Sullivan has a unique connection to Pitt. His first cousin happens to be mammoth Pitt true freshman offensive lineman Ryan Baer. Baer recently joined the football program in January. “I attended three games at Heinz Field last year,” stated Sullivan. “I played in a seven-on-seven tournament last summer and went to Heinz Field on a bus tour as well. I’ve been in touch with Pitt ever since.”

Sullivan is a towering receiver (6-foot-4 inches tall) capable of running a 4.5 forty. He’s registered 79 career receptions for 1,562 yards and 30 touchdowns. Gage had an outstanding senior season with 42 receptions for 881 yards and 17 touchdowns.

https://t.co/o97arN8Ahp senior szn

— Gage Sullivan (@Gage_Sullivan20) December 5, 2021

“Coach (Pat) Narduzzi has been my main contact. Every time I’m at Pitt, I love what I see. Every time I’m there it feels like home to me. In general, it’s a perfect fit.”

When asked about his strengths as a receiver, he stated, “I have the ability to get off the ball and my height advantage gives me an advantage against almost every cornerback that’s on the field with me. I have an intensity that I play with the second I step on the football field, and it makes the game a lot more fun for me and everyone else.”

Although Sullivan received a preferred walk-on opportunity with Toledo, his decision will come down to two schools: Pitt or John Carroll University. “It’s going to be a tough decision. Do I go and play for Pitt or head to John Carroll to play with my brother, Mason.” Mason Sullivan was a freshman running back at John Carroll University. He managed to crack the starting lineup as a freshman.

Sullivan plans on deciding sometime next week. “It’s not an easy decision. My father and I are going to sit down and talk it out. We may extend the decision until the end of the month.”

Harry Psaros can be located on Twitter at @PittGuru

The post Gage Sullivan Considers PWO Opportunity at Pitt appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

**First and foremost, Cignetti is familiar with Pitt and the city of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh native doesn’t have to familiarize himself with the school or surrounding environment. I believe that he will be pleasantly surprised with how much further the program has progressed since he was an assistant here. With the synergistic leadership of Heather Lyke and Pat Narduzzi, Cignetti will join a program with far better culture and facilities. Cignetti joined Dave Wannstedt’s staff in 2009 and had to deal with Steve Pederson’s oppressive (cheap) leadership style.

**Cignetti reminds me quite a bit of Pat Narduzzi. Both men are intense, fiery coaches that demand excellence. One may initially wonder if this would lead to an incendiary relationship. However, Narduzzi is a defensive minded coach and tends to sit back and allow his coordinator to run the offense. I don’t believe this will be an issue.

**Cignetti, based on his past, is a strong recruiter. Mark Whipple was an outstanding offensive coordinator, but I don’t believe recruiting was his strong suit. You either have a passion for it or you don’t. Cignetti will roll up his sleeves and get far more involved in this process than previous Pitt offensive coordinators.

**Narduzzi covets experience and Cignetti has plenty of it, having served as offensive coordinator at Fresno State, North Carolina, California, Rutgers, Pitt and Boston College. The 56-year old also has valuable time in the NFL on his resume, with the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orlean Saints, San Francisco 49ers (quarterback coach), St. Louis Rams (quarterback coach and offensive coordinator), NY Giants (quarterback coach) and Green Bay Packers (quarterback coach). He’s a versatile coach that works well with his top talent. If he has dynamic playmakers, he’ll get them the ball.

**Cignetti has worked with and developed quarterbacks. He spent six years in the NFL working with quarterbacks. If you look myopically at Pitt, you can’t ignore what he did for Bill Stull his senior year at Pitt. Stull finished his final year as a Panther throwing for 2,633 yards, 21 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions.

This is a solid hire for Pat Narduzzi and Pitt.

The post Psaros: Thoughts On Frank Cignetti Jr. Coming To Pitt appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

“I’ll arrive at Pitt on Thursday, June 3rd and stay there until Saturday, June 5th,” stated Parker.  “I’m looking forward to it”.

Pitt projects the Parker as an interior line prospect. When asked about his experience on the offensive line he stated, “I started my sophomore year playing guard. All my sophomore varsity film is mostly at guard until one of our guys was injured. They moved me over to center at that point. I played center the rest of the year and I’ve played tackle in the past as well.”

“Pitt likes my versatility.  They like that I can play all five positions on the offensive line.  I was told they would play me wherever I best fit into the lineup.”

Junior Year Highlights
2020 D1 State Champions
Outright GCL Champions
1st Team All GCL
GCL CO-Offensive Lineman of the Year
https://t.co/fVM3NJeHbA

— Brian Parker II (@parkerbt53) November 18, 2020

Parker was asked about his strengths on the football field. He stated, “We run a pro-style offense, so we pass the ball a lot. My pass protection is one of my strengths, but we also do wide zone. I can get out on those linebackers and flatten them easily. I move well space for my size. Those are probably my top strengths. We do have interior runs. I like running the ball as well.”

