Pitt recruitment report: Latest verbal commitment promises '2024 class is just getting started'

Jeremiah Marcelin still has some time before he starts his collegiate career in Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean he will be waiting until then to help the Panthers on the gridiron. Marcelin — a three-star linebacker who measures at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds — announced his verbal commitment to Pitt on Thursday via social media. Just an hour after making it known to the world where his next home will be, the Miami native informed the Post-Gazette that he intends to bring a few of his uncommitted friends in South Beach along for the ride. “I’m not done with this class,” Marcelin said Thursday afternoon. “I’m not done and we’re not done. We’ve got more guys coming.” Marcelin is now the 20th known verbal commitment in Pitt’s 2024 recruiting class, which as of Thursday was ranked No. 11 in the country by Rivals. Although he’s currently rated a three-star prospect, Marcelin’s overall rating sits at 5.7, just one-tenth of a point beneath four-star status. Unlike Cameron Lindsey and Drew Brewton, Pitt’s two other linebackers in the 2024 class, Marcelin prefers to play on the interior. The expectation is for him to play a similar brand of football to former All-ACC linebacker SirVocea Dennis. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi applauds a play during the Blue-Gold spring game Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Heinz Field. While most high school athletes are quick to promote news updates on their recruitment, Marcelin took the opposite approach this summer. This month, the Miami Norland High School standout made official visits to Pitt, Louisville and Maryland — his top three schools of choice — with few people knowing he was on campus. “I just wanted to keep everything quiet,” Marcelin said. “I came up with that idea on my own, to keep everything private. A lot of kids like the attention, and I agree that it’s nice, but there is a lot of stuff that comes with it. I wanted to make sure me and my family had our privacy while I made this important decision.” However, now that Marcelin’s choice is public, the goal is to influence other standouts in his area to make a similar choice. Although the Panthers have received 21 verbal commitments as of Thursday, numerous notable talents have yet to make their decision. Marcelin told the Post-Gazette that he takes great pride in Pitt’s 2024 recruiting class and hopes to help make the group even better. “We’ve got more talented guys coming,” Marcelin said. “I’m working on one guy right now, but I plan to go from one guy to the next. I can’t say too much, but everyone will see soon enough. This 2024 class is just getting started.” Four-stars announce commitment dates With plenty of high-end talents remaining on Pitt’s target list, three of the most notable prospects announced via social media when they plan on issuing their verbal commitments. The first player to keep an eye on is defensive end Dominic Kirks, a four-star talent from Villa Angela St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Kirks tweeted that he will be making his decision on June 30. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound pass rusher’s top five schools include Kentucky, Nebraska, Pitt, Washington and Wisconsin. He made official visits to Pitt, Washington and Wisconsin this month. The following week, Pitt will hope to once again be chosen by another four-star defensive end. On July 3, Elias Rudolph will make his decision between his final three schools: Miami, Michigan and Pitt. The Deerfield Beach, Fla., native canceled his official visit to Ohio State before announcing the day he will verbally commit. Rudolph has made an official visit to each of his final three possible destinations. Later that week, Pat Narduzzi and his staff will hope to land another future key to the team’s offense in four-star receiver Nick Marsh. Measuring at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Rivals rates Marsh as the No. 54 player in the country for the Class of 2024. Marsh made his official visit to Pitt on June 1, and has also made official visits to Kansas, Michigan and Penn State. Oregon then rounds out the final five choices for the River Rogue, Mich., native. Another Quip on the radar It’s safe to say the Panthers are wasting no time pursuing the next potential star to come out of Aliquippa. Last weekend, Larry Moon III, who is set to begin his freshman year at Aliquippa, announced that he received an offer from Pitt following his participation in a camp hosted by the Panthers. Moon is listed as a 5-foot-11, 170 pound rising freshman that plays both receiver and defensive back. The Class of 2027 prospect also boasts an offer from West Virginia.