“Judging Jerry Richardson” ( Owner of Carolina Panthers)
Pitt Football Inks 16 Future Panthers on Signing Day
Prospects from Eight Different States Officially Commit to Pitt
LINK: Pitt Football Signing Day Release
PITTSBURGH—Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff inked 16 future Panthers on Wednesday’s National Letter of Intent Day, the new December edition of “Signing Day” in college football.
In total, Pitt signed five defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, three defensive backs, two quarterbacks, two wide receivers and one linebacker. The prospects that officially committed to Pitt on Wednesday hail from eight different states, with Pennsylvania producing five of those signees.
Links to Pitt’s Signing Day Central and media highlights, including video and transcription of Coach Narduzzi’s press conference and video of media scrums with Pitt assistant coaches can be found here: Signing Day Central | Media Highlights from Signing Day
Below are bios of each Pitt signee from Wednesday’s National Signing Day. A printable PDF with information of each of Pitt’s 16 commits can also be found attached to this email.
Tyler Bentley, DL, 6-2, 300, West Chester, OH/Lakota West
Considered one of Ohio’s top defensive line prospects…a three-year starter at defensive tackle…two-time first team All-Greater Miami Conference…Journal-News All-Area…compiled 60 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles as a senior…rated the No. 20 overall prospect in Ohio by ESPN, No. 41 by 247Sports and No. 43 by Rivals…played under Coach Larry Cox.
Chase Brown, OL, 6-5, 310, Ashburn, VA/Briar Woods H.S./Lackawanna College
Highly regarded JUCO offensive lineman who will have two seasons of eligibility at Pitt…a two-year starter at Lackawanna College under Coach Mark Duda…started at offensive guard as a sophomore after playing tackle his freshman season…helped Lackawanna to a 7-2 record and No. 19 ranking in the final NJCAA poll in 2017…paved the way for a Falcons offense that averaged 382.1 yards and 34.3 points per game…began his collegiate career at FCS power James Madison, redshirting during the 2015 season…was a two-year starter at Briar Woods (Va.) High, where he helped the team to a combined 21-6 mark (.778) over his junior and senior seasons under Coach Charlie Pierce.
V’Lique Carter, DB, 5-9, 170, West Palm Beach, FL/Oxbridge Academy
Versatile performer for Florida Class 3A runner-up Oxbridge Academy as a safety, running back and dangerous return man…scored touchdowns four different ways as a senior (two rushing, two receiving, one punt return and one interception return)…had 31 tackles and two interceptions…had 428 yards on 18 total returns for an impressive 23.8 average…had two INTs for 80 yards (40.0 avg.), five kickoff returns for 151 yards (30.2 avg.) and 11 punt returns for 197 yards (17.9 avg.)…selected All-Palm Beach County…played under Coach Brendan Kent.
Devin Danielson, DL, 6-1, 290, Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson
One of Western Pennsylvania’s most dominating linemen in recent years…a two-way starter at perennial power Thomas Jefferson, helping the Jaguars to three consecutive WPIAL championships and a combined 34-6 record (.850)…Pennsylvania Football Writers All-Class 4A on defense…first-team All-Big Nine Conference selection on both sides of the ball…Big Nine Defensive Player of the Year…Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”…collected 20 quarterback sacks for his career…played under former Pitt offensive lineman Bill Cherpak(1985-89) at Thomas Jefferson…in Cherpak’s initial 23 seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach, Danielson became only the third lineman to start as a freshman…rated the No. 16 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals, No. 18 by ESPN and No. 23 by 247Sports.
Wendell Davis, LB, 6-0, 220, Henrico, VA/Benedictine College Preparatory
A two-time All-Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) selection at linebacker…was a four-year varsity letterman and three-year starter at Benedictine…helped the Cadets to four VISAA Division I playoff berths, three state title games and two state championships…as a senior, compiled 52 tackles, 14 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles…rated the No. 18 overall prospect in Virginia by 247Sports, No. 22 by Rivals and No. 23 by ESPN…played under Coach Greg Lilly.
David Green, DL, 6-0, 255, West Mifflin, PA/Pittsburgh Central Catholic
A three-year starter at defensive end for perennial WPIAL power Central Catholic…also played fullback for the Vikings…Pennsylvania Football Writers All-Class 6A…Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”…All-Northern Seven Conference…helped lead Central Catholic to a three-year mark of 39-6 (.867), including two WPIAL championships and a PIAA title…rated the No. 23 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by ESPN, No. 25 by 247Sports and No. 28 by Rivals…played under Coach Terry Totten.
Shyheem Jacques-Louis, WR, 6-0, 170, Fort Myers, FL/Dunbar
Rated the nation’s No. 26 “athlete” by Rivals…earned status as one of Southwest Florida’s top prospects, ranking No. 6 in The News-Press/Naples Daily News “Big 15”…compiled 65 receptions for 966 yards (14.9 avg.) and scored 13 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Dunbar…had 45 catches for 652 yards (14.5) and six touchdowns as a senior…led team to consecutive berths in the regional semifinals and a combined 17-7 mark (.708) his final two years…played under Coach Sam Brown.
