Visitor Preview: Pitt's prospect camps begin - June 3rd-4th
Previewing the visitors expected on campus at Pitt as Pat Narduzzi and his coaching staff begin their opening weekend of June prospect camps. With two camps set for the weekend, Pitt should have a healthy number of players on hand.
Perhaps the most prominent visitor of the weekend, Hyattsvile (Md.) DeMatha defensive end John Morgan has Pitt among his finalists with just a scant few weeks to go until he makes his commitment. The three-star defensive end is expected to choose between a host of offers at some point between June 20th and 26th, with Pitt, Maryland, and Virginia Tech appearing to be the top group of schools. Morgan will arrive on campus on Saturday, June 3rd for his visit, the last visit he has confirmed before his pending commitment.
Pitt has been considered the favorite for Avon (Ohio) offensive tackle Jimmy McKenna, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound prospect in the class of 2018, since becoming the first program to offer him early in the fall of 2016. McKenna had initially planned to make a commitment in May, but decided to delay until the summer. He'll be at Pitt's camp on Sunday, June 4th and at Ohio State's camp on Friday, June 9th, the only two visits he has planned at the moment.
A 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive tackle from Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara, Spencer Anderson holds offers from schools like Pitt, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Kentucky, Maryland, Boston College, and several other programs. He'll be working out with the Pitt coaches on Sunday, June 4th during Pitt's senior elite camp as his recruitment moves forward.
A trioof in-state prospects with Power Five interest or offers, Johnstown (Pa.) defensive lineman Shamar Jones, Warminster (Pa.) Archbishop Wood linebacker Matt Palmer, and Williamsport (Pa.) offensive guard Kurt Danneker will all be competing for offers at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th. Jones has had an impressive offseason, capturing Defensive Line MVP honors at Nike's The Opening regional in Cleveland. Palmer holds offers from Rutgers, West Virginia, and other programs and also intends to camp at Boston College on June 10th and Duke on June 17th. Danneker holds offers from Buffalo and Kent State but has an impressive frame at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds.
Pitt will also host a number of local 2018 prospects who are expected to work out this weekend:
Stevenson is a deep-threat specialist at wide receiver from Montour (Pa.) who checks in at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds. He'll be working out on Sunday, June 4th.
Fairley received his first offer from Army and will be working out at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th. He'll be visiting Penn State and West Virginia for camps later this summer.
Asante Watkins impressed at defensive back during the Columbus Rivals Three-Stripe Camp and will be working out at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th. Division II and FCS schools have begun to offer, but Watkins' ceiling is much higher than that.
Jeanette (Pa.)'s Robert Kennedy will be working out at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th. He's fresh off of visits to Toledo and Duquesne and has also been to Pitt for visits in the past. Howard, Albany, and St. Francis have offered.
Coleman Coco has had a fast-rising spring, gathering attention from a variety of programs. The Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) defensive end has been offered by Kent State, Air Force, and a slew of FCS programs and has plans to work out at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th.
A panoply of FCS and G5 schools have offered McDonald (Pa.) South Fayette defensive end Ray Eldridge, who will be camping at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th.
Pitt also plans to host a number of local 2019 prospects, despite their camp on Sunday nominally being a senior elite camp. The juniors who made the cut include:
Thrift is the first prospect in the WPIAL to receive an offer from Pitt and also holds offers from West Virginia, Syracuse, and Temple. He will work out at Pitt on either Sunday, June 4th or Sunday, June 11th and has yet to decide.
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic safety Corey Thomas Jr. has offers from Buffalo and Toledo and the 6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect has a world of potential as he continues developing. He'll be at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th and at Wisconsin on Saturday, June 10th with later camp dates at Ohio State and Penn State.
Aliquippa (Pa.) cornerback Marlin Devonshire will be working out at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th and currently holds offers from Oregon State, West Virginia, and Syracuse. He should be one of the top prospects in the WPIAL's 2019 class.
Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine Richland offensive tackle Andrew Kristofic is beginning to receive serious Power Five attention. Akron is the first school to offer, but Kristofic has a slew of visits planned.
“I’m going to Pitt this weekend on Saturday, June 3rd," Kristofic said. "I’ll be at Ohio State on June 9th, Michigan State on June 14th, Wisconsin on June 25th, and Penn State on July 16th.”
Brian Dallas has yet to receive his first offer, but the speedy 6-foot-3, 215-pound pass rusher will change that soon enough. Dallas plans to camp at Pitt on Saturday, June 3rd and seems to be only a matter of time until a school pulls the trigger on an offer.
Rashod Allen received his first offer from Toledo and the 5-foot-8, 150-pound cornerback will hope to add to that list with a number of summer camp visits planned.
“I’ll be at Pitt on Saturday, June 3rd and then I’m also trying to camp at Penn State, Temple, and Ohio State," Allen said.
Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny offensive tackle Elijah Boyd has the potential to be among the WPIAL's best offensive linemen in the 2019 class, although the 6-foot-4, 260-pound prospect awaits his first offer. He'll camp at Pitt on Saturday, June 3rd and at Temple on Sunday, June 11th.
Penn Hills (Pa.) wide receiver Dante Cephas appears to be on the verge of a breakout summer and the 2019 prospect just received his offer from Howard. Cephas will be at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th, at Wisconsin on Friday, June 9th, and recently visited Toledo.
Cephas' teammate, Penn Hills (Pa.) quarterback Hollis Mathis, also recently received his first offer from Howard. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound signal-caller has tentative plans to camp at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th. He will start at Penn Hills for the first time as a junior.
Much like Mathis, Imperial (Pa.) West Allegheny quarterback James Diven will be starting for the first time as a junior after an incumbent starter has graduated. Diven is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound prospect who intends to camp at Pitt on Sunday, June 4th.