Top 2018 Pitt recruit Mychale Salahuddin leaves program
Redshirt freshman running back Mychale Salahuddin, a four-star running back in high school and the highest-rated recruit in Pitt’s Class of 2018, decided to leave the program, coach Pat Narduzzi said Thursday.
Salahuddin was limited throughout most of training camp while recovering from knee surgery after an injury suffered during bowl preparation in December.
At least three running backs were ahead of Salahuddin on Pitt’s depth chart this week. A.J. Davis and Todd Sibley Jr. were the only backs listed, but Narduzzi said freshman Vincent Davis will play this season.
“Mutually, Pitt football and Mychale Salahuddin have decided to part ways,” Narduzzi said. “We wish Mychale the best of luck. We’ll help him wherever he wants to go.”
The coach declined to discuss the situation further.
Salahuddin was the only four-star prospect who signed a letter of intent to Pitt after the 2018 season, according to Rivals.com. He ran for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017 at H.D. Woodson in Washington, D.C., and he was rated the No. 5 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals and 247Sports.
He played in three games for Pitt last season as a freshman, getting four carries for 37 yards and returning two kickoffs for 26.
Pitt has plenty of depth at running back, with A.J. Davis, Sibley and Vincent Davis, plus freshman Daniel Carter and sophomore V’Lique Carter.
Also, 2020 running back Henry Parrish of Miami gave Pitt a nonbinding verbal commitment in June.
— Jerry DiPaola
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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