With Parker locking down the starting center position, St. Xavier went 10-2 and captured an Ohio Division-1 state title this past season.  Pitt, Louisville, Cincinnati, Duke, Marshall, Tulane, East Carolina and a several MAC programs are pursuing his services.

Parker is in regular contact with the Pitt coaching staff.  “My area recruiter is Coach (Randy) Bates. I speak with Coach (Dave) Borbely twice a week. He’s awesome. I love him,” he said. “He always calls us at dinner and we just sit around with the family and talk for a while.”

Pitt is in a geographically advantageous position for Parker. “I’m originally from New Jersey, “he said. “I still have a lot of family there so (Pitt) is in the middle for everybody. It’s a great fit.”

“I’m looking to play big time football in front of l lot of people,” said Parker.  “At our high school, we get 10,000 people a game.  You get used to the noise and it pumps you up.  I want to watch the player-coach relationship as well. You can tell a lot about somebody talking to the players and how they feel about their coach.”

“I look forward to seeing what Pitt has to offer.”

The post Ohio 2022 Lineman Brian Parker Set for Pitt Official Visit appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

One of the players that has landed on their radar is 2022-point guard Chas Kelley (6-foot-5 inches, 180 pounds) from The Phelps School in Malvern, PA. Kelley originally played for Cy-Creek High School in Cypress, TX.  He was invited to attend the Phelps School and moved to the Philadelphia area in late August 2020. He completed his first practice with the team last weekend. Kelley plays for the Team Durant AAU program.

“I’ve been talking with Pitt assistant Milan Brown since September 2020.  We’ve been developing a relationship,” said Kelley. “He has told me how Pitt is building champions and that’s something I want to be a part of. That’ something I would like to contribute to. I feel like what they are building there, at Pitt, is for the long term. I really do believe that Pitt could be at the top of the ACC in a few years and I would like to be part of that.”

Kelley is an athletic and competitive 6-foot-5-inch point guard that averaged 15.5 points per game, 5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4 steals while playing for Cy-Creek High School.

Class of 2022 6’5 PG @chaskelley3 #BallBeyond #Basketball #basketballtraining #beyond #outwork #breakfastclub #relentless pic.twitter.com/avEe45Xys6

— BALL BEYOND (@BallBeyond) March 8, 2021

“I’ve been playing point guard since the fourth grade. I have natural born leadership skills in me. My parents would tell me I’ve been a leader since I was a child,” he said. “I like to instruct and help others and love to help people. If I can help somebody get to somewhere or help them in anyway, even crossing the street, I’ll do it.  If I can make someone better, then I’ve done my part in life and that’s everything.”

Kelley was once considered a 2021 prospect but decided to reclassify to 2022 due to the disruptions that occurred due to the COVID.  “Players can have an extra year due to COVID and the transfer portal guys can play right away, I spoke with my family and we thought it would be best to reclassify to 2022,” he said.  “I’m looking to stay in the Class of 2022.”

When asked about his strengths at the point guard position, he stated, “I would say by greatest strength is my versatility and how talkative I am on the court.  I’m talking about everything: what plays they are running, what plays we’re running, getting through screens, etc.”

“I want to make it difficult for any coach I play for to take me off the floor.  I want to make it like ‘Man, we have to keep Chas on the court.’  I have a high basketball IQ; I can score and distribute the rock really well.”

COMPETITOR. pic.twitter.com/u7yHs5dTaD

— Chas Kelley (@chaskelley3) September 18, 2020

Kelley has received early interest from Pitt, Virginia Tech, Central Florida, Missouri State (offer), Louisiana Tech (offer), Central Florida, Georgia State, VCU, Texas Tech, Rice and Rutgers.

“I look forward to learning more about Pitt.  I have a high interest in the program.”

The post 2022 Guard Chas Kelley on Pitt Basketball’s Radar appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

“I heard from Pitt back in the summer of 2020.  That’s really when my recruiting started picking up.  It was an appealing offer to me.  You see what Aaron Donald has done,” said Weidman.  “Pitt has been high on my list since the beginning.”

“I’m in touch with Pitt on a weekly basis. I have some form of contact with Coach (Dave) Borbely and Coach (Mark) Whipple regularly. They both call me on a weekly basis. Coach Borbely thinks that I’ll be a left tackle in college.”

Weidman is considered a 3-star prospect by national recruiting services.  He holds scholarship offers from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.  Sully formerly participated in wrestling and is currently a member of the track team throwing the shot put and discus.