Jake Kradel, OL, 6-3, 275, Butler, PA/Butler Senior
One of Pennsylvania’s most highly recruited offensive line prospects…was a standout in all three phases for Butler, starting on the offensive and defensive lines as well as punter…Pennsylvania Football Writers All-Class 6A…first team All-Northern Seven Conference as an offensive guard his senior year…was a first-team selection as a defensive lineman his junior year…rated one of Pennsylvania’s top 25 overall prospects by ESPN (No. 17), Rivals (No. 17) and 247Sports (No. 22)…played under Coach Rob Densmore.
John Morgan, DL, 6-2, 250, Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic
Considered one of the top defensive linemen in Maryland…rated the No. 1 strong-side defensive end in the state by Rivals…rated the No. 11 overall prospect in Maryland by ESPN, No. 12 by Rivals and No. 14 by 247Sports…excelled as a pass rusher, compiling eight sacks as a senior…also was a starter at tight end…All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC)…helped DeMatha to a combined 18-5 record (.783) over his final two varsity seasons…his junior year, DeMatha finished 12-0, capturing the WCAC title and finishing No. 4 in the USA TODAY Super 25 high school rankings…played under Coach Elijah Brooks.
Cameron O’Neil, WR, 6-1, 185, Phenix City, AL/Glenwood School
Compiled more than 1,300 receiving yards over his final two seasons at Glenwood…as a senior, had 44 receptions for 705 yards (16.0 avg.) and 10 touchdowns…had a spectacular game against Lee-Scott Academy with 224 yards and three TDs on 11 catches (20.4 avg.)…All-Alabama Independent School Association (AISA)…All-Bi-City…helped team to the AISA Class AAA playoffs in each of his final two varsity seasons…rated the No. 30 overall prospect in Alabama by ESPN…played under Coach Jason Gibson.
Noah Palmer, DL, 6-3, 215, Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson
A two-way standout for WPIAL power Thomas Jefferson…an All-Big Nine Conference selection at defensive end and tight end…collected 37 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense…also had four touchdown catches on offense…helped Thomas Jefferson to three consecutive WPIAL championships and a combined 34-6 record (.850)…rated the No. 27 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals, No. 28 by ESPN and No. 29 by 247Sports…played under Coach Bill Cherpak, a former standout offensive lineman for Pitt (1985-89).
Nick Patti, QB, 6-1, 185, Westwood, NJ/St. Joseph Regional
Rated one of the country’s top 20 pro-style quarterbacks by Rivals…threw for nearly 4,600 yards and 43 touchdowns over his three varsity seasons at New Jersey power St. Joseph Regional…his senior year, threw for 2,039 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for an additional six TDs…directed St. Joseph to three consecutive state title games and a combined 27-10 mark (.730)…his junior year, he led the Green Knights to a 10-2 record and the Non-Public, Group 3 championship…All-Non Public, Group 3…first team All-Bergen County…rated the No. 9 overall prospect in New Jersey by Rivals, No. 20 by 247Sports and No. 23 by ESPN…played under Coach Augie Hoffmann.
Judson Tallandier, DB, 6-0, 180, Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic
Earned acclaim as one of the top two cornerbacks in Maryland according to the scouting services…rated Maryland’s No. 13 overall prospect by Rivals, No. 17 by 247Sports and No. 22 by ESPN…compiled 39 tackles, 15 pass breakups and an interception his senior year…All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC)…helped DeMatha to a combined 18-5 record (.783) over his final two varsity seasons…his junior year, DeMatha finished 12-0, capturing the WCAC title and finishing No. 4 in the USA TODAY Super 25 high school rankings…played under Coach Elijah Brooks.
Ricky Town, QB, 6-3, 205, Newbury Park, CA/St. Bonaventure H.S./Ventura College
Touted junior-college quarterback who will have two seasons of eligibility at Pitt…spent the 2017 season at Ventura College in California and completed 60% of his passes (93 of 155) for 1,160 yards and 12 touchdowns against five interceptions…played under Ventura coach Steve Mooshagian, a former offensive coordinator at Pitt (1997-98) under Walt Harris…enjoyed a heralded prep career, throwing for 76 TDs as a three-year varsity starter…as a senior at St. Bonaventure, completed 66% of his passes (192 of 290) for 2,639 yards and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions under Coach Adam Guerra…originally signed out of high school with Southern California in 2015 before transferring to Arkansas…spent the 2015-16 seasons with the Razorbacks and did not play in any games.
Marquis Williams, DB, 5-8, 160, Pompano Beach, FL/Cardinal Gibbons
Speedy corner prospect who hails from Florida’s talent-rich Broward County…compiled 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for Cardinal Gibbons…also averaged 35 yards per kickoff return (seven for 245 yards)…helped Cardinal Gibbons to an 11-2 mark and the Region 4-5A final…played under Coach Matt DuBuc…rated one of the top 100 overall prospects in Florida by Rivals…uncle, Tyrone Carter, was a two-time All-American at Minnesota and won the 1999 Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back…Carter played 11 NFL seasons (2000-10), including six with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-09).
Blake Zubovic, OL, 6-4, 300, Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon Area
Coveted offensive line prospect who was a versatile standout on both sides of the ball…was a two-time All-Big Nine Conference selection on offense, playing both guard and tackle…on the defensive front, played tackle and end…led Belle Vernon to a 10-1 record, the Big Nine title and the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs…shares the same high school alma mater as former Pitt All-America offensive guard Dorian Johnson (2013-16), now a member of the Houston Texans…rated a top 20 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by ESPN (No. 16), Rivals (No. 18) and 247Sports (No. 18)…played under Coach Matt Humbert.
