Early Signing Day Live Tracker: Updates as Pitt Inks 2026 Class
It’s officially early National Signing Day as Pitt football begins to sign its class of 2026.
Pitt has signed 21 players as of 11:15 a.m. EST, including a surprise flip from Missouri safety commit Tony Forney Jr.
The Panthers currently hold the 43rd-ranked recruiting class, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.
Recruits can start signing their National Letter of Intent at 7 a.m. Pittsburgh Sports Now will be tracking those signings as they roll in.
Updates will be provided below:
Update — 11:10 a.m.
**Pitt signs Gaither (Fla.) wide receiver Bryan Hamilton.
Hamilton is the final previously committed Pitt prospect to sign, bringing the total to 21.
A 5-10, 150-pound three-star prospect committed to Pitt back on June 19 following an official visit. Virginia Tech and Colorado showed interest over the past few months, but Hamilton ultimately sticks with the Panthers.
He held additional offers from Kansas State, Wisconsin, Wake Forest and others.
In 10 games this fall, Hamilton posted 42 receptions for 700 yards and eight touchdowns.
Update — 10:23 a.m.
**One of Pitt’s final remaining targets, four-star safety Matt Sieg, has committed to West Virginia.
Pitt put on the full court press over the past month when the WPIAL and Fort Cherry star re-opened his recruitment after Penn State fired James Franklin. Pitt was in serious consideration, but at the end of the day, Sieg selected the Mountaineers.
Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Indiana were also top choices.
Update — 9:15 a.m.
**Pitt signs Celina (Texas) tight end Wyatt Villarreal.
The Panthers have their tight end of the 2026 cycle with the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Villarreal. The three-star prospect committed to Pitt following an official visit back in June.
He committed to Pitt over offers from Arizona, Cal, UNLV and more.
Villarreal and his Celina team is still in pursuit of a state title with a 13-0 record. The Bobcats are set for a Class 4A Division I regional semifinal matchup. Villarreal has caught 56 passes on the year for 689 yards and seven touchdowns.
Update — 9:10 a.m.
**Pitt signs Seguin (Texas) quarterback Corey Dailey.
Pitt has signed its second quarterback of the 2026 cycle with the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Dailey. He is the No. 33 quarterback in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Dailey committed to Pitt back in June over other offers from Tulane, Texas State, San Diego State and UTSA.
Dailey put together an impressive career at Seguin High School where he finished as the program’s all-time leader in completions (757), passing yards (9,138), total yards (10,009), passing touchdowns (100) and total touchdowns (122).
On Monday, Dailey was invited to the Navy All-American Bowl after finishing the 2025 season with 2,921 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns to four interceptions, 660 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
Update — 9:00 a.m.
**Pitt flips Missouri commit and signs three-star defensive back Tony Forney.
Pitt became Forney’s first offer back in February of 2024. Archie Collins led the recruitment of Forney and he was set to take a Pitt official visit during the weekend of June 20, but it never panned out. He took official visits to Wisconsin and Missouri.
Forney committed to Missouri in June. He had a long list of offers from Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Indiana, Vanderbilt and others.
Update — 8:50 a.m.
**Pitt signs Southlake Carroll (Texas) quarterback Angelo Renda.
Renda was the first commitment in the 2026 Pitt class back in January. The 6-foot, 180-pound Renda is a three-star prospect and the 97th-ranked player in the cycle.
He selected Pitt over other offers from SMU, UTSA, Jacksonville State and others.
Renda has been one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country this season leading his Southlake Carroll team on a Texas 6A Division II state title run.
So far this season, Renda has completed 228-of-300 (76%) passes for 3,749 yards and 39 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He has carried the ball 57 times for 463 yards and eight rushing scores. Renda is a finalist for the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
Update — 8:45 a.m.
**Pitt signs Steel Valley (Pa.) defensive back Da’Ron Barksdale.
Pitt continues to form the pipeline from Steel Valley to Pitt with Barksdale following in the footsteps of Paris Ford and Cruce Brookins.
