Pitt Panthers Offer New Jersey Trio

As a sophomore in 2024, Heard was named First Team All Conference, First Team Defense by South Jersey Sports Zone, and Second Team All-State on the defensive side of the ball.

Another New Jersey product who announced a Pitt offer on Wednesday was Carter Blattner, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive lineman ranked four-star by 247Sports Composite (an industry average).

No. 237 overall nationally is the Allendale (NJ) Northern Highlands High School product's Composite listing currently. Boston College, Duke, Liberty, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Wake Forest make up his early offers.

A 2027 recruit, Blattner recorded 70 total tackles as only a sophomore last season, also notching a pair of tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and an interception.

Lastly, a freshman out of New Jersey recently announced a Pitt Panthers offer.

Akeem Jones Jr. has an interesting positional makeup, listing defensive end, outside linebacker, and receiver as his roles. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound rising sophomore competes in a solid private school program in St. Augustine Prep.

To date, his offer list consists of just two schools in Pitt and Syracuse.

Current Pitt 2026 Verbal Commitments

• QB Angelo Renda (Southlake [Tx.] Southlake Carroll)
• WR Dylan Wester (Sarasota [Fla.] Booker)
• WR Demetrice McCray (Orlando [Fla.] The First Academy)
• S Marcus Jennings (Detroit [Mich.] Cass Tech)
• S Isaac Patterson (Westerville [Ohio] Westerville South)

Current Pitt 2027 Verbal Commitments

• WR Jacob Thomas (Pembroke Pines [Fla.] Flanagan)
• RB Tyler Reid (Miramar [Fla.] High School)