Pitt's Julian Dugger Pitching Program to WPIAL Recruits
PITTSBURGH -- While the Pitt Panthers haven't been able to reel in some of the top local talent in recent recruiting cycles, former WPIAL product and Penn Hills quarterback Julian Dugger believes he can help the program buck that trend.
Dugger, an early enrollee in the Panthers' class of 2024, expressed confidence in his ability to convince more local recruits to stay home.
“I feel like me coming here, I can definitely get a couple more WPIAL guys to come here,” Dugger said. "I feel like I can be a big influence and the start of a new thing for WPIAL guys to start coming here.”
Dugger, alongside Ty Yuhas and Cameron Lindsey, was one of three signees from the WPIAL in Pitt's 2024 recruiting class. That number represented a slight uptick from previous years, as Cruce Brookins and Braylan Lovelace were the program's only high school signees from the area in its 2023 class while Sean FitzSimmons was the lone representative in its class of 2022.
Dugger is doing his part to talk up everything that the Panthers have to offer, stating that he has enjoyed his time with the team so far while also propping up the talent and depth that's present in the WPIAL.
"It feels great," Dugger said. "I’m just here, everything’s here, all my resources. I definitely feel like the WPIAL has a lot of gems that are missed."
The Panthers have broadened their search for recruits as of late and have subsequently uncovered talent from all around the country and even internationally in certain cases while still drawing in their fair share of local prospects. Regardless, there's no denying the fact that Pitt has still fell short in its pursuit of WPIAL recruits while programs such as Penn State have cleaned up in the area.
The Nittany Lions' class of 2024 featured three WPIAL signees, including consensus four-star running back Quinton Martin from Belle Vernon High School as well as a pair of high three-star recruits from Central Catholic High School in Anthony Speca and Peter Gonzalez, whose father Pete played quarterback for Pitt from 1993 to 1997.
Five of Penn State's 11 current commits in its class of 2025 also hail from the WPIAL, including a trio of consensus four-stars in North Catholic tight end Brady O'Hara, Greater Latrobe linebacker Alex Tatsch and Imani Christian Academy linebacker Dayshaun Bennett.
The Panthers have been beat out by West Virginia for several top recruits over the past several cycles as well, including consensus four-star wide receiver Rodney Gallagher from Laurel Highlands in the class of 2023 and three-star Bishop Canevin safety Jason Cross in the class of 2024.
There are a number of factors that could be working against Pitt in this discussion, but the solution boils down to the program figuring out a way to build more of a presence along with meaningful connections amongst local recruits in a region that produces high-end talent in every single recruiting class.
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