Steven Jenkins Jr. has been watching Pitt play his complete life. He’s an area child, a rising senior at Gateway Excessive College in Monroeville, and he’s watched native children like Aaron Donald and Derrick Davis discover their technique to Pitt.

Jenkins — a 6-foot-3, 185-pound linebacker/security — made his technique to Pitt Tuesday to take a look at the South Aspect facility for the primary time. “It was extraordinarily good,” Jenkins advised PSN. “I favored how they actually care concerning the student-athletes and stuff.” He’d been earlier than, after all, nevertheless it had by no means been as in-depth.

“Every little thing (stood out),” Jenkins mentioned. “Every little thing stood out to me.”

Thanks @Coach_Manalac for having me up on campus beloved it may’t wait to get again down there !! @210ths pic.twitter.com/jeY8bIdnhV

— steven jenkins jr ✞ (@stevenjenkinsJ1) Could 23, 2023

Jenkins obtained a tour of the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated, spent a while with Davis (who he used to run monitor with) and even watched among the Pittsburgh Steelers’ OTAs from down on the sector.

As Jenkins stood alongside the sideline, watching the Steelers cornerbacks work, he took psychological notes — studied areas that he’d be capable of apply to his personal recreation again at Gateway as a senior. Nonetheless, Pitt doesn’t see him as a defensive again proper now.

It was Ryan Manalac who confirmed Jenkins across the facility Tuesday, and Manalac sees him as a hard-hitting Star linebacker in Pitt’s protection.

“They see me as a talent linebacker,” Jenkins mentioned. “It’s gonna be a bit of tough (to modify from defensive again to linebacker) however probably not as a result of I like to return down and hit. I like to hit. And I can cowl effectively, so I ought to catch on actual quick.”

Manalac has praised Jenkins’ physicality in the way in which he performs at Gateway (and he additionally trains with native Evolve 210ths on the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated),

And as a junior at Gateway, Jenkins flashed his bodily play and nostril for the soccer all season. He recorded 30 tackles, three interceptions, 5 go breakups and allowed simply 4 receptions because the defender in protection.

Jenkins isn’t presently rated by the foremost recruiting providers, however a robust summer time of camps and visits ought to assist him make extra of a reputation for himself. Because it presently stands, he’s picked up provides from Bowling Inexperienced, Maine and UNLV, and he’s acquired curiosity from Akron and Kent State.

Relating to Pitt, the connection continues to be recent. Manalac went all the way down to Gateway simply a few weeks in the past, and the connection between Jenkins and Manalac started there. “We’re truly connecting effectively, and I’m trying ahead to furthering it,” Jenkins mentioned.

Pitt hasn’t prolonged a proposal but, however he plans on simply placing his head down, persevering with to grind and dealing. If he does that, he’s assured in himself. And, after all, he’s heading again to Pitt for a camp this summer time.

No matter whether or not or not Jenkins presently holds a proposal from Pitt proper now although, he holds his hometown faculty in a excessive place.

“They’re undoubtedly standing at that No. 1 faculty,” Jenkins mentioned. “I might like to go to Pitt, 100%, I might like to go to Pitt. That’s my dream faculty.

“I’ve been ready to undoubtedly get there. I like Pitt, that’s considered one of my dream faculties.”

Reggie Powers III holds practically 30 gives, from a few of the greatest packages in faculty soccer, however he lower his record to simply 5 colleges Thursday: Ohio State, Cincinnati, Pitt, Northwestern and Michigan State.

Powers — a 6-foot-1, 195-pound four-star security from Centerville Excessive in Dayton, Ohio — is from Cincinnati, and he grew up as a die-hard Ohio State fan, however he definitely has constructed a robust bond with the Pitt teaching employees over a handful of visits — together with a latest go to on April 22.

“It was good,” Powers informed PSN in April. “I loved it. It was simply me there as a result of I got here up on a weekday, so it wasn’t a apply or something, so I loved simply having the ability to speak to the coaches one-on-one. Seeing the campus for the primary time.

“I discovered lots in regards to the protection, about coach Manalac and his background. He’s a superb man, a superb character, so nothing about that worries me. He looks as if a cool dude, enjoyable to play for, so I loved it.”

Thanks to all the faculties which have given me the chance to play Division 1 soccer. After a lot consideration listed here are my Prime 5 colleges. @Hayesfawcett3 https://t.co/9trG3nuhuP

— Reggie Powers III (@reggie_powers) Could 25, 2023

Randy Bates and Pitt formally prolonged Powers a suggestion again on Feb. 14, fairly a Valentine’s Day current, and it was the continuation of a relationship relationship again to his sophomore season at Centerville.

Pitt was recruiting his teammate J.J. Jean-Louis (an eventual Iowa State commit) then, however the relationship picked up over the course of his junior season as he made one other go to for Pitt’s win over Virginia Tech final October.

