Baldwin defensive tackle Dorien Ford became the first of 20 Pitt prospects to sign and deliver letters of intent on national signing day Wednesday morning.
#1 is in! The Hometown Hero @DorienFord_21 is ready to roll!! #H2P #PITT2L1TT pic.twitter.com/ZbG7NNbxzl
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) December 16, 2020
Coach Pat Narduzzi tweeted the news at 7:02 a.m., two minutes after recruits were first permitted to sign. Ford (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com.
He was followed by 19 others by 9:15 a.m. Prior to signing day, Pitt had received verbal commitments from 22 high school seniors. The two unsigned prospects are offensive linemen Brandon Honorable of Detroit and Marco Fugar of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In order, Narduzzi received signed letters from offensive tackle Terrence Rankl of Massillon, Ohio; cornerback Khalil Anderson of Atlanta; safety Javon McIntyre of Philadelphia; offensive tackle Terrence Enos of Detroit; cornerback Noah Biglow of Seffner, Fla.; tight end Jake Renda, who attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.; Central Valley defensive back Stephon Hall; Virginia Beach, Va., wide receiver Myles Alston; West Mifflin defensive end Nahki Johnson; linebacker Preston Lavant of Cordele, Ga.; Pennsylvania tight end Gavin Bartholomew of Schuylkill Haven; offensive lineman Kyle Fugedi of Livonia, Mich.; running back Rodney Hammond of Norfolk, Va.; quarterback Nate Yarnell of Austin, Texas; Central Catholic defensive tackle Elliot Donald; wide receiver Jaden Bradley of Hyattsville, Md.; running back Malik Newton of Norfolk, Va.; linebacker Naquan Brown of Virginia Beach, Va.; and offensive lineman Trey Andersen of Eagle Mountain, Utah.
Brown is one of three recruits ranked as four-star prospects by Rivals.com. The others are Donald and Johnson.
Pitt’s class is ranked No. 21 in the nation by Rivals, the school’s highest ranking since 2006. Recruits such as Brown, Donald, Johnson, Newton and Anderson are among the athletes who could play before the others.
In the midst of all the tweets and signed letters rolling into his office, Narduzzi also received a verbal commitment from an unidentified prospect, who hasn’t signed.
PITT IS IT!!!! #H2P #PITT2L1TT pic.twitter.com/jJWDxjnR6T
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) December 16, 2020
