As Cameron Lindsey thanked family, friends, teammates and coaches — all those who had helped him get to the special moment — the soon-to-be Aliquippa senior linebacker, overcome with emotion, paused to collect himself.
For Lindsey, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound star outside linebacker, decision day had arrived.
In front of a crowd that packed into Black Box Theater at Aliquippa High School, Lindsey offered a verbal commitment to Pat Narduzzi and Pitt.
Cam Lindsey is staying home and heading to Pitt: pic.twitter.com/e2OeagZAc0
— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) June 15, 2023
Lindsey attracted a plethora of Power 5 offers.
Syracuse and Maryland were after him, as were Penn State, West Virginia and Cincinnati, with the latter three among Lindsey’s finalists. But the hometown Panthers won out.
Since fall 2021, Lindsey, a two-time WPIAL champ at Aliquippa, had been familiarizing himself with Pitt’s program, building a rapport with Narduzzi and Ryan Manalac, who coaches the Panthers linebackers, leading to a total of nine visits, per Rivals.
Lindsey took an official visit to Morgantown early in June, and days ago, he wrapped up one with the Panthers.
“Just feel — (Pitt) made me feel most comfortable. They made my family most comfortable, and that was the most important thing for me in deciding where I wanted to be,” Lindsey said of his decision.
Lindsey’s verbal pledge continues a busy start to the summer for Narduzzi and Co., whose Class of 2024, with 19 announced commitments, ranks as eighth best in the nation, according to Rivals.
Lindsey is the third four-star recruit to join Pitt this cycle and the second from the Pittsburgh area, following Central Catholic defensive end Ty Yuhas.
“He’s a kid that if you had an idea of what you wanted your son to be, it would be Cam, on and off the field,” said Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield. “ … He’s just a wonderful kid — excellent football player, excellent student but even a better person.”
Lindsey is the latest Aliquippa star to join the Panthers, following defensive back M.J. Devonshire and quarterback Eli Kosanovich, both of whom are redshirt seniors at Pitt.
Lindsey soon will find himself among an even longer and more distinguished list of Quips alums to play at Pitt, such as Mike Ditka, Darrelle Revis, Jon Baldwin and Sean Gilbert.
