Pitt secures verbal commitments from 3 2025 prospects, including H.S. teammates in Maryland
The final three of Pitt’s five most recent verbal commitments revealed themselves Monday when defensive end Julian “JuJu” Anderson, outside linebacker Justin Thompson and wide receiver DaMarion Fowlkes publicly announced their plans to enroll next year.
All three are rated three-star prospects by Rivals.com.
Let a dog roam and he’ll find his way home!! ????️???? #H2P #committed #AGTG @coachdaoust @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachFee615 @Pitt_FB @CoachPA1 @amina0227 @KinslerLatish @RHFitPro @gbowman26 @Royals__FB @JeffConawayTFA @coachRholley @SWiltfong_ @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247 @SteezoDsgn pic.twitter.com/2AS6C8H165
— Julian “JuJu” Anderson (@jujuandersonn) June 10, 2024
Anderson (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) played the past two seasons at The First Academy in Orlando, Fla., where he had 151⁄2 tackles for a loss and five sacks in 2023, according to Rivals. He plans to return to his native New Jersey to play his senior season at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
Anderson visited Pitt’s campus and practice facilities over the weekend, and he said he was sold quickly on the program.
“As soon as I touched down into Pittsburgh, I could feel the true love and family aspect that they brought,” he said. “That is truly big for me and my family, as well as a great overall high-energy coaching staff that I’m very excited to win games for.”
He said getting the opportunity to practice next to the Pittsburgh Steelers is a bonus.
“That, as well, is crazy itself,” he said. “Truly a blessing to get to see that almost every day.”
Pitt is one of 16 schools to offer Anderson a scholarship, including Boston College, Duke, Navy, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Thompson and Fowlkes are teammates at Good Counsel High School in Olney, Md.
Let’s go, done deal! #H2P @CoachDuzzPittFB @Coach_Manalac @LindseyLamar5 pic.twitter.com/royZqArEXK
— Justin Thompson (@JustinT15_) June 10, 2024
Thompson (6-3, 225) is ranked by Rivals as the No. 21 overall prospect in Maryland. He has 16 scholarship offers, including from Baylor, South Carolina, California, Duke, Florida and North Carolina.
Fowlkes (5-11, 170) has offers from Boston College, Indiana, Temple, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.
“It just felt like home,” Fowlkes said of his visit to Pitt last weekend. “The coaches and players have something electric there. I want to be a part of it.”
#H2P All in! 100% @CoachDuzzPittFB @Pitt_FB @MohrRecruiting @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney @BrianDohn247 pic.twitter.com/LCSDYEkQPR
— DaMarion Fowlkes (@DamarionFowlke1) June 10, 2024
With two more major visitation weekends scheduled this month, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has verbal commitments from 11 rising high school juniors.
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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