New Pitt commit Jason Pinnock explains his decision
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Pitt received its 20th commitment of the 2017 recruiting class on Tuesday night from Connecticut native and 2017 cornerback Jason Pinnock. Pinnock, a 6-foot, 180-pound product of Windsor (Conn.), chose Pitt over offers from UConn and Boston College, the latter of which he was formerly committed to. Schools like Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Purdue had worked to pry away Pinnock from Pitt and had attempted to schedule visits, but after an official visit with the Panthers on January 13th, Pinnock found his fit.
“It’s really late in the process and I was never highly recruited like that [until now]. I knew that Pitt was it and I had some other big schools coming at me, so it was kind of tough to say no, I can’t lie. I knew that it was Pitt though,” Pinnock said. “I never felt like a priority to the other schools, it almost like I was a plan D you can call it. I’ve been in touch with Ole Miss, Tennessee, Purdue, and Notre Dame. So it was kind of hard, but it was easy at the same time because I knew I would be playing with those guys at Pitt.”
“Those guys at Pitt” is a reference to the members of the Pitt’s 2017 recruiting class and its committed players, seven of whom spent time with Pinnock on his official visit. Pinnock has already found a future roommate in wide receiver Darian Street and feels like he’s found a brotherhood in the Panthers’ class.
“It was the visit man, it was the visit. It was just great. You know normally you go on a visit to a school and just go with the flow and you just do whatever is scheduled on the itinerary. Everything about Pitt was just…” Pinnock trailed off. “As they say, Pitt is it. The guys there, it’s a brotherhood really. It just felt right.”
Pitt defensive coordinator Josh Conklin had the lead role on Pinnock’s recruitment after identifying the defensive back during a game in the fall. Conklin’s visit to Pinnock’s school and his evaluation of the corner lead to Pitt’s offer (and Pinnock’s decommitment from Boston College), as well as giving Pitt a significant leg up in Pinnock’s eyes.
“Oh no doubt, that helped, it definitely helped. It showed that Pitt was interested early in the season and they’re not just over here offering kids right before National Signing Day because guys are leaving or whatever,” Pinnock explained. “My relationship with coach Conklin is really good and we’ve been talking ever since then and building that connection with him and all the coaches over there.”
It’s a day of celebration for the cornerback and his family, who have been very supportive of the process. Pitt tight end commit Tyler Sear joked that Pinnock’s mom wouldn’t let him play anywhere besides Pitt and while it was said in jest, his family is thrilled with Pinnock’s decision.
“We’re excited, we’re really excited. You know how recruiting gets around this time, it’s been a little hectic, so it’s a relief. We’re really excited and me and my family are positive that this is the school for me,” Pinnock said. “My mom tried not to give away how happy she was with Pitt on the visit, because she didn’t want to overrule my decision. You know, if I’m happy, she’s happy. But she is very in love with the Steelers and Pitt.”
Pinnock is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and is Pitt’s third defensive back commitment in the 2017 class, joining Florida cornerback Damarri Mathis and Rivals100 Pennsylvania safety Paris Ford. The Panthers surely hope that Pinnock will not be the last commitment to result from their big official visit weekend on the 13th.
