Big 2025 3-Star LB Schedules Official Visit to Pitt

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Sports Now
By Karl Ludwig | Last updated 5/8/24

Pitt has been active in Ohio during the Pat Narduzzi era, and a big reason why has been Ryan Manalac. He’s locked in a number of defenders from Ohio, and the Panthers are in contention for another one.

Denim Cook — a 6-foot-4, 220-pound three-star linebacker from Bishop Hartley in Columbus, Ohio — named Pitt to his top six last month, and he will be taking an official visit to Pittsburgh from June 20-22. He’s also currently scheduled to take an official visit to Virginia (June 7).

“Let’s do it,” Cook wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Let’s do it! #H2P @Coach_Manalac @coachdaoust @HartleyFootball @AllenTrieu @mickdwalker pic.twitter.com/K5peWCvGYw

— Denim Cook (@denimcook8) May 8, 2024

Cook included Pitt in a top six that features Indiana, Louisville, Pitt, Purdue, Toledo and Virginia. He cut Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Liberty, Marshall, UMass, Miami (Oh.) and Ohio from contention.

Pitt jumped into the fray for Cook in January, with Narduzzi and Manalac extending an offer during a busy in-school visit period. He hasn’t visited Pittsburgh since picking up an offer, but he made a trip out for the Florida State game last November.

Cook is a little bit bigger than a traditional Pitt linebacker, but his versatility in a jumbo frame is intriguing. He has the look of a Money linebacker in the Panthers’ defense.

Cook was very impactful as a do-it-all defender for Bishop Hartley last season, racking up 116 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries — earning All-District, All-Conference and All-State honors.

247Sports rates him as the 79th-ranked linebacker and 29th-ranked recruit in Ohio while Rivals hasn’t rated him yet — although he does hold a 5.3 Rivals Rating, which signifies a two-star ranking.

Pitt has not picked up a commitment from a linebacker in the class of 2025 to this point, but it’s clear that Cook is a target in the class.

Pitt currently holds three commitments in the class of 2025, three-star wide receiver Bryce Yates (Chesterfield, Va.), three-star defensive lineman Trevor Sommers (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and three-star quarterback Mason Heintschel (Oregon, Ohio), and it’s not unlikely that a couple more soon join the class this spring.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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