 pounds,) – Apollo, Pa / Apollo-Ridge
- DB Jordan Whitehead (5'11, 185 pounds) – Aliquippa, Pa / Central Valley
