Action: Three-star defensive back Josiah Scott of Fairfield (Ohio) commits to Michigan State over Pitt, Iowa, and West Virginia.
Explanation: Josiah Scott has emerged as one of the more under-rated defensive backs in the Midwestern region over the past few months and had a big performance at one of Pitt’s passing camps in June. Scott picked up some nice Power Five offers throughout his process and had originally cut his list down to a final three of Pitt, West Virginia, and Iowa with a decision pending for July 31st. Scott was very likely set to commit to Pitt, but there was room for another couple schools in particular to sneak in to the list if they were to offer – Kentucky or Michigan State. Unfortunately for the other schools, Michigan State did in fact offer and a late visit to East Lansing prior to his decision sealed the deal for Scott to head to Sparty.
Reaction: Pitt really liked Josiah Scott and they were excited to have the opportunity to get him onto the roster, there’s no two ways around that. He wasn’t the top target on the cornerbacks board, but he was on the very short list. Along with the fact that Quentin Lake, a Californian corner and son of Steelers defensive back coach Carnell Lake, appears to be trending to USC or UCLA, Pitt will need to double down and land some of their top targets. If the Panthers can reel in Clairton (Pa.) five-star Lamont Wade, everything in DB recruiting is made right. He is the panacea that will make everything else look trivial if they miss on a secondary cornerback. Beyond Wade, Pitt is still very actively recruiting Philadelphia-area prospect Kenny Bennett – who they are in the top five for – as well as southern prospects Michael Nesbitt (they’ve made the top ten) and Shakur Brown (a recent offer). If Pitt lands two of those four, they’ll be happy as could be, but losing Scott increases the need to close on those prospects.
Explanation: Josiah Scott has emerged as one of the more under-rated defensive backs in the Midwestern region over the past few months and had a big performance at one of Pitt’s passing camps in June. Scott picked up some nice Power Five offers throughout his process and had originally cut his list down to a final three of Pitt, West Virginia, and Iowa with a decision pending for July 31st. Scott was very likely set to commit to Pitt, but there was room for another couple schools in particular to sneak in to the list if they were to offer – Kentucky or Michigan State. Unfortunately for the other schools, Michigan State did in fact offer and a late visit to East Lansing prior to his decision sealed the deal for Scott to head to Sparty.
Reaction: Pitt really liked Josiah Scott and they were excited to have the opportunity to get him onto the roster, there’s no two ways around that. He wasn’t the top target on the cornerbacks board, but he was on the very short list. Along with the fact that Quentin Lake, a Californian corner and son of Steelers defensive back coach Carnell Lake, appears to be trending to USC or UCLA, Pitt will need to double down and land some of their top targets. If the Panthers can reel in Clairton (Pa.) five-star Lamont Wade, everything in DB recruiting is made right. He is the panacea that will make everything else look trivial if they miss on a secondary cornerback. Beyond Wade, Pitt is still very actively recruiting Philadelphia-area prospect Kenny Bennett – who they are in the top five for – as well as southern prospects Michael Nesbitt (they’ve made the top ten) and Shakur Brown (a recent offer). If Pitt lands two of those four, they’ll be happy as could be, but losing Scott increases the need to close on those prospects.
