Pitt’s football program received a big Christmas present in the form of a signing from an elite rookie.
The 2024 DayDay Farmer four-star receiver announced on Christmas Day that he had made a verbal commitment to Pat Narduzzi and Pitt. Farmer (6-foot, 170 pounds) attends Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Florida.
Farmer is a consensus four-star recruit and ranked among the top rookies by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. Rivