Pitt adds QB Justin Sliwoski as preferred walk-on

Quarterback Justin Sliwoski announced on Thursday that he had accepted a preferred walk-on offer extended by Pitt. The Hempfield Area High School senior shared the news via Twitter.

Sliwoski, the brother of current Pitt fullback Ryan Sliwoski, was featured in the Tribune-Review’s Terrific 25 in 2016. He held offers from Columbia, Dartmouth, Dayton and Georgetown, but opted to stay home and attempt to earn a scholarship as his brother did.

"I feel Pitt is entering a special time, and I want to be a part of it and go there and compete," Sliwoski said, per Mike Vukovcan of Pittsburgh Sports Now. "The last two years, this program has beaten Miami, Clemson and Penn State. I believe they’re on the cusp of becoming a national power."

At Hempfield, Sliwoski threw for 1,668 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight games in his senior season. And as a junior, he threw for 1,954 and 19 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 578 yards and scoring nine touchdowns on foot.

Ryan Sliwoski discussed the news about his brother with Bill Beckner Jr. of the Tribune-Review, calling it "a dream come true."

"It's honestly a dream come true," he said. "We both grew up huge Pitt fans, so it’s amazing that we both have the opportunity to play for them. Like, who would have thought two brothers playing backyard football every day would eventually lead to playing for the Panthers at Heinz?"