Former Jeannette defensive lineman Anthony Johnson transfers to Pitt

Pitt appears to be the final stop on Anthony Johnson’s twisting and turning tour of college football.

Johnson, a burly pass rusher who has become a regular in the NCAA transfer portal, announced he is joining the Panthers after initially committing to Mississippi State and, before that, to Illinois.

A former Jeannette standout who was the driving force behind a WPIAL and PIAA championship defense in 2017, Johnson will enter his fifth college season. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman played his last year of prep football at Cleveland Heights in Ohio.

He attended four high schools the last time he was in Western Pennsylvania in Allderdice, Chartiers Valley, Lincoln Park and Jeannette.

Johnson didn’t unpack his suitcase when he began his college career, either.

After a redshirt year at Bowling Green, he transferred and played three seasons at Youngstown State where he made 36 tackles and registered five sacks.

He had 25 stops last year, 6 1/2 for loss, and five sacks in 13 games for the Penguins. His 16 quarterback pressures last year ranked sixth among FCS interior defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus.

Pitt recently pumped up its defensive depth with the addition Nebraska transfer Chief Borders (6-4, 245), who has two years of eligibility left. Johnson follows suit.

Pitt’s 15th transfer pickup for 2024, Johnson verbally committed to Illinois last December, but before he played a down in the Big Ten, he flipped to Mississippi State of the SEC.

His plans changed again, though, after spring workouts when he decommitted and opted to come back to the Pittsburgh area where he hopes to contribute in the ACC.

He had numerous Power 5 offers and had narrowed his list to four programs: Pitt, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Michigan State.