When asked about his strengths on the football field, he stated, “I finish my blocks. I feel like my ability to move in between the tackle box and in space is very good.  I can target people in space as well.”

Weidman spent two years at Franklin High School in Franklin, MA prior to transferring to his current school Dexter Southfield. “Prior to Dexter, I’d never played a snap of football. I finally started at Dexter. The coaches must have liked what they saw,” he said. “I taught me how to use my body to my advantage, my size, my mobility and my strength to my advantage.  I guess you could say it really paid off.”

Weidman will be visiting Pitt today on an on-campus (non-football related) visit. He’s excited to learn more about the Pitt. “I definitely love what Coach (Pat) Narduzzi and Coach Borbely are doing.  They’re really bringing a great culture to the program, so I’m really excited to get down to campus and see what its all about,” he said. “On that same trip I plan on going from Pitt to West Virginia to Virginia to Nebraska. I flew out and visited Indiana and Michigan back in December.”

When asked what he was looking for during his college visits, he stated, “I’m first and foremost, looking for a school that’s going to prepare me for life after football.  I know that I’ll need a degree to take me somewhere and land a solid job,” he said.  “I’m looking for a program that’s going to provide me with an elite football experience.  I believe Pitt has that. They play football at a very high level.”

The post Massachusetts 2022 3-Star OL Sully Weidman Making Visit Today To Pitt appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

Courtesy of Trey Andersen

It appears that another Andersen, Trey’s younger and larger brother Teague is firmly on the Panthers’ recruiting radar. Teague Andersen, 6-foot-5 inches, 280 pounds, has been a starter for Lehi High School since his sophomore year. The 2022 prospect has played every position on the offensive line and hopes to do the same on the next level.

“I started to hear from Pitt in September. I’ve mostly been in contact with Coach (Tim) Salem because he knows Trey and my family. He’s a really good guy,” stated Andersen.

Andersen has football in his DNA. His father Jason, an offensive lineman, played college football for BYU and later for the New England Patriots (1998-2000) and Kansas City Chiefs (2002). The elder Andersen is the current offensive line coach and run game coordinator for Lehi High School.

Teague was asked what he was looking for in a school and football program and he stated, “First and foremost I’m looking for a good coach that’s going to get me to the next level. I want them to push me and put me a position to complete my dream, playing in the NFL.”

“I want a great education as well,” said Andersen. “Thankfully most of the schools I’m involved with a very good academically.”

Trey Andersen has only been with the Panthers for a month but he’s already very impressed with the football program and City of Pittsburgh.  “Personally, I really like everything about Pitt.  Trey’s told me a lot of great things about it,” he said.  “He’s sent me a ton of photos from the city.  Pittsburgh is a truly beautiful city.  The coaching staff and players are great as well. I got to see the players living quarters and they’re great. I believe that Pitt is a great overall program and school.”

Pitt has yet to offer Teague a scholarship but he shed a little light on the current situation. “(Pitt) told me they are analyzing how many scholarships they can give out right now due to COVID.  Players are wanting to come back and play another year in Pittsburgh,” he said. “They’re basically going through their scholarships they can give out. I’m not sure If I’ll one of them yet or not.”

“I would love to play with my brother. I’m very interested in Pitt.”

https://twitter.com/tandersen54/status/1355638718690979842?s=21

Great work today with former BYU great OL Jason Anderson’s son. Kid is big, quick, athletic and can move

Teague Andersen
6'5 280 OL

Recruited by Michigan, Cal, Pitt, Virginia, Texas Tech, Utah St. Oklahoma St, Memphis, and New Mexico st. @tandersen54 pic.twitter.com/fwSpn7ClwK

— Jamal Willis (@cutbackelite29) January 10, 2021

Andersen is doing everything he can to improve his on-field performance.  He current trains with David Stroshine with Stroformance.  Stroshine is considered an authority on speed and power development. Teague also works with former San Francisco 49ers running back Jamal Willis on improving his foot speed along with hip and body movement.

Andersen was asked about his strengths as an offensive lineman.  He stated, “I can move really well for my size.  I’m quick with my hands as well. My mobility allows me to effectively block in open space and I can pull and go out on screens as well.”

Several schools have expressed early interest in Andersen’s services.  Pitt, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, California, Virginia, Utah State, Boise and Memphis have all been in contact with him.

“It’s early the in process.  Its great to have so many schools reach out to me.  We’ll see how things progress with Pitt.”

The post Another Andersen On Pitt Football’s Radar appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

Goodman has been a starter since his sophomore year as the hulking lineman has primary played right guard.  He was named Second-Team Greater Miami Conference for the Indians.

“I have done some research on Pitt. I know that they have one of the top physical therapy programs in the country.  I’m leaning towards studying physical therapy in college.”

