Stocker is Narduzzis first commitment

Pat Narduzzi has landed his first commitment as head coach at Pitt.

"I committed to Pitt tonight," Coatesville safety Jay Stocker told Panther-Lair.com Wednesday night. "I just got off the phone with Coach Narduzzi about five minutes ago and I'm going to be a Panther."

Stocker's commitment comes days after he took his official visit to Pitt, and he fits the mold of a Narduzi recruit: a physical defensive back.

"They said I could play all four positions in the secondary, anywhere on the field," Stocker said. "But mostly they like me as a safety and that's where I want to play. That's what I've always done.

"They like how physical I am. I always say I weigh 185 but I play like I'm 225. I'm just very physical.

That style appealed to Narduzzi and Pitt defensive coordinator Josh Conklin, and Stocker said he can see similarities between the head coach and his top defensive assistant.

"Coach Conklin is the same as Coach Narduzzi: they're both just eager to go and get out there and play and win."

In fact, it was that mentality that sold Stocker on the Panthers during his official visit. He wasn't sure about Pitt when he arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday, but by the time he left town, he had a good feeling about where he was going to college.

"Going into the visit, I was a little shaky on them because I wasn't sure what to think with a new coaching staff who was just getting there; I didn't know what they were going to be like," Stocker said. "But the way it is there, just everything felt good. Everybody was ready to get out there and win, and I wanted to be part of something like that.

"I feel like something good is going to happen there. I think we're going to be in the running for the ACC. They're very ambitious and that's what I like: their attitude was similar to mine."

Stocker also liked Narduzzi's approach.

"His excitement level is real high and I really like his attitude and everything," Stocker said. "He treats everybody like family and he's defense-oriented, so that's good.

"When I committed, he was excited. He said "H2P! Pitt is it!" I'm his first recruit who committed, so he was excited about that."

Stocker, 6'2" 185, picked Pitt over offers from Syracuse, Illinois, Rutgers, Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Purdue, Temple, Villanova, Virginia, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

He is Pitt's 11th commit in the class of 2015 and the fourth defensive back, joining cornerbacks Malik Henderson, Dane Jackson and Jordan Whitehead. Pitt also has commitments from Kittanning tight end Nick Bowers, Altoona linebacker Kevin Givens, Austintown (Oh.) Fitch running back Darrin Hall, Wilmington (Del.) Alexis I Dupont receiver Quadree Henderson, Canon McMillan offensive lineman Alex Paulina, Hempfield offensive lineman Tony Pilato and Apollo Ridge receiver Tre Tipton.

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