The three-star prospect saw his recruitment derailed with a knee injury during his sophomore year. After working out in front of the Pitt coaches, Barksdale committed in late June.
Barksdale is projected to play safety for the Panthers. He selected Pitt over West Virginia, UNLV, UConn, James Madison, UMass and more.
As Steel Valley’s quarterback this fall, Barksdale recored 254 passing yards and two touchdowns, while making his presence felt on the ground with 2,086 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 37 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Update — 8:35 a.m.
**Pitt signs Miami Northwestern (Fla.) linebacker Desmond Johnson.
Johnson committed to the Panthers following an official visit back in June. The 6-1, 200-pound three-star prospect is the No. 112 linebacker in the class.
Johnson held other offers from Florida State, Michigan, SMU, Missouri, UCF and more.
Through 10 games this fall, Johnson recorded 43 tackles, six tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Update — 8:30 a.m.
**Pitt signs Pearland (Texas) offensive tackle Nick Howard.
Pitt and offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau offered Howard back in April and the 6-6, 285-pounder committed to the Panthers while on an official visit in June.
Howard is a three-star prospect and the No. 36 offensive tackle in the country. He selected Pitt over other offers from Kansas State, Arizona, Houston, Tulsa, Tulane, UNLV, Colorado State, Texas State and more.
This season, Howard was a team captain at Pearland and earned First-Team All-District honors.
Update — 8:20 a.m.
**Pitt signs Milford Mill Academy (Md.) running back Damon Ferguson.
Pitt decided to take just one running back in the 2026 class and the Panthers found their guy in four-star Damon Ferguson.
The 5-11, 180-pound Ferguson is the high-ranked member of the Panthers 2026 class and is the No. 15 running back in the cylce.
Ferguson received plenty of interest down the stretch after committing following his official visit in June. He picked Pitt over other offers from Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State, Virginia, North Carolina, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Syracuse, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and more.
During his senior season, Ferguson compiled 88 carries for 885 yards and 12 rushing scores. He also added a kick return for a touchdown and four interceptions on defense. He’s been named First-Team All-County and All-Region.
Update — 8:10 a.m.
**Pitt signs Thomas County Central (Ga.) wide receiver Rodney Dunbar.
This is one of the more impressive signings of the 2026 class for the Panthers. Dunbar is a physically imposing 6-foot-5, 180-pound receiver that ranks as the No. 87 receiver in the class.
His recruitment went back and forth through the spring before ultimately taking an official visit to Pitt in June and committing then. He selected Pitt over in-state Georgia, Ole Miss, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Cal, NC State, Kentucky, Auburn, Duke and more.
In 12 games played this season, Dunbar has racked up 41 receptions for 679 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Thomas County Central continues its state title quest on Friday in the semifinals.
Update — 8:00 a.m.
**Pitt signs Clearwater (Fla.) cornerback Kentrail McRae.
The 6-2, 170-pound McRae earned a Pitt offer in May and committed to the Panthers during an official visit in early June. He is the 103rd-ranked cornerback in the 2026 class.
He held additional offers from Michigan State, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Rutgers USF, FIU, FAU and others.
McRae tallied 24 tackles, nine pass breakups, five interceptions and two forced fumbles for Clearwater this fall.
Update — 7:55 a.m.
**Pitt signs Westerville South (Ohio) safety Isaac Patterson.
Patterson received a Pitt offer back in January and quickly turned it into a commitment in February. Patterson is a 6-foot, 180-pound three-star prospect that is ranked the No. 111 safety in the 2026 class.
Patterson lined up at both free and strong safety, along with outside linebacker this season where he recorded 47 solo tackles, five pass breakups, three tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
He also spent time at wide receiver, racking up 10 receptions for 297 yards and five total touchdowns.
Update — 7:50 a.m.
**Pitt signs St. Ignatius (Ohio) offensive tackle Mike van der Oord.
Pitt picked up a commitment from van der Oord during an official visit in June. Van der Oord stands at 6-foot-7, 260 pounds and is the No. 129 offensive tackle in the 2026 class.