Goodman was asked about his strengths as an offensive lineman. He stated, “I feel like I’m a great run blocker. I’m working on my pass blocking, but I feel that run blocking is my strength. I’m able to open lanes and let the running back get to the second level.”

Goodman was a leader on an offensive line that allowed Army signee Jaydan Mayes rush for 1,043 yards. He has received scholarship offers from Pitt, Kentucky with strong interest from Cincinnati, West Virginia, Miami (OH) and Liberty.

“Coach Bates and I are in contact at least once or twice a month.  We don’t talk too much, but we definitely keep track of each other. I’m hoping to visit Pitt once COVID rates start to drop.”

“I’m looking for a program with great academics, good atmosphere, coaches and teammates. I want teammates that want to compete and win games.”

The post Pitt In The Mix For 2022 Ohio Offensive Guard Kendrix Goodman appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

“I received a Twitter message from Pitt’s tight ends coach Tim Salem. We interacted several times,” stated Corbo. “I was excited to hear from him. Pitt is definitely a school that interests me.”

Corbo has been a two-year starter for West Essex High School as he’s started on both sides of the ball. Chris registered 16 receptions for 245 yards (15.3 average) as a receiver and accumulated 59 tackles and 3 interceptions from his free safety position. Corbo has primarily played wide receiver on offense but he has the frame to grow into a tight end on the next level.

Check out my updated highlights – https://t.co/V6Vfo6shD9

— Chris Corbo (@ChrisCorbo3) January 11, 2021

“I would say that my primary position is receiver. It really does depend on where I go,” said Corban. “Some see me as a wide receiver while others are recruiting me as a tight end. I’m not the fastest receiver but its something I’m working to improve.”

When asked about his strengths on the football field, he stated, “I definitely would say blocking, high pointing the ball in the air, winning those 50-50 jump balls and yards after catch.”

“Recruiting is definitely picking up.  During the season I was talking to a few schools including Rutgers, Lafayette and Lehigh,” he said. “I’m working with a recruiting service and things have really picked up since then. It’s starting to take off.  I’ve had a bunch of schools talk with me. I’m slowly easing into the process.”

Corbo was asked about his thoughts on Pitt.  He stated, “I have always like Pitt. I just like the school, the team, so I’ve watched them. I’ve done my research on them and watched them play for years. I’m a huge college football fan. I love the school and the program.  I’m looking forward to getting to know more about them.”

WR to watch this offseason:

Chris Corbo @ChrisCorbo3
CO’22 West Essex NJ
605 / 205

Body Control
Understands coverages as he plays Free Safety as well
Hands/Catch Radius
Size with room to add weight
Block on perimeter

from @LamarMcKnight_ Session in August. pic.twitter.com/7utn0f3Lgu

— PSR Prospect Combine (@ScoutNickP) January 20, 2021

The post On The Pitt Panthers Radar: 2022 WR/TE Chris Corbo appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

The towering 6-foot-6 inch, 255-pound prospect can play either tight end or offensive line. He was originally a member of the 2019 BYU recruiting class, but never signed with the Cougars and opted to serve a mission as a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints. Pitt offered Andersen a scholarship on June 25th and he ultimately chose the Panthers over California and Utah State.

To gain better perspective on Andersen, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with MILE-WR (MILE = Make It Look EZ) trainer Ross Apo. Apo was a star wide receiver at The Oakridge School in Arlington, TX. He was ranked a four-star prospect and eventually chose BYU over Texas. Apo played for the Cougars from 2010 to 2014. He has been working with the future Panther since his junior year in high school.

”Trey attended Lehi High School and played a lot of offensive line. He eventually started to slim down and lost all his baby fat,” stated Apo. “The weight loss made him mobile and he could start to run. Once he lost weight his father, a fellow BYU alumnus, reached out to me and wanted me to work with him. He told me that he had grown vertically and slimmed down horizontally and wanted to play tight end. We started working together from there.”

”My initial goal was breaking him of bad habits and to teach him things. When we got him on the field, we went through in and out routes and getting his head around as he gets open or gets ready to catch the ball. We do a lot of cutting. For his size at 6-foot-6 inches tall, 255 pounds, he’s going to be moving a lot different than your average tight end.”

Andersen had a strong senior season at Lehi High School, catching 28 passes for 487 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He has football in his DNA, as he father, Jason, played college football for BYU and later for the New England Patriots (1998-2000) and Kansas City Chiefs (2002).

”I’m working with Trey on a number of cuts,” said Apo. “We have focused on 45-degree cuts. His 90-degree cuts are fine. They tend to be easy. We work on the corners, the posts, those common tight end routes. He’s good there. I’ve put a lot of emphasis on his curls and come backs. We work on the odd routes, like a stick nod. I want to get him used to running these concepts that will probably be run at Pitt.”

