ALTOONA, Pa. -- Pitt can't rely heavily on 4- and 5-star guys in recruiting, and is a program that's basically built on getting a bunch of 3 stars and coaching 'em up.
That's what Pat Narduzzi will have to do with the class of 2023, which has talent but is not highly ranked and includes zero 4-star commits, per the 247Sports rankings. There is one 4-star (DL Isaiah Neal), according to Rivals rankings. But all rankings below are based on 247Sports figures.
Entering signing day Wednesday, the Panthers don't have a single commit ranked in the top 450 nationally. They also struggled in Pennsylvania in this class, as you'll see below.
The class is what it is, and there's no reason trying to sugarcoat it. Pitt will need a bunch of these guys to really step up and overachieve for this class to be considered a success in the ACC in a few years.
But again, that's kind of what the Pitt program has hung its hat on in recent years.
Here's an overview of the class, followed by a breakdown of all the commits.
Total commits: 19
National rankings: 247Sports has the Panthers at No. 51, while On3 has them at 51st and Rivals at 50th.
Compared to years past: So, how does a 51st-ranked class compare to recent years for the Panthers? They were 76th in 2022; 28th in 2021; 45th in 2020; 55th in 2019; 48th in 2018; 37th in 2017; and 30th in 2016
Highest-rated commit: Linebacker Jordan Bass is No. 491 nationally, No. 11 in Virginia and the No. 40 linebacker nationally.
Star breakdown: 18 of the 19 commits are 3-stars, while one, kicker Samuel Carpenter, has no stars.
In-state recruiting: Pitt has no commits from the top 10 or 15 prospects in Pennsylvania. The highest-rated PA player is No. 18 Kenny Johnson, a wide receiver. The No. 10 prospect, safety Cruce Brookins, is a Pitt lean but hasn't committed.
The quarterback: 3-star Ty Dieffenbach is the lone QB commit in the class. The California native is rated the No. 81 quarterback in the country. 4-star Kenny Minchey was pledged to Pitt, but he decommitted and flipped to Notre Dame. The Panthers are relying heavily on the transfer portal, bringing in Phil Jurkovec from Boston College and Christian Veilleux from Penn State.
3 STARS
ATH JESSE ANDERSON
Size: 6-0, 175
From: Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Rankings: No. 144 in Florida, No. 1024 nationally, No. 86 athlete nationally
Other offers: Auburn, Maryland, Boston, College, NC State, Illinois, Marshall
LB JORDAN BASS
Size: 6-3, 200
From: Phoebus High School in Hampton, Va.
Rankings: No. 11 in Virginia, No. 491 nationally, No. 40 linebacker nationally
Other offers: Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, Boston College, Ole Miss
ATH RASHEEM BILES
Size: 6-2, 180
From: Pickerington Central High School in Pickerington, Ohio
Rankings: No. 27 in Ohio, No. 898 nationally, No. 67 athlete nationally
Other offers: Purdue, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, West Virginia, Bowling Green
DE ANTONIO CAMON
Size: 6-2, 250
From: Tampa Bay Tech in Tampa, Fla.
Rankings: No. 120 in Florida, No. 768 nationally, No. 72 edge rusher nationally
Other offers: Penn State, Boston College, Florida State, Iowa State, Nebraska, Maryland
OT RYAN CARRETTA
Size: 6-5, 310
From: St. Charles Prep, Columbus, Ohio
Rankings: No. 26 in Ohio, No. 869 nationally, No. 69 offensive tackle nationally
Other offers: West Virginia, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, Michigan
QB TY DIEFFENBACH
Size: 6-5, 190
From: Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, Calif.
Rankings: No. 141 in Florida, No. 1526 nationally, No. 81 quarterback nationally
Other offers: San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado
WR ZION FOWLER
Size: 6-1, 185
From: St. Peters Prep in Jersey City, N.J.
Rankings: No. 17 in New Jersey, No. 1054 nationally, No. 146 wide receiver nationally
Other offers: Louisville, Michigan State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Duke
DE MAVERICK GRACIO
Size: 6-3, 220
From: Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Rankings: No. 208 in Florida, No. 1470 nationally, No. 123 edge rusher nationally
Other offers: USF, Illinois, Appalachian State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Florida Atlantic
CB SHADARIAN HARRISON
Size: 6-1, 170
From: Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Fla.
Rankings: No. 114 in Florida, No. 706 nationally, No. 73 cornerback nationally
Other offers: Miami, Tennessee, Illinois, Coastal Carolina, UCF, Oregon State
RB T.J. HARVISON
Size: 6-1, 190
From: Bowdon High School i Bowdon, Ga.
Rankings: No. 101 in Georgia, No. 1011 nationally, No. 65 running back nationally
Other offers: Ole Miss, Kentucky, Kansas, Marshall, Michigan State, Colorado
WR KENNY JOHNSON
Size: 6-1, 190
From: Dallastown Area High School in Dallastown
Rankings: No. 18 in Pennsylvania, No. 706 nationally, No. 94 wide receiver nationally
Other offers: Penn State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Wisconsin
ATH MONTRAVIUS LLOYD
Size: 6-0, 205
From: Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Rankings: No. 147 in Florida, No. 1054 nationally, No. 92 athlete in Florida
Other offers: Florida State, USF, Arizona, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Florida Atlantic
LB BRAYLAN LOVELACE
Size: 6-2, 198
From: Leechburg Area High School in Leechburg
Rankings: No. 20 in Pennsylvania, No. 905 nationally, No. 73 linebacker nationally
Other offers: Toledo, Virginia Tech, Penn, Delaware, Columbia, Army
DL ISAIAH NEAL
Size: 6-3, 265
From: St. Frances Academy in Washington D.C.
Rankings: No. 10 in DC, No. 595 nationally, No. 65 defensive lineman nationally. Note: Neal does have 4 stars from Rivals.
Other offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, Rutgers, Northwestern
WR ISRAEL POLK
Size: 6-3, 170
From: St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif.
Rankings: No. 109 in California, No. 1226 nationally, No. 106 athlete nationally
Other offers: Colorado State, Cal, Fresno State, UNLV, Cincinnati, Washington State
OT TAI RAY
Size: 6-6, 301
From: Apopka High School in Apopka, Fla.
Rankings: No. 194 in Florida, No. 1382 nationally, No. offensive tackle nationally
Other offers: Syracuse, Tulane, USF, Appalachian State, Troy, Florida Atlantic
WR LAMAR SEYMORE
Size: 6-2, 185
From: Miami Central High School in Miami
Rankings: No. 141 in Florida, No. 978 nationally, No. 137 wide receiver nationally
Other offers: Penn State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
OL BJ WILLIAMS
Size: 6-3, 270
From: Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga.
Rankings: No. 115 in Georgia, No. 1184 nationally, No. 88 interior offensive lineman nationally
Other offers: Memphis, Syracuse, Western Kentucky, Navy, Kansas, East Carolina
• • • • • • • • • • • •
0 STARS
K SAMUEL CARPENTER
Size: 5-10, 155
From: Foxborough High School in Foxborough, Mass.
Rankings: N/A
Other offers: Pitt was his lone offer