He held additional offers from Wake Forest, Western Michigan, Toledo and others.
Update — 7:45 a.m.
**Pitt signs King’s Fork (Va.) edge rusher Joshua Pittman.
Pittman was the latest addition to the 2026 class when he flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech in early November after an offivial visit for the NC State game.
A 6-3, 225-pound three-star prospect, Pittman held additional offers from USF, NC State, Michigan State, North Carolina, Indiana, West Virginia, Syracuse, Duke and others.
Pittman recorded 24 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two interceptions this fall.
Update — 7:40 a.m.
**Pitt signs WPIAL and Pine-Richland interior offensive lineman John Curran.
Things moved quickly for Curran over the summer. It started with camping at Pitt for three consecutive summers, including this past June. That led to an official visit invite a few days later. Once on that official visit, Pitt offered Curran and he turned around and committed.
At the time, the 6-3, 295-pound three-star prospect held other FBS offers from James Madison, Miami (OH), Bowling Green, Ohio and others.
This fall, Curran was a team captain and was named a First-Team All-Conference lineman. He was also received First-Team All-State honors. Curran has put up some serious weight in the wight room with nine school records. He’s posted a 480-pound bench press, 650-pound squat and a 675-pound deadlift.
Update — 7:35 a.m.
**Pitt signs Booker (Fla.) wide receiver Dylan Wester.
The 5-9, 160-pound speedster was one of Pitt’s early commitments in the 2025 class back in March after receiver an offer from wide receivers coach JJ Laster two months prior in January.
Wester is a three-star prospect and the 177th-ranked receiver, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He held additional offers from USF, Wake Forest, NC State and more.
So far this season, Wester has caught 43 passes for 756 yards and 12 touchdowns as his Booker team continues to chase a state title.
Update — 7:29 a.m.
**Pitt signs Peters Township (Pa.) edge rusher Reston Lehman.
Lehman, a three-star prospect, was one of the bigger recruiting wins for the Panthers over the summer. Lehman committed while on an official visit in June over other top options in Penn State and Rutgers. He was being pursued over the past couple of months by several top Power Four teams as well.
The 6-3, 215-pounder’s other offers included Iowa, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, Indiana, Syracuse, Maryland, Michigan State, Wisconsin, UCLA, Cincinnati and more.
This fall, Lehman helped Peters Township capture a Class 5A WPIAL title. He led the Indians in sacks, along with two interceptions and five forced fumbles. He was named a First-Team All-Conference selection at outside linebacker and a Second Team selection at tight end.
Update — 7:24 a.m.
**Pitt signs Maury (Va.) linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
The Panthers continue to beef up their linebacker class with the 6-foot, 200-pound Simmons.
The 36th-ranked linebacker in the 2026 class picked Pitt over offers from Michigan, Duke, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and others.
Update — 7:19 a.m.
**Pitt signs Leesburg (Fla.) wide receiver Demetrice McCray.
McCray committed to the Panthers back in May over other offers from North Carolina, Ole Miss, UCF, Illinois, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Kansas State, Iowa State and others.
The 6-foot, 184-pounder is a three-star prospect and ranks as the No. 171 wide receiver in the 2026 class.
Update — 7:14 a.m.
**Pitt signs WPIAL and North Allegheny defensive tackle Lincoln Hoke.
Hoke is a three-star prospect ranked as the No. 121 defensive lineman in the 2026 class. Hoke committed during his official visit in June over other offers from West Virginia, James Madison, Buffalo, New Mexico and others.
During his senior season, Hoke totaled 80 tackles, seven tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.
Update — 7:10 a.m.
**The first signee of the day is Cass Technical (Detroit, Mich.) linebacker Marcus Jennings.
A three-star recruit, Jennings was being pursued by in-state Michigan late in the process, along with other Big 10 teams such as Nebraska. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder is the 56th-ranked linebacker, according to the Rivals Industry rankings.
Jennings closed out his senior season with 126 tackles, 21 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown and five forced fumbles. Jennings will play in the Navy All-American Bowl on Jan. 10.
