Pitt lands commitment from 3-star RB Malik Newton, 4th prospect from Virginia

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi continued to bolster his 2021 class of verbal commits Tuesday night when running back Malik Newton of Norfolk, Va., pledged to enroll next year. Newton made his commitment on Instagram live.

Newton, ranked a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, is the second running back in Pitt’s class — Rodney Hammond of Booker T. Washington High School also is from Norfolk — and the 13th senior to commit to the Panthers.

#H2P?????? #Committed pic.twitter.com/4ZvaVxJbHQ

— Malik Newton (@maliknewton2002) May 27, 2020

With 20 seniors on the roster this season, Pitt’s 2021 recruiting class — now ranked 22nd in the nation by Rivals.com — might be the most important in Narduzzi’s 5 1/2 years on the job.

Newton, 6-foot, 220 pounds, chose Pitt over 18 offers, including Clemson, Louisville, Penn State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas A&M, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. He visited Penn State twice, according to Rivals.

Newton is the No. 2 running back in Virginia and No. 18 in the nation, according to Rivals. Hammond is the fifth-ranked running back in the state. The two will be teammates next year after having played against each other for many years in Virginia.

Four players from Virginia have committed to the Panthers this year, including Hammond, wide receiver Myles Alston and defensive end Trevion Stevenson.

Virginia is the recruiting territory of Pitt wide receivers coach Chris Beatty, a former high school coach in the state. He coached NFL star Percy Harvin at Landstown where they won a state title.

Newton was especially productive last season as a junior, rushing for 2,060 yards on the way to leading Lake Taylor High School to a 4A state championship. He was the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year in 2018 and shared the honor with Penn State commit KeAndre Lambert in ‘19. He also was Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year last season.

In the regular season, he rushed for 413 yards and seven touchdowns in a 63-56 victory against Norview. Only nine other players have scored more touchdowns all-time, according to the Virginia High School League record book.

“What? Me? I couldn’t believe it,” he told Pilotonline.com after the game. “During the season, people kept saying that the school record was six. I thought I could beat it.”

Against Norcom, he led Lake Taylor from a 34-7 halftime deficit to a 57-56 overtime victory. He rushed for 220 yards and six touchdowns — five in the second half.

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