Pitt's defense has earned more praise in recent years for being an aggressive unit that's among the country's best in run defense and sacking the quarterback. That presence helped Pitt land a major target as a high school recruit in four-star defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington. Whittington took to Twitter to announce his commitment Monday evening:
4444% Committed 🟡🔵🟡🔵🟡🔵#H2P pic.twitter.com/13RHyJXolY
— 4⭐️ Jahsear whittington (@jahwhitt) April 19, 2022
Whittington is ranked by 24/7 Sports as the 17th-best defensive line recruit, the eighth-best Pa. recruit and the top defensive line prospect of the 2024 class. He's a 6-foot-2, 256 lbs. player for Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, Pa. After finishing his sophomore season, Whittington entertained offers from additional power five programs like Tennessee, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Penn State.
When asked what helped separate Pitt from the other programs that gave him offers, Whittington told DK Pittsburgh Sports that Pitt's facilities made a big impression on him during in his visit with the team, noting how he liked the facilities being alongside the Steelers at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
But the biggest factor that Whittington says played a role in his decision was the reputation and role of the defensive line.
"Their past of producing NFL defensive lineman," Whittington told DK Pittsburgh Sports when asked what was most important in his decision. "Their scheme of defense (also excites me)."
Whittington noted how Pitt's defensive scheme impressed him, much like when all four of Pitt's defensive early enrollees from the 2022 recruiting class in Ryland Gandy, Sean Fitzsimmons, Marquan Pope and Samuel Okunlola said the Panthers' aggressive defensive style of defense was what drew them to the program.
Whittington is the first public announcement of a player to make a verbal commit to Pitt's 2024 recruiting class. He's the first four-star rated prospect to announce their commitment to Pitt football since the Panthers won the ACC Championship in Nov. 2021. The most recent such recruit was offensive tackle Ryan Baer, who committed for the 2022 class in Aug. 2021.
There's no overlooking how Whittington's commitment only furthers the prowess and reputation of Pitt's defensive linemen. The Panthers saw three of their defensive linemen go to the NFL Draft in the 2020 class with Patrick Jones, Rashad Weaver and Jaylen Twyman. That success, along with a star like Aaron Donald being a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year regularly returning to his alma mater to train at Pitt's facilities, helps Pitt's case in attracting defensive line prospects.
But Pitt's defensive prowess on the field is also a major factor, especially in recent seasons. Since Charlie Partridge took over as the defensive line coach in 2017, the Panthers have seen a steady climb in production. In 2019 the Panthers' defense allowed 106.9 rushing yards, eleventh-fewest in the country. In 2020, that number improved again to 93.5 rushing yards per game allowed for third-best in the country and in 2021 allowed 91.2 rushing yards per game for sixth-best in the country.
In addition to that, Pitt's pass rush and sack numbers have been among the top three in the country in each of the past three seasons. In 2019 the Panthers finished with 49 sacks for third-most in the country, in 2020 it was 46 sacks for the most in the country and in 2021 it was 51 sacks for second-most in the country.
Much of that comes from both Pitt's aggressive style of defense and the talent within the defensive line. Currently, Calijah Kancey is the team's All-American and First Team All-ACC defensive tackle entering his junior season with the team. Defensive ends Habakkuk Baldonado and Deslin Alexandre also earned ACC honors with Baldonado being named to Second Team All-ACC, while Alexandre was named as an honorable mention.
If Pitt continues to pull in major defensive line recruits, it could further the Panthers' reputation to consistently be one of the top programs in the country for defensive linemen.
