Connections lead Warren to Pitt
2017 New Jersey offensive tackle Carter Warren became Pitt's newest commitment on Saturday when the stand-out offensive tackle announced his decision. Read his thoughts:
2017 offensive tackle Carter Warren became Pitt’s 15th commitment on Saturday evening, pledging to join the Panthers’ class as the third offensive line commit of the recruiting cycle. There had been rumors circulating for weeks that he was on the short-list of candidates as Pitt’s potential “silent commit” and he confirmed that he was indeed the masked man behind the rumors.
“Yeah, I told Pitt [that he was committing] about a month ago.” Warren laughed. “Me and coach Narduzzi decided to play a little game and have a little fun with you guys.”
Warren chose Pitt over offers from programs like Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Michigan State, North Carolina, Miami (Fla.), and many others, representing a huge victory for Pat Narduzzi’s program over a number of national powerhouses. Warren’s close and relationships bonds at Pitt were what proved to be the deciding factor.
“It just came down to the great player connections I had at Pitt and feeling comfortable. I had great player connections and it’s a great family environment at the University of Pittsburgh. I already felt like I was a part of the team when I was getting recruited,” Warren said. “You know, I grew up with both of my parents supporting me my whole life and I wanted to find that family environment in college and Pitt was it.”
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Warren’s introductions were made to Pitt in part by fellow New Jersey offensive linemen and training partner Owen Drexel, a center who has been committed to the Panthers for months. Drexel was a door-opener for Warren, but he says it was the close-knit bonds that developed that made Pitt the right fit.
“Owen helped to tell me it was the right place and he helped me set all of this up, so he was definitely recruiting me a bit,” Warren said. “When it came down to it though, it was about finding that family environment and Pitt has that with coach Peterson and all of the great guys around the program.”
At the end of our conversation, I asked Warren if he had a message for Pitt fans or something that he wanted people to know about who he is as a person. Here’s what he had to say:
“Carter Warren is different from everybody. I like to have fun. I’m just here and ready to play. I want to come into Pitt and win an ACC championship man, that’s what I’m ready to do,” Warren said.
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