Thomas Jefferson lineman Shep Turk had three specific items in mind when he was began to consider where he would continue his football career in 2025.
He said Pitt met all three criteria, and that’s why he became the first Pennsylvania or WPIAL prospect to give coach Pat Narduzzi a pledge to enroll. Turk confirmed his commitment Monday on social media and to TribLive.
Home!!! #H2P #Committed @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachDarveau pic.twitter.com/VkGFA8PWNN
— Shep Turk (@TurkShep) May 13, 2024
• “I want to go somewhere that I feel like I can shine and I can thrive and really succeed,” he said when contacted Monday night. “Pitt fits that mold, if you ask me personally.
• “I wanted to make sure I go somewhere I can play smash-mouth football like I do here at TJ. I want to go somewhere I can run the ball down someone’s throat and just dominate the other team.
• “I just always wanted to go somewhere I can win championships and I think Pitt has that on the horizon in the next couple years with that new staff. I think good things are going to happen there, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Turk (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) plays both sides of the ball at Thomas Jefferson, but he is likely targeted as a guard or center at Pitt. A rising senior, he has played right and left tackle at TJ.
Turk, who won a WPIAL wrestling championship this year in the 285-pound weight class, was recruited by Pitt’s coaches before and after the staff overhaul after last season. He said he met first-year offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau only three days after he was hired in January.
Turk also has scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, Temple, Navy, Boston College, Kent State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Lehigh and Maine.
He becomes one of several Thomas Jefferson players to join Pitt’s football program, including Devin Danielson, Lucas Nix and Dom DeCicco. TJ coach Bill Cherpak was an offensive lineman at Pitt.
2222% Committed! Go Panthers????????????! @Pitt_FB #H2P pic.twitter.com/pvqRJs6k8t
— 3⭐️ Tony Kinsler (@TonyKinsler2) May 13, 2024
Turk is one of two 2025 prospects to verbally commit to the Panthers on Monday.
All-purpose back/wide receiver Tony Kinsler, who attends Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Fla., also said he plans to enroll next year.
Kinsler (5-11, 165) has 15 offers, including ones from West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Indiana, USF and Tulane.
Going into their senior seasons this fall, Turk and Kinsler are unranked by Rivals.com.
Pitt has five announced commitments in its class of 2025, including wide receiver Bryce Yates, quarterback Mason Heintschel and defensive end Trevor Sommers.
