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Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt coaching staff hosted more than 20 recruits this weekend, and on Sunday afternoon, they got their first official commitment of the three-day mass visit, as Bangally Kamara announced his intent to join the Panthers in a message posted on Twitter.
Poverty put me in this position... #COMMITTED #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/MSfaY6a0SQ
— BANGALLY (@bengally_kamara) June 16, 2019
”First off, I’d like to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to play at the next level,” he wrote. “I’d like to thank my parents for the sacrifices they made for me and my brothers. I’d like to thank Coach [Marques] Hayes and the East Community Learning Center teachers and football staff for getting me better on and off the field. I’d like to thank my teammates for being with me through this whole process. I would like to thank God for blessing me with these abilities to continue my athletics. With that being said, I would like to officially commit to the University of Pittsburgh.”
Kamara is considered a three-star prospect at linebacker, according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals, and he drew 26 offers over the course of his recruitment, half of which were from Power Five programs. Pitt prevailed over the likes of Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Syracuse for his services.
The 6’2”, 200-pound linebacker amassed a total of 73 tackles at East High School in 2018, including eight sacks. He also broke up nine passes and logged a 95-yard pick six to go with a 50-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery. And for his efforts in 2018, Kamara was named an all-star by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Considering Kamara’s dynamic playmaking ability at the linebacker position, it’s not hard to envision how he will positively impact a Panthers team that just lost standouts Seun Idowu, Quintin Wirginis and Elijah Zeise to graduation. In addition, he described Penn State as a school that was “really high up” on his list of possibilities, per Bill Greene of 247Sports. So notching a win over James Franklin and his staff is an added bonus.