:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69074529/IMG_20190813_174129.0.jpg)
Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt coaching staff made progress in the recruitment of a promising prospect on Saturday, as Marcus Peterson, a wide receiver out of Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida, placed Pitt in his top six.
Final 6 @ChadSimmons_ @rivalsmike @SWiltfong247 @BrennanMarion4 @KU_EJones @Coach_Norvell @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachGusMalzahn @TeamKamMartin @CoachRobLikens @Coach_MannyDiaz @GinoGuidugli @CoachFick @r81dugans pic.twitter.com/gTT81muImW
— Marcus Peterson (@MarcusPeterson_) April 4, 2021
Joining Pitt on Peterson’s list of finalists were Cincinnati, Florida State, Kansas, Miami and UCF. That list was derived from an offer sheet featuring more than 30 programs, and some of the most notable cuts included Arkansas, Boston College, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The 6’4”, 200-pound prospect holds three-star ratings from 247Sports and Rivals. The former ranks him as the No. 82 recruit in Florida in the 2022 class, and the latter considers him the No. 91 recruit in the Sunshine State.
During the 2020 season at Columbia, Peterson amassed 286 yards and seven touchdowns on 19 catches in a span of 11 games. He also added four touchdowns on the ground and ran for 205 yards on 50 carries and even threw for 637 yards and six scores as a quarterback for the Tigers. However, his success under center was offset somewhat by five picks and a low completion rate of 46.2 percent.
Peterson also served as a punter for Columbia, averaging 33.8 yards per punt on 47 punts and landing 11 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. On the year, he totaled 1,589 punt yards, and he even chipped in on defense, recording four tackles and one interception. But despite his considerable efforts, Columbia finished the season with a disappointing 5-6 record.
At Pitt, Peterson’s versatility could see him compete for playing time at a variety of positions, but his size and skill would make him an ideal addition to the Panthers’ thin receiving corps. With that said, his top six suggests he has given thought to staying in state for college, so Pitt could face a tall task in bringing him up north. But given Pitt’s track record of success in importing talent from the Sunshine State, it would not be wise to count out Narduzzi and his staff just yet.
Peterson has yet to set a decision date, so it is uncertain when additional updates on his recruitment will be announced. However, he revealed that he will visit Pitt in June.