Guerrier sees fit in Pitt's defense
Joshua Guerrier took an official visit to Pitt in the second week of June. The 5-foot-11 and 170-pound safety prospect from Florida liked what he saw, but always envisioned a July 1st commitment date. Even after seeing other schools following his Pitt visit, his connection with the coaches, the style in which plays, and the comfort level in Pittsburgh led to him committing to the Panthers on Monday.
“For me, I think the scheme part of it mostly,” Guerrier told Panther-Lair.com after his commitment. “I think it fits my style of football. I rocked with the campus, it was kind of like home to me. Me and Coach Sanders' relationship is great.”
Pitt has had a very strong run with its secondary in recent years. Safeties coach Cory Sanders was recently promoted to assistant head coach, and there’s good reason for that. He has sent three safeties to the NFL in recent memory and that group is one of the strongest positions on the team for the upcoming season. That lineage really caught Guerrier’s eye.
“He was just telling me how good of a player can be,” Guerrier said of Sanders’ message to him. “He sent Damar Hamlin, Erick Hallett, and he just sent a lot of players like me into the draft. That convinced me, that is one part of it that convinced me.”
Guerrier went into June planning to make an informed decision. He held offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin, along with a host of group of five programs. From there, he whittled his official visits to Pitt, Iowa, Iowa State, Boston College, and South Florida. Guerrier saw all five places, but the genuine feel at Pitt stood out above the rest.
“For me, I think it was being straight up and straightforward, not trying to sell me on anything,” he explained. “Being straightforward, that’s one big part of it.”
Guerrier sees an immediate fit in Pitt’s defense. He is one of four commitments in a very strong defensive back class for Pitt’s 2025 recruiting efforts. The Florida DB joins committed prospects Mason Alexander, Elijah Dotson, and Shawn Lee. Guerrier believes he can transition right into Pitt’s defensive back room once he arrives on campus.
“The work ethic they have,” he said of what stands out about Pitt’s defensive philosophy. "They work hard every day and it’s a good energy, good vibe. I’m working out right now and Coach Sanders loves that. They’re always working out and they don’t have to ask the coaches when to work out, they’re always working. I think that’s a big part of it. I’ve got to be in an environment with players who want to work and get to where they want to get to.”
Guerrier has had a productive junior campaign for Ocoee High School. He recorded 38 tackles and had one interception and scored a touchdown in four different ways: two rushing, one receiving, a pick six, and a punt return while compiling 744 all-purpose yards. Guerrier’s focus now is on having a strong senior season and said he is done with the recruiting process.