Pitt Adds Six Linemen Early on National Signing Day
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are off and running on National Signing Day in 2023, inking their first three prospects of the day and keeping them along the lines.
The Panthers' first three national letters of intent came from close to home and gave them some heft in the trenches as they opened the biggest day in recruiting.
Pitt's first letter of intent came from Virginia, with Mortiz Schomoranzer becoming the first player to sign his name to an official commitment with the Panthers.
Schmorazner, a native of Germany, played his high school ball at North Cross High School in Roanoke, Virginia and visited Pitt in June before making his final commitment. The three-star prospect chose Pitt over a final four of West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami and, of course, the Panthers. He's ranked as high as the No. 11 player in Virginia and No. 47 offensive tackle in the class.
NLIs continued to roll in after that with Central Catholic High School defensive end Ty Yuhas also adding his name to the mix for the Panthers. The Hometown Hero is unanimously considered a three-star prospect and ranked as high as the No. 31 player in the state of Pennsylvania (247Sports) and No. 106 defensive lineman in his class.
Following close behind Yuhas was Jiavani Cooley, a three-star offensive lineman from Erie, Pennsylvania. The Cathedral Prep product, ranked as high as the No. 20 player in Pennsylvania and No. 51 offensive tackle in the class, received offers from Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Toledo and Akron before committing to the Panthers.
Zach Crothers also added his name to the mix by signing early. A three-star defensive end from Hollywood, Florida, Crothers was the ninth player to give a verbal commitment to Pitt's class of 2024, picking them over offers from Minnesota, Liberty, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Oregon State and others.
Mason Lindsay kept the early theme of bulking up the offensive line strong by signing his letter of intent early in the morning as well. The 6'7 and 290-pound prospect is unanimously considered a three-star prospect and the No. 37 player in Maryland.
Pitt fended off pushes from Maryland, Boston College, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke to land his commitment.
The run of offensive linemen continued with four-star prospect Caleb Holmes a consensus four-star interior offensive line recruit from Fairburn, Georgia who attends Creekside High School, and the highest-rated signee on the offensive line since Alex Bookser in 2014, according to 247Sports Composite, following close behind Yuhas.
The Panthers staved off tough competition for Holmes as he was also offered by Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma and UCF among others.
The Panthers are off and running on the early National Signing Day and have already inked five of the 19 prospects expected to make their verbal commitment to Pitt official having already done so.
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