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Jay Symonds woke up at 4 am Thursday morning and caught a flight to Pittsburgh for a visit brimming with high expectations.

When the expectations were met, the Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols standout became Pitt’s first commitment in the class of 2018.

“My whole decision depended on the visit,” Symonds told Panther-Lair.com. “I wanted to see the campus and the facilities and meet coaches and the talk to coaches. So I got down there, watched practice, saw how the offense operated, how I would be used, met all the coaches, talked to Coach (Shawn) Watson and Coach (Pat) Narduzzi and toured campus.

“I loved all of it and it really solidified my decision.”

Symonds picked Pitt over offers from Boston College, Temple, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and more. But while there may have been other suitors for the 6’4” 257-pound Symonds, nobody wanted him the way Pitt did.

Even the Rivals.com database has a different view of Symonds from what the Pitt coaches see. He is listed as a tight end prospect, but Pitt is recruiting him more for a fullback/H-back role. He got to see that position in action on Thursday morning during the Panthers’ first practice of spring camp.

In fact, he got to see a specific player who is filling that role right now.

“They want to use me kind of like how they use George Aston,” Symonds said. “It’s multi-faceted, either as a wing or in the backfield or motioning or in the slot and even in tight on the line. I saw that a lot at practice, and he’s kind of the focal point of the offense - or at least big part of it.

“Coach Watson said he really liked my versatility, my toughness, how I’m kind of like George in terms of versatility and I’m able to do multiple things and move around. He called me the adjuster, just for all the motion and moving around in addition to the height and length. He said I’m kind of a bigger, longer version of George.

“They said I have a unique set of skills with my size and versatility, and they have a need for it.”

Symonds was attracted to his place in Pitt’s offense, but he also found a perfect fit with the Panthers’ coaching staff. And it was during a post-practice meeting with Narduzzi that he finally made the decision to commit.

“When I met Coach Narduzzi, it just drove it home. His enthusiasm about the program and where it’s going, that solidified it. We talked about practice and where the program is headed, what he wants to do, how it’s been since he got there and it was great talking to him. He’s a great guy.

“I told him, there’s no other school that could come in and offer the same opportunity that Pitt does for me. This is the school I want to go to.”

And the third factor in Symonds’ decision was Pitt’s overall interest in him. The Panthers were the first FBS school to offer him, and even if more teams take a liking to his skill set, Pitt’s early commitment to him will always be an advantage.

“100%,” he said. “The fact that they hopped on me so early and they were so persistent, that will always keep them above other schools.”