Pitt offers scholarship to Pine-Richland QB DiNucci

Jerry DiPaola
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 11:39 a.m. | Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 11:39 a.m.

Sidney Davis | Trib Total Media

Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci holds the trophy after he and his team defeated Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class AAAA championship game on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at Heinz Field. The Rams won, 21-13.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi began his attempt at restocking the quarterback position when he offered a scholarship to Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci after a workout Monday, Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said.

DiNucci, the first Pennsylvania high school quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season (4,269), had committed verbally to Penn of the Ivy League before the season.

Then he led Pine-Richland to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship, a 15-1 record and a runner-up finish in the PIAA tournament to St. Joseph's Prep.

After the season, DiNucci, who threw 46 touchdown passes, was named state player of the year by the Pennsylvania Football Writers Association (Class AAAA) and Gatorade, and he was chosen as a USA Today second-team All-American.

DiNucci, who has not accepted Pitt's offer, will make an official visit to the Pitt campus this weekend. He declined to comment Tuesday.

Pitt is looking to recruit one or two quarterbacks this year after Alex Hornibrook decommitted and enrolled at Wisconsin. Starter Chad Voytik and freshman Adam Bertke are the only quarterbacks on Pitt's roster.

Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.

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