New Pitt commit Drexel: "I love everything"

Pitt’s 2017 recruiting class added its first offensive line recruit on Wednesday when Montclair (NJ) center Owen Drexel committed to the Panthers.

“I love everything, from Coach Narduzzi to the entire coaching staff, the city, the school, everything was great,” Drexel told Panther-Lair.com.

Drexel earned his offer from Pitt on Monday following an impressive showing at Sunday’s “Senior Elite” camp Sunday. Once the offer came, Drexel had a pretty good idea of where he wanted to go.

“All I had to do was just talk to my parents; that was pretty much it.”

On Sunday, Drexel measured 6’3.5” and 275 pounds, and he said the Pitt coaches like him as a center with the potential to slide out to guard in the future.

“They like my strength and my physicality, and I’m fast for my size,” Drexel said.

In addition to earning an offer, Sunday’s camp also gave Drexel an opportunity to work with Pitt offensive line coach John Peterson.

“He’s a great guy,” Drexel said. “He’s a guy who’s going to work you on the field but he’ll be a great guy off of it. I can tell that just from what I did at the camp.”

Head coach Pat Narduzzi also made a positive impression on Drexel, whose father went to Duquesne for two years.

“He’s all about family,” Drexel said of Narduzzi. That’s what I love. There are coaches’ kids on the coaching staff, and that’s what I love about it: he’s all about family.”

Drexel is Pitt’s seventh commitment in the class of 2017 and the third offensive recruit, joining quarterback Kenny Pickett and receiver Darian Street. The Panthers are likely to sign at least two more offensive line prospects in this class.