Andersen has a frame that will remind many of former Panther standout and Minnesota Viking Brian O’Neill. Coming out of Salesianum School in Delaware, O’Neill was 6-foot-6 inches, 250 pounds. He initially played tight end for the Panthers until transitioning to offensive tackle in 2015. O’Neill was eventually selected in the second round of the NFL Draft after being named First-Team All-ACC.

Apo was asked about Andersen’s potential move to the offensive line. He replied, “His father was a really big guy and played offensive line at BYU. He eventually played for the New England Patriots. Trey was originally on the offensive line because he was so big.”

”If they decide to move him to the offensive line, his frame is definitely big enough to make that  move. He could easily get up to 300 to 315 pounds. Trey is so tall, I could see him adding the necessary weight without the big belly and body fat. He could be one of those athletic left tackles that can pick up those really good pass rushers off the edge.”

Apo has attempted to provide Andersen with some safe advice, “If you’re going to go to the next level and it happens to be on the offensive line, fine, just go to the line,” he said. “If a tight end gets hurt or a guy transfers, then they’ll put you at tight end. You must get onto the field. Getting onto the field is the priority, first and foremost. Go with the position that will do that.”

”Right now, Trey believes he’ll be playing tight end, but I keep telling him that if he has to move to the offensive line, it’s not a bad thing,” said Apo. “He’s an athletic guy and he’ll probably end up as one of the most athletic lineman on the team.”

”If you have ever studied Trey’s HUDL highlights, Trey is an excellent blocker. His senior year when he’s on the line and not flexed out at tight end, he has a ton of pancake blocks. Trey is like one of those big, old, nice guys that are simply, stronger than everyone else. He’ll just check a player and they’ll go flying. His father played on the offensive line his entire life, so he’s a tremendous mentor as far as offensive line goes.”

Apo was asked if Andersen was excited to join the Pitt program. He emphatically stated, “He would leave today if he could. He’s beyond excited to join Pitt. Every time we work out, that’s all he talks about. The Panthers are getting a player that’s eager to get on campus and get to work.”

The post Coach Speak: Pitt Offensive Tackle Trey Andersen appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

To gain perspective on the newest Panther, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with Franklin head football coach Chris Kelbert.

“Not to state the obvious, but Kyle is a really good football player. He’s grown both physically and as a player over the last couple of years,” said Kelbert. “He’s a tenacious player that takes pride in finishing blocks and being a physical presence on the field. Kyle isn’t a ‘rah rah’ type of guy but he leads by example. He does what he must do and does it extremely well. No doubt, he was the leader of our offensive line group this season. He worked really hard and everybody followed his lead.”

Prior to his commitment to Miami of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana had offered him a scholarship and was getting increased interest from the Minnesota Gophers within the last month. Fugedi is a towering lineman that moves exceptionally well for his size and his coach believes much of his athleticism is due to Fugedi’s involvement in hockey.

“He grew up playing little league football in our youth program. Kyle played hockey when he was younger as well. In fact, I believe hockey was his number one sport,” said Kelbert. “Once Kyle started to grow to six-foot-five, six-foot-six inches tall, I think he started to realize that his future might end up on the football field instead of the ice.”

“We brought him up as a sophomore to the varsity football program and he was probably six-foot-six inches tall and weighed 240 pounds. His junior year, he was up to 260 pounds and now he’s up to 300 solid pounds. Over the last three years his body has truly filled out.”

“Hockey has helped him quite a bit to become a better football player. We run a lot of jet sweeps and a lot to the outside. Kyle had to get around that end and up to the guys on the next level, the second level of defenders and he’s very good at that,” said Kelbert. “That goes back to his hockey background. He’s got amazing footwork from the hours he put in skating on the ice. I think that’s what separates him. He has the agility to move his 300 pounds with ease. You don’t find that in a lot of 300-plus pound lineman.”

Fugedi is generally ranked a 3-star prospect by the major recruiting services and is the third offensive lineman from the state of Michigan to join the Panthers 2021 highly ranked recruiting class. It can be argued that the 2021 offensive line class that includes Fugedi, Terreance Rankl (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) from Massillon, Ohio, Marco Fugar (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Terrence Enos (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) from Detroit, Michigan, Brandon Honorable (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) from Detroit, Michigan and Trey Andersen (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) from Eagle Mountain, Utah is the best in the Pat Narduzzi era.

