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Pitt secures commitment from 6th defensive back in class of 2021 | TribLIVE.com
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Pitt secures commitment from 6th defensive back in class of 2021

Jerry DiPaola
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi looks at the big screen after the Panthers go down to Notre Dame 21-3 in the second quarter Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at Heinz Field.

With his 2021 recruiting class, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi hopes he will have plenty of options in pass defense.

Phillip O’Brien Jr. became the sixth defensive back in Pitt’s 23-man class Christmas morning when he confirmed through Twitter that he will enroll next year.

O’Brien, who played safety at Deerfield Beach High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., had been committed to Auburn for the past 10 months. That situation changed when former coach Gus Malzahn was fired Dec. 13.

He has 31 offers, according to Rivals.com, including interest from SEC schools Alabama, Georgia, Florida and LSU, among others. Penn State, West Virginia and Miami also had offered scholarships.

A three-star prospect, O’Brien (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) joins Pitt’s five other defensive back prospects in the 2021 class — Tamarion Crumpley of Cincinnati, Stephon Hall of Central Valley, Khalil Anderson of Atlanta, Noah Biglow of Seffner, Fla., and Javon McIntyre of Philadelphia.

O’Brien’s commitment marks the second addition to the Pitt 2021 roster in as many days. Offensive lineman Marcus Minor announced Thursday he is transferring from Maryland.

Get the latest news about Pitt football and all things Panthers athletics.

Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.

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