Defensive end Zack Gilbert will cross three state lines when he goes to college, but he's actually going home. Gilbert is the son of former Aliquippa, Pitt and NFL defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who was his position coach in high school. Two of his cousins are former Pitt cornerback Darrelle Revis and Pitt freshman safety Jordan Whitehead.
Gilbert, who will enroll in January after graduating from South Mecklenburg (N.C.) High School, is the 12th member of the Class of 2016 to commit to Pitt. He gave the news to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on Tuesday, but waited until Friday to announce it so he could inform other schools of his decision. He had narrowed his choices to Pitt and Virginia Tech, but he had scholarship offers from a total of 14 schools, including Duke, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
“I wanted to have time to talk to (Virginia Tech) coach (Frank) Beamer,” Gilbert said. “I wanted to give the respect to them that they gave to me.” Gilbert said when he spoke to Narduzzi, “We had a great conversation like we always do.” “He said he was excited and fired up about getting me. I thanked him for the opportunity and for believing in me.”
Gilbert has been one of the top players in North Carolina for a long time. When Gilbert was a freshman in high school, coach Rocky White's first thought was to keep the undersized 205-pounder on the junior varsity. Situations and needs changed quickly, and White decided Gilbert could handle varsity football as a ninth grader.
Apparently so. Gilbert responded with 10 sacks that season. He finished his career with 40 1⁄2 sacks, helping South Mecklenburg to improve from 2-9 in 2012 to 9-2 this season. “Zach has been a major player in turning this program around,” White said.
White said Gilbert, now 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, can play end, tackle or outside linebacker. He said he will play weakside end at Pitt. This season, he had 72 tackles and seven sacks. “He reminded me a lot of (former Pitt defensive tackle) Aaron Donald,” White said. “He is so quick off the ball, so good with his hands. He is extremely athletic for a big man.”
White added that Gilbert also scored seven touchdowns as a tailback in South Mecklenburg's wishbone power offense. “Zach is extremely intelligent,” he said. “He is not just interested in football. He is interested in a lot of issues going on around the world. He's not your normal high school jock.”
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9525895-74/gilbert-pitt-coach
Gilbert, who will enroll in January after graduating from South Mecklenburg (N.C.) High School, is the 12th member of the Class of 2016 to commit to Pitt. He gave the news to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on Tuesday, but waited until Friday to announce it so he could inform other schools of his decision. He had narrowed his choices to Pitt and Virginia Tech, but he had scholarship offers from a total of 14 schools, including Duke, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
“I wanted to have time to talk to (Virginia Tech) coach (Frank) Beamer,” Gilbert said. “I wanted to give the respect to them that they gave to me.” Gilbert said when he spoke to Narduzzi, “We had a great conversation like we always do.” “He said he was excited and fired up about getting me. I thanked him for the opportunity and for believing in me.”
Gilbert has been one of the top players in North Carolina for a long time. When Gilbert was a freshman in high school, coach Rocky White's first thought was to keep the undersized 205-pounder on the junior varsity. Situations and needs changed quickly, and White decided Gilbert could handle varsity football as a ninth grader.
Apparently so. Gilbert responded with 10 sacks that season. He finished his career with 40 1⁄2 sacks, helping South Mecklenburg to improve from 2-9 in 2012 to 9-2 this season. “Zach has been a major player in turning this program around,” White said.
White said Gilbert, now 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, can play end, tackle or outside linebacker. He said he will play weakside end at Pitt. This season, he had 72 tackles and seven sacks. “He reminded me a lot of (former Pitt defensive tackle) Aaron Donald,” White said. “He is so quick off the ball, so good with his hands. He is extremely athletic for a big man.”
White added that Gilbert also scored seven touchdowns as a tailback in South Mecklenburg's wishbone power offense. “Zach is extremely intelligent,” he said. “He is not just interested in football. He is interested in a lot of issues going on around the world. He's not your normal high school jock.”
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9525895-74/gilbert-pitt-coach
