Pitt landed its fourth 2021 recruit from a WPIAL school Thursday night when Baldwin defensive lineman Dorien Ford tweeted his intention to enroll next year.
Tim Sweeney, the first-year coach at Baldwin, didn’t meet Ford face-to-face until two months ago, but he knows a talented player when he sees one.
“I challenge him to be dominant,” Sweeney said. “He’s buying into the coaching he’s getting and now just needs to realize he has ability to dominate on the high school level.
“It won’t be too much longer until he become a household name.”
When Sweeney was hired, he heard as much about Ford’s character as he did his prowess on the defensive and offensive lines.
“He’s not only a great football playser, but what a tremendous young man, respectful, off the field.”
Ford, 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, was recruited as a defensive lineman, but his ultimate landing spot is yet to be determined.
“Maybe even play offense in college,” Sweeney said. “It speaks to his athleticism and what he has to offer a team like Pitt. He has the ability to do both.”
Its that time‼️‼️‼️‼️“DIRECTED BY @prospectmedia_ “@LcooleyDuq5 @DWalls2ND @_MattieD pic.twitter.com/c2UwHGPnjO
— Dorien Ford (@DorienFord_21) September 17, 2020
Ford, who is rated a three-star prospect and the 25th-ranked defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com, joins Central Catholic defensive lineman Elliot Donald, West Mifflin defensive end Nahki Johnson and Central Valley defensive back Stephon Hall among the WPIAL seniors who have verbally committed to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi.
Pitt now has three of the top 12 players in Pennsylvania on its 20-man pledge list, according to Rivals’ rankings. Donald is No. 4, Johnson No. 7 and Ford No. 12. Pitt’s class is ranked 24th in the nation, sixth in the ACC.
Ford has 24 scholarship offers, 15 from Power 5 schools, including Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Syracuse.
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