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Thomas Jefferson's Devin Danielson commits to Pitt | TribLIVE.com
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Thomas Jefferson's Devin Danielson commits to Pitt

Chris Harlan
Chris Harlan
ptrTJDevinDanielson081916
Ken Eber photography | For the Tribune-Review
Thomas Jefferson's Devin Danielson takes part in a workout July 26, 2016, at Thomas Jefferson.
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ken eber photography | for the tribune-review
TJ's Devin Danielson (79).

Louisville, Michigan State, UCLA and many others tried to lure Devin Danielson out of state.

Ultimately, he wanted to stay home

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior informed Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on Tuesday that he was committing to the Panthers, making him the fourth WPIAL linemen from the 2018 class to take the hometown route.

The Thomas Jefferson senior said he'd visited Pitt nearly 10 times, the latest was last weekend, and decided "it was time."

"It was the thing to do," Danielson said. "I just wanted to stay at home and bring a championship back to Pittsburgh."

Danielson was a two-way starter at tackle last season for Thomas Jefferson, but dominated defensively for the WPIAL Class 4A champions. He had 41 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries, and earned Terrific 25 honors from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

By choosing Pitt, he joins TJ teammate Noah Palmer, a defensive end who committed to the Panthers in May. Their high school coach, Bill Cherpak, also was a Pitt lineman.

"I considered a lot of schools," Danielson said, "but when it came down to it, (the decision) had a lot to do with the distance. And I just fit better at Pitt."

Danielson becomes the fourth WPIAL lineman from the 2018 class to pick Pitt. Butler's Jake Kradel and Belle Vernon's Blake Zubovic chose the Panthers over other Power 5 schools.

The 3-star Rivals recruit's list of scholarship offers included West Virginia, Iowa and Wisconsin, along with Louisville, Michigan State, UCLA and others. What swayed Danielson toward Pitt was his confidence in Narduzzi's staff.

"They're bringing Pitt up to a new level," he said. "It's getting back to where it was. I think they're doing good and it's a program I want to be a part of."

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.