Panthers lead for Blue-Chip NJ Athlete

The Pitt football program has started to increase its recruiting efforts in the talent rich state of New Jersey.  Union City (NJ, athlete Daiquan Kelly (6-foot-3 inches, 200 pounds) and running back Tamaine Boyd (6 foot, 238 pounds) have received early scholarship offers from the Panthers.

DreamBackfield.com caught up with Kelly to discuss his recruiting status.  “I have scholarship offers from Pitt, Virginia, Boston College, Massachusetts, Rutgers and Syracuse.  Pitt is still my favorite school.”  He has taken unofficial visits to Pitt, Boston College, Penn State and Rutgers.

“I visited Pitt with my mother, sister and cousin on their junior day.  I really like it a lot,” stated Kelly.  “I thought Pitt was a great setting.  I like the campus and the city.  I can’t put my finger on it, but it felt like home.  Call it a guy feeling.  It would be a great place to play football.”

“The coaches are great.  They are really honest and straight forward.”

Kelly has been a two-year, two-way standout for Union High School.  He has excelled at wide receiver and safety.  “I was told I’ll be playing both positions again, the coached even told me I might play some defensive end in blitz packages,” he said.

Although most are recruiting Daiquan as an athlete, he believes Pitt likes him on the offensive side of the ball.  “I have spoken with their wide receivers and defensive backs coach.  I think they both like me,” he said.  “Most of my recent conversations have been with Coach (Matt) House.  They are recruiting me as a safety or linebacker.”

“Honestly, it’s really up to them where they play me.  I simply want to contribute and help my team win.”

When asked about his strengths as a safety, he stated, “I’m a ball hawk.  I like to hit and get to the ball.  I’m fast for my size as well.  I run somewhere between a 4.4 and 4.5 forty-yard dash.”

The Panthers offered a second Union High School standout last Thursday when running back / fullback Tamaine Boyd was offered a scholarship.

“Tamaine and I are good friends.  I have been telling him about Pitt,” stated Kelly.  “We’re going to try to visit Pitt together in the spring with our coaches.”

“Tamaine is a great running back.  It’s hard to believe he can run as fast as he runs at 240 pounds.”

Boyd rushed for 1,440 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season.