That supply from Pitt didn’t arrive instantly, however the communication by no means wavered. And it’s solely gotten stronger because the provide formally arrived. It’s a plus, in fact.

“I speak with them nearly day by day,” Powers mentioned. “Both day by day or each two or three days, they’re at all times checking up and seeing how I’m doing. They undoubtedly care. They ensure I’m a precedence to them, so I respect that.”

In talks with Bates, Ryan Manalac and Cory Sanders, watching movie with Malanac, he’s seen all about how he would match completely into Pitt’s protection as a Star linebacker as a hybrid participant.

He likes taking part in as a nickel or Star himself. It permits him to showcase his aggressiveness. He prides himself on an aggressive, relentless model of play, however it’s his versatility that shines. His skill to learn opposing quarterbacks, alongside along with his velocity and quickness, permits him to drop again into protection — man, zone or slot. However he may blitz off the sting and understands his run matches, too.

As a junior at Centerville, Energy crammed that hybrid security/linebacker position within the protection, and whereas he will probably be taking part in extra of a real security position as a senior, he’s very comfy in each roles.

He definitely made his impression felt all around the area as a junior, racking up 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 move breakups and 4 pressured fumbles.

247Sports charges Powers because the 578th-ranked recruit within the class (Fifty fifth-ranked security and the Nineteenth-ranked recruit from Ohio). On3 is even larger on Powers, score him because the Thirty fourth-ranked security and the Twelfth-ranked recruit from Ohio.

Rivals hasn’t rated Powers but, however he does maintain a 5.6 Rivals Ranking.

Powers has already made his first official go to to Northwestern earlier this month, and he has officers lined up for Pitt (June 1-3), Michigan State (June Sept. 11), Cincinnati (June 16-18) and Ohio State (June 22-24).

With an opportunity to be the primary college to make an impression in June, it will likely be a giant alternative to wow Powers and his household.

“It’s a cool tradition,” Powers mentioned. “It’s not like a too busy campus, which I like, however the tradition is cool. I just like the coaches. I like what they’re doing down there. And the staff is cool. I met a few the gamers, so they appear like good dudes. I like Pitt, it’s an amazing place.”

Pitt has not but landed a security within the class of 2024, however it has landed three-star linebacker Davin Brewton, who tasks as a Mike linebacker on the collegiate degree.

Pitt’s Class of 2024 recruiting class at present has 11 members and has a workforce rating of No. 19 by Rivals.com.However the one place that they’ve but to obtain a dedication from is quarterback.

The Panther teaching workers is working exhausting to vary that with two quarterbacks, two main targets within the class of 2o24, making unofficial visits this week.

In the present day, three-star Henry Hasselbeck is making one other go to to city, whereas three-star Miles O’Neill was in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

O’Neill is a participant in demand as he’s watched his recruitment skyrocket over the previous month. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound pro-style quarterback’s supply record consists of Pitt, Boston Faculty, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Texas A&M and Virginia.

Pitt Has Stood Out Early for Quick-Rising 2024 3-Star QB Miles O’Neill

Pittsburgh Sports activities Now was capable of communicate with O’Neill this morning, who gave us his ideas on the go to in addition to plans he’s making for June.

“The go to to Pitt left an ideal impression on me,” stated O’Neill. “I used to be capable of watch them apply for a bit bit, then I watched the Steelers’ OTAs, which was tremendous cool. No different school has one thing like that. The Pitt coaches are all superior. I left Pitt with an ideal impression.

“So far as what stood out to me, I used to be capable of see and find out how Coach Cig runs his offense, which is unbelievable. How he runs a apply and the person drills that he does with them.”

It’s turning into very obvious that O’Neill is certainly one of a few quarterbacks that the Pitt workers is zeroing in on. I requested O’Neill about that, and if he was capable of inform from his go to how excessive he’s on Pitt’s want record.

“Sure, I did very a lot,” stated O’Neill. “It was only a vibe that I obtained, however additionally they advised me. I had a really lengthy dialog with coach Narduzzi. It was superior and I believe we actually linked, and I constructed a superb relationship with him and Coach Cig. They spent a number of time with me yesterday, which was very cool.

“They advised me that they’re solely taking one quarterback. They weren’t pressuring me about something or giving me a timeline (to decide). It’s all as much as me and at any time when I really feel snug making one.”

The month of June is quick approaching, which implies official visits, so I requested O’Neill what’s on his schedule.

“I’m making official visits, and I’m going to attempt to set one up with Pitt,” O’Neill stated. “I’ve an official go to already locked in with UVA for the primary weekend of June. I’m additionally contemplating a few different choices, however I’m not precisely certain but. Each time it feels proper, I’ll make my school determination.”