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Oct 18, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi looks on prior to the game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Pitt Football Announces Class of 2026 Early Enrollees

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Panthers on SI
By Dominic Campbell | Last updated Jan 12, 2026 3:39 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers have only recently finished their 2025 season, but preparation for the 2026 campaign is already underway.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced that they are welcoming 16 of their Class of 2026 signees as early enrollees for this season.

The early enrollees completed their high school requirements and graduated. This now allows them to come to Pitt and enroll in classes and start college.

Pitt also gets the benefit of having these players earlier on, as they'll participate in spring practices and gain experience heading into their first season of college football.

Class of 2026 Early Enrollees for Pitt

The Panthers welcomed seven new players on offense and nine new players on defense for 16 early enrollees this January.

They added both quarterbacks from Texas in Angelo Renda and Corey Dailey, three wide receivers in Demetrice McCray, Rodney Dunbar and Dylan Wester, tight end Wyatt Villarreal and offensive lineman John Curran.

Dailey is the sole four-star on this list, but the Panthers bring in a solid group of offensive players that could see time next season.

Player	Position	Height/Weight	High School
Angelo Renda	Quarterback	6-foot, 180 pounds	Southlake Carroll. Southlake, Texas
Corey Dailey	Quarterback	6-foot-6, 195 pounds	Seguin. Seguin, Texas
Rodney Dunbar	Wide Receiver	6-foot-5, 190 pounds	Thomas County Central. Thomasville, Ga.
Demetrice McCray	Wide Receiver	6-foot, 185 pounds	The First Academy. Clermont, Fla.
Dylan Wester	Wide Receiver	5-foot-9, 165 pounds	Booker. Palmetto, Fla.
Wyatt Villarreal	Tight End	6-foot-5, 230 pounds	Celina. Celina, Texas
John Curran	Offensive Lineman	6-foot-3, 305 pounds	Pine-Richland. Gibsonia, Pa.

The Panthers also add four defensive backs in Da'Ron Barksdale, Tony Forney, Kentrail McRae and Isaac Patterson, three defensive linemen in Lincoln Hoke, Reston Lehman and Joshua Pittman, plus two linebackers in Marcus Jennings and Desmond Johnson.

Sally Maxson/For BCT / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lehman is the sole four-star on the defense and will feature as a defensive end, along with Pittman, while Hoke is a defensive tackle.

The defense has two late flips for Pitt, with Forney flipping his commitment from Missouri and Pittman flipping his commitment from Virginia Tech.

Barksdale, Forney and Patterson will play safety, while McCrae is the lone cornerback.

Player	Position	Height/Weight	High School
Da'Ron Barksdale	Defensive Back	5-foot-11, 195 pounds	Steel Valley. Homestead, Pa.
Tony Forney	Defensive Back	6-foot-1, 190 pounds	Kell. Decatur, Ga.
Kentrail McRae	Defensive Back	6-foot-2, 170 pounds	Clearwater. Clearwater, Fla.
Isaac Patterson	Defensive Back	6-foot, 185 pounds	Westerville South. Westerville, Ohio
Lincoln Hoke	Defensive Lineman	6-foot-2, 260 pounds	North Allegheny. Sewickley, Pa.
Reston Lehman	Defensive Lineman	6-foot-4, 230 pounds	Peters Township. McMurray, Pa.
Joshua Pittman	Defensive Lineman	6-foot-3, 225 pounds	King's Fork. Suffolk, Va.
Marcus Jennings	Linebacker	6-foot-2, 205 pounds	Cass Technical. Southfield, Mich.
Desmond Johnson	Linebacker	6-foot-1, 195 pounds	Miami Northwestern. Miami, Fla.

All four WPIAL signees are early enrollees, with Barksdale from Steel Valley High School in Munhall, Hoke from North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Lehman from Peters Township High School in McMurray and Curran from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia.

Which Players Are Enrolling Later?

The Panthers have five players that are enrolling over the summer and will pariticipate in fall camp before the season begins.

This includes running back Damon Ferguson, wide receiver Bryan Hamilton, offensive linemen Nick Howard and Mike van der Oord and linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

Ferguson and Howard are both four-stars, making it four signees for the Panthers in the Class of 2025.

Player	Position	Height	High School
Damon Ferguson	Running Back	5-foot-11	Milford Mill Academy. Gwynn Oak, Md.
Bryan Hamilton	Wide Receiver	5-foot-11	Gaither. Tampa, Fla.
Nick Howard	Offensive Lineman	6-foot-5	Pearland. Pearland, Texas
Mike van der Oord	Offensive Lineman	6-foot-7	St. Ignatius. Westlake, Ohio
Isaiah Simmons	Linebacker	6-foot	Maury. Norfolk, Va.