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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PITT IS IT! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/H2P?src=hash">#H2P</a></p>— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDuzzPittFB/status/611617499336056832">June 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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As we mentioned earlier yesterday, Bricen Garner decided that he would announce on KDKA his choice to play college football. In the late afternoon Coach Narduzzi let out a "Pat Signal" and the stars aligned for Bricen Garner to commit on the 6:00 local news, which he did on live local TV.
Bricen Garner is a defensive back and plays his high school ball for the famed Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, which is just blocks away from the University of Pittsburgh. Garner is rated as a three-star prospect by both 24/7 and Scout, with 24/7 calling him the 16th best prospect in the state. The local standout held some notable offers Cincinnati, Connecticut, and Temple along with many MAC schools as well.
Bricen Garner become the fourth player to join the class of 2016, and is the second one to come from the WPIAL. He is an athletic safety that helped lead his team to the WPIAL Championship game before falling to Pine-Richland. Garner is one of the core players for Central to have another successful run, and Pitt is certainly hot on the trail for some of his teammates such as Damar Hamlin and Rashad Wheeler.
Richie Walsh asked Garner during his live interview if his choice was a tough one, and which he responded with "not really", and cites the coaching staff as a main reason why he chose the Panthers. Garner went on to say in the interview with Walsh, "Anytime you get the chance to play football for your hometown team, you should take it." Obviously the coaching staff has been very active on social media and on the recruiting trail in setting up the "412 Crew" and trying to keep guys at home. It is clear on some level it is starting to gain some traction. Obviously Pitt has a long way to go and a lot of courting to convince some of the bigger name players to commit, but landing a three-star from a powerhouse high school is a good start.