“Kyle committed to Miami of Ohio in late April to May timeframe. It was during the pandemic. He was able to go there and visit and felt very comfortable knowing that he was actually able to see it,” said Kelbert. “Pitt’s offensive line coach (Dave Borbely) and I spoke at the end of July, maybe early August. I think because Kyle had committed early it didn’t come across his desk until that moment. He told me he hadn’t seen his film prior to that and, once he saw it, he was really impressed from the beginning. That’s where Pitt’s pursuit of him ramped up.”

“The Panthers are getting a great lineman that’s only going to get better. He hasn’t maxed out yet from a strength standpoint. Once he gets into Pitt’s weightlifting program and football becomes his only job and focus, the sky’s the limit. Kyle is already a big, strong, young man. When he hits the weights and gets the proper nutrition, the sky’s the limit.”

The post Coach Speak: Pitt 2021 Commit OT Kyle Fugedi appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

The towering tight end prospect was originally committed to Buffalo until receiving a call from Pat Narduzzi and tight ends coach Tim Salem informing him, they wanted to offer him a scholarship. Bartholomew immediately committed to the Panthers. To gain perspective on the newest Panther, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with Blue Mountain High School head coach Cory Mabry.

“Gavin is a great kid and is an extremely hard worker,” said Mabry. “One of the hardest workers we have in the weight room. He put on 20 pounds of muscle from last year and he’s still growing. Gavin is a young senior as I believe he just turned 17 years old. His body is still growing, and he hit a big growth spurt. He played at about 235 pounds his junior year and close to 250 pounds his senior year. Gavin put a lot of good weight on and it’s all due to the dedication he had in the weight room in the off-season.”

pic.twitter.com/xSSLKpPeJ3

— Gavin Bartholomew (@GavinBartholom6) May 10, 2020

Bartholomew primarily played tight end in 2019 and factored heavily into their passing game, catching 27 passes for 527 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns. He also threw for 521 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Sr season offense https://t.co/TiSKTV9cHu

— Gavin Bartholomew (@GavinBartholom6) November 30, 2020

“Gavin is a super athletic kid for his size. We used him at tight end, played quarterback for us for a chunk of the season due to some unforeseen injuries,” said Mabry. “He has a cannon for an arm plus he can run the football. We use him at split end and on defense, he had his hand on the ground. Gavin even stood up and covered slot receivers and had a pick six for us this year. He did a lot for us. Gavin even punted for us. He’s a great kid that will do anything you ask him to do. If you tell him to run through a brick wall, he’ll ask how many times. Pitt’s getting a good one.”

Bartholomew is the second tight end to join the Panthers 2021 recruiting class joining Jake Renda from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

“Gavin is 6-foot-5 inches tall and change. On a tall day, he’s 6-foot-6 inches. He grew about a half inch over the year. He uses his size well and was actually more of a skill kid coming up through our system. He was a quarterback coming up through our program but he’s now growing into his body, adding muscle, and his athletic ability is sticking with him. When you get that combination of speed, size and hands, he has a lot of good things going for him.”

“Gavin may have been a bit under the radar because he emerged in the later half of his junior season and started growing as well,” said Mabry. “Rutgers, Syracuse and several others had interest in him. I know programs offer basked on their needs. Coach Salem from Pitt was on him for many, many months. He had his eye on him from day one. Every time I spoke with Coach Salem, I could tell how excited he was about Gavin. He never guaranteed anything, but I had a gut feeling they might offer. Gavin visited Pitt prior to the pandemic, and he talked highly of his visit, he loved it.”

Bartholomew, like the bulk of the 2021 class, will sign with Pitt in December and join the program in January.

The post Coach Speak: Pitt 2021 Commit Tight End Gavin Bartholomew appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

NSR (National Scout Report) listed the top five reasons high school athletes are under-recruited: (1) poor grades, (1) poor attitude or leadership skills, (3) difficult parents / lack of support from home, (4) the players perception of their abilities on the football field aren’t in alignment with the scouts / coaches’ views and (5) coaches simply aren’t aware of them.

Upper St. Clair dual-threat quarterback Ethan Dahlem (5-foot-10 inches, 175 pounds) is arguably the most under-recruited prospect in Western Pennsylvania. None of the NSR’s five reasons for under-recruited players applies to him. He’s an outstanding student (3.9 grade point average), a born leader, phenomenal work ethic, high character, he’s consistently produced on the football field and he has a loving and supportive family.

Dahlem stepped in as a starter last season and averaged 264 yards of offense a game.  He completed 142 of 210 passes for 2,218 yards and 17 touchdowns and at one point he had a 199.3 quarterback rating. He’s an equally adept runner rushing for 951 yards on 211 attempts and scoring 15 touchdowns.

With the start of the 2020 high school football season, Dahlem has a chance to replicate last year’s numbers.

“We’ve been practicing for a couple of weeks now. Our team is ready to go. I’m really excited to get the season going,” said Dahlem.

