Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi landed three more commitments Sunday when three-star offensive tackle Nicholas Howard and three-star tight end Wyatt Villarreal, both from Texas, and three-star offensive lineman Michael van der Oord pledged to play for the Panthers in 2026.
Howard (6-foot-5, 285 pounds), from Pearland High School, is rated as the nation’s No. 35 offensive tackle by 247 sports. He was an honorable mention all-district selection as a junior last fall.
100% COMMITTED #BLESSED #H2P pic.twitter.com/MEyPqC1Nvg
— Nicholas “Nick” Howard 26’ (@NickHoward0070) June 8, 2025
Howard, who was on his official visit to Pitt this weekend, chose the Panthers over offers from Lamar, Louisiana-Monroe, Montana State, North Texas, Texas Southern, Texas State, Tulsa UTEP and UTSA.
Villarreal (6-5, 225), a junior tight end from Celina High School in Texas who also was on an official visit this weekend, chose Pitt over offers from Arizona, Cal, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, UNLV and USF, among others.
Oord (6-7, 280) plays at St. Ignatius in Cleveland, Ohio. He also has offers from Toledo, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Wake Forest and Western Michigan.
Go panthers! Home ???? #committed #amdg @Pitt_FB @CoachDarveau @CoachLG @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachArchieC @WildcatRecruit pic.twitter.com/GL96vFoRX2
— Mike_vanderoord (@mikevanderoord) June 8, 2025
Howard, Villarreal and Oord became the seventh, eighth and ninth commitments to be revealed this weekend, joining defensive back Kentrail Mcrae Jr., wide receiver Jaydon Dunbar, linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Reston Lehman (Peters Township), offensive lineman John Curran III (Pine-Richland) and defensive lineman Lincoln Hoke (North Allegheny).
Pitt’s 2026 recruiting class also includes quarterback Angelo Renda, wide receivers Demetrice McCray and Dylan Wester, linebacker Marcus Jennings and defensive back Isaac Patterson, who previously committed.
