Wheeler has known Pitt was it

Rashad Wheeler has been considering his options for the last few months, but deep down, the Central Catholic defensive tackle knew where he wanted to be. So on Monday evening, he became Pitt's ninth commitment in the class of 2016.

"I thought it was the right decision for me," Wheeler told Panther-Lair.com. "I really love the coaching staff there and I feel like they'll help me get to where I want to get.

"I've known for a couple weeks. I told Coach (Pat) Narduzzi two weeks ago, so I've known since then."

Wheeler's decision was spurred by a visit to Pitt's facilities, which were still in the later stages of renovation at the time. But even though the project had not been completed, the feeling was there for the three-star prospect.

"It was before the facilities were done, but I went down and knew Pitt was the place for me," he said. "I've known it would be Pitt; I just wanted to make sure. I didn't really see anything different when I was down there, I just knew I was comfortable there. I knew Pitt was the place I wanted to be at.

"They were all happy. When I went there last week, I told Coach (Tom) Sims and he gave me a hug. They've been pushing for me to choose Pitt, and I just had to choose them. They were the school for me."

Wheeler chose Pitt over his other two finalists, West Virginia and Maryland, as well as offers from Tennessee (which was "just a little too late," he said), Boston College, Bowling Green, Illinois, Indiana, Old Dominion, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest. But the combination of Narduzzi and Sims made the Panthers the right option.

"Coach Sims can help me get to where I need to get as far as improving my skills I need to work on and becoming a better player overall," Wheeler said. "I went to their camp and that helped a lot because I got to see first-hand how he coaches and how he runs practice.

"And Coach Narduzzi just changed the whole atmosphere at Pitt. I feel like he's going to bring instant success to Pitt and I want to be a part of what he's doing."

Now Wheeler wants to work on getting more local players to be a part of it, too. His teammate at Central Catholic, safety Bricen Garner, is already committed to Pitt, and the duo will work on fellow Central standout Damar Hamlin, as well as the staff's other top targets.

"I feel like they're building the momentum and a lot of kids want to go to Pitt; it's just a matter of timing," Wheeler said. "So I'm going to work on getting guys to Pitt. We're all going to work on the WPIAL kids. We're trying to get them to come down to Pitt."

Pitt didn't sign a defensive tackle prospect in the class of 2015, but with Wheeler and Akron (Oh.) Coventry's Bryce Hargrove on board, the Panthers now have two for the class of 2016. At 6'3" 282, Wheeler projects as an interior lineman who can impact the backfield.

"They see me as a big, athletic defensive tackle who can get down the line and make plays," he said. "That's what I want to do, that's my job: make plays. That's what they see me doing, just helping the defense any way I can."

Wheeler is Pitt's ninth commitment in the class of 2016, joining Upper St. Clair offensive lineman Brandon Ford, Cincinnati (Oh.) Moeller quarterback Thomas MacVittie, Lima (Oh.) receiver Ruben Flowers, Bedford (Oh.) running back Chawntez Moss, Williamsburg (Va.) Lafayette linebacker Chase Pine and New Brunswick (NJ) athlete Maurice Ffrench, as well as Garner and Hargrove.

Wheeler announced his commitment Monday night on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

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