Dahlem was asked about his trepidation heading into the season. For a period, it appeared the season would be canceled due to the pandemic. “As a team and as a player, our head coach Mike Junko instilled in us that we were going to play no matter what,” he said. “We always maintained a positive attitude about playing. So, from that standpoint, when we found out we were going to play, it was nothing new to us.  Our team was ready to go.”

Dahlem is a phenomenal athlete with a major asset: position versatility. He’s capable of playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver or cornerback on the next level. He has a high football IQ, well-muscled frame, toughness and speed.

When asked about his strengths at the quarterback position, he stated, “I would have to say my running ability and instinctiveness. I’m much stronger heading into the season. I’ve gained 20 pounds. I should be able to throw a lot more balls than I could from the previous season.”

“I really placed a focus on nutrition and weightlifting. During the quarantine I put a lot of time into core training and body weight exercises. Eventually we found a gym we could go to and that’s when we started lifting weights and I started packing muscle on from there.”

Something Outta Nothing pic.twitter.com/iCN4lkztMm

— Ethan Dahlem (@edahlem22) May 22, 2020

Upper St. Clair’s aerial attack will exceptionally difficult to contain this season. Dahlem and standout receiver David Pantelis, a Yale commit, are a lethal duo. The pair combined for 77 receptions for over 1,100 receiving yards.

“I believe (Pantelis) is the best receiver in the state and so does everyone else on our team,” he said.  “He opens everything else up for myself and other players on offense.”

Dahlem is cognizant that he’s slightly undersized to elicit P5 interest at quarterback but he hopes the emergence of players like the Arizona Cardinals Kyle Murray (5-foot-10 inches tall) will dispel the notion that height is the quintessential attribute to success.

Upper St. Clair started their season with a resounding 34-7 victory over Bethel Park. It was the Panthers first over Bethel Park since 2013. Dahlem completed 16 of 25 throws for 160 yards and added 46 yards on eight carries.

“There are a lot of D2 and D3 schools that I’ve been talking with,” Dahlem said.  “I’ve been playing quarterback my entire life but to play at a higher level in college, I may have to play slot receiver for defensive back. I still believe I can play quarterback at the D2 and D3 level and be successful.”

Ethan Dahlem is the personification of the word ‘gamer’. He has heart. He has moxie. He has belief in his abilities. He’s a winner.

Its only a matter of time until college coaches wake up and take note. Regardless of position, there’s little doubt Dahlem will make the team that he plays for a better one.

Harry Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru

The post Is USC QB Ethan Dahlem the Most Undervalued Prospect in the WPIAL? appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

“I chose to skip my senior season of football. First, the threat of COVID played into the decision. I didn’t want to infect my family or anyone older that may be around me,”said Donald. “Second, I’m ready to move onto college. I didn’t want to risk injury with the chance of the season being canceled after two of three games. I’m taking online classes right and now and getting ready for Pitt.”

Donald may not be suiting up on the football field, but he’s far from complacent. He has an extensive and diverse workout regime in place. “I’m working out about five to six times a week.  I’m working with DeWayne Brown at least twice a week. DeWayne runs 2/10ths Speed and Agility Training. There are times I’ll work with him three days a week,” he said. “I’m lifting twice and a week and started working with Al ‘Poodie’ Carson. He’s teaching me Israeli Krav Maga techniques.”

Courtesy of Elliot Donald

Carson is the lead instructor and owner for the Israeli Krav Maga – Western Pennsylvania. He’s worked with Pitt defensive linemen Keyshon Camp and Rashad Weaver. Krav Maga is a military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces.

“Poodie and I work of a bunch of football drills. He has his own gym. We do a whole bunch of drills then work on handwork. Once I’m done with all of that I go off and lift by myself.”

Donald chose the Panthers over a stellar offer sheet. He accumulated nearly 20 scholarship offers including Penn State, Michigan, LSU, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Elliot has generally been ranked one of the top five overall 2021 recruits from the state of Pennsylvania.

Donald’s is the nephew of Pitt-great and Los Angeles Ram Aaron Donald. Elliot shares a different physique than his stockier, thicker uncle. Standing nearly 6-foot-4 inches tall, he’s in the process of adding muscle to his frame. He’s very aware of the rigors of ACC play.  “I don’t know how much I weigh now. I know when I was working out with my uncle, I got up to 258 pounds,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gained size and strength. I’m moving better as well. Adding size is great but you must be able to move. That’s my goal. I’m not exactly worried about how much I weigh when I get to Pitt. I know that if I do everything, I’m supposed to do in the weight room, size and strength will come with it.”

https://twitter.com/elliotdonald3/status/1299063812365135872?s=21

Donald was asked about his strengths on the football field. He replied, “I would say my top attribute is my motor and my love for the game.  I’m passionate about the game of football. I say that all my teammates and coaches can tell you, I get emotional just going to practice. I can get really, loud. I’m always loud, energetic and enjoy cheering on my teammates. I’m a competitor. I never want to be out worked. I always went to be the best.”

