Pitt's Pat Narduzzi adds 5 rising seniors during recruiting weekend
Pitt’s big recruiting weekend started Saturday with the first of five of these tweets, signaling Pat Narduzzi had received a verbal commitment from a coveted prospect.
PITT IS IT!!! #H2P #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/g5nzT7DsRT
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) June 16, 2019
By Sunday night, there had been plenty of tweets from Narduzzi’s account, some even dealing with recruiting. Of the five prospects who committed to Narduzzi, Akron linebacker Bangally Kamara, New Jersey athlete Solomon DeShields, Miami defensive end Emmanuel Belgrave and Atlanta cornerback Tee Denson made their announcements public. The fifth is expected to do the same this week.
‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/Tz83VwAIme
— solomon deshields (@acelordd) June 16, 2019
Poverty put me in this position...? #COMMITTED ?? #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/MSfaY6a0SQ
— BANGALLY?? (@bengally_kamara) June 16, 2019
I Had A Great Time In Pittsburgh This Week??#Hail2Pitt pic.twitter.com/DwJu2Etcn3
— Jomoney? (@ebelgrave12) June 16, 2019
I wasn't made for no casket or no prison cell ....
1OO% COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/SQLGnBt17E— ²¹ (@TeeDenson) June 17, 2019
Prospects Emmanuel Belgrave and Tee Denson added a message in their tweets, indicating they carry a determination they are not afraid to flaunt.
Wrote Belgrave: “My Little Brother Doesn’t Have To Worry About Asking Anyone For Anything.”
Wrote Denson: “I wasn’t made for no casket or no prison cell … “
If Pitt completes its five-man haul, that will give the Panthers eight in its class of 2020 so far, with plenty of summer and a three-month season to go before signing day in December. Remember, the verbal commitments that some fans waited for breathlessly Sunday are non-binding. Kids can change their minds, and they occasionally do.
Narduzzi and his staff served as hosts to about two dozen prospects, some of whom had already committed to Pitt. Such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., defensive end Sam Williams, who’s been on board since April.
Mama and @CoachPartridge ??❤️ pic.twitter.com/oi1WWeWlhU
— Sam Williams (@SaWilliams_46) June 17, 2019
Other prospects appeared to enjoy their visits, including another Akron linebacker, Devin Hightower of Bishop Hoban High School, and Georgia athlete Khatavian Franks, who has verbaled to Louisville, but visited Pitt, anyway.
First official was crazy ?@CoachDuzzPittFB @robharley34 pic.twitter.com/PEcE9N3pf4
— Devin Hightower|3⭐️OLB| (@1devinhightower) June 16, 2019
?️itt was lit ?? pic.twitter.com/XOzUFZ5hfb
— K.Franks ² ⁹ (@khatavian_4) June 16, 2019
In a light moment, Narduzzi tried to entice recruits with Wendy’s french fries …
Whipping up some heat in the kitchen! Who’s next ?‼️
Might need to get these fries catered to the facility @Wendys... I know who I want cooking them! #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/xkmDYFauA5— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) June 17, 2019
… but all he got was this from assistant Charlie Partridge, who has no eligibility left and is already committed, anyway.
— Charlie Partridge (@CoachPartridge) June 17, 2019
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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