Pitt football’s current recruiting class, the class of 2021, may be the best in the Narduzzi era. Donald was asked if he had designated future goals for himself. He humbly stated, “Man, I just want to play football. The game that I love. Everybody wants to win. You always want to win.  I just want to go to Pitt and do what I’ve been doing. Whatever comes from that, the awards or accolades, comes from my hard work on and off the field. At the end of the day, I simply want to play the game that I love.”

Harry G. Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru

The post Elliot Donald Ready to Move on to College; Prepping for Life in the ACC appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

World renown virologist Jonas Salk joined the University of Pittsburgh in 1947. He was recruited to develop a cutting-edge virus program. Salk and his colleagues worked diligently for seven years to develop an effective ‘killed-virus’ vaccine. The efforts of Pitt’s research team culminated in the largest national controlled field trail in history. Salk’s polio vaccine was ultimately approved for general use by the federal government on April 12, 1955. Salk became a national hero and Pitt changed the world.

Pitt is reaching out to Panther Nation once again and looking to raise funds for its amazing Center for Vaccine Research (@PittCVR). The shirt I’m wearing will soon be on sale and $10 from each shirt will he donated to Center of Vaccine Research. The remainder of the price of the shirt covers all other expenses (production, printing, etc).

Link to purchase ——>> https://t.co/MohNPO3bLl pic.twitter.com/Wgqk8LaeFd

— Harry G. Psaros (@PittGuru) July 9, 2020

The coronavirus (COVID 19) has ravaged the United States. There’s no better time to support vaccine research. I strongly encourage all of you to purchase the shirts for yourself, friends and family. I’ll be proudly wearing mine, I hope to see you wearing yours.  H2P!

Harry ‘The Pitt Guru’ Psaros

The post Harry Psaros Supporting Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.

Maxwell-Black has generally been rated a 3-star recruit by the major recruiting services.  He had nine total scholarship offers but ultimately chose Pitt over Syracuse and Illinois.  The hard-hitting linebacker registered 83 tackles (16 for a loss), four sacks and recorded three fumbles last season.  Lakewood High School, a perennial powerhouse program had an outstanding 2019 season.  The team went 21-1 with Maxwell-Black one of the leaders on defense.

To gain perspective on the Panthers’ newest linebacker, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with Lakewood Defensive Coordinator Willie Tillman.  Tillman was recruited to Purdue University by current tight ends coach Tim Salem.  He coached at the collegiate level for 20 years.

“Bobby is a football player.  Period.  The best football for Bobby is way ahead of him.  I think once he arrives at Pitt, gets better competition around him playing at a high level, its going to bring the best out of him,” stated Tillman.  “Not that he’s not playing at a high level here at Lakewood but at Pitt he’s going to receive the coaching, the weight room, the nutrition and everything that comes with joining a big-time football program like Pitt.”

“Bobby already has great football skills: he’s not afraid to hit, he’s instinctive, loves contact, runs well and has a high football IQ.  Pitt’s simply going to extenuate all of that.”

Pitt was the first P5 school to offer Maxwell-Black.  He has consistently produced for Lakewood High school with back seasons recording over 80 tackles.  Coach Tillman reports that Bobby currently weighs somewhere between 220 to 225 pounds.

“I’m excited for him.  Off the field, Bobby is just a good person.  He comes from a big family and he’s a family oriented.  His mother and brothers are very supportive as well as his family.  He’s going to be a big reason for our success this year.”

If you watch film on Maxwell-Black, it becomes very clear that he doesn’t just tackle players, he decimates them.  Coach Tillman was asked about his aggression and hitting ability and he stated, “Bobby doesn’t hit like a hammer, he hits like a Mack truck!  Bobby can run.  He has a lot of speed.  When you combine that speed with his strength and aggression, there’s a reason he known as a big hitter.  The last two years, when he hit people, they went backwards.  They don’t just fall; they go backwards and violently.”

“Bobby loves hitting, loves the physicality and that’s what you want to see in a football player.  Linebackers must have a different mentality.  Bobby certainly has that mentality.”

Maxwell-Black is the third Floridian to join the Panthers’ 2021 class.  “Pitt’s getting a good one in Bobby.  He’s going to be a great student-athlete and a good person,” said Tillman.  “The fans are going to love him and his energy.  They’ll love the way he plays.”

Harry Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru

The post Coach Speak: Derrveron Maxwell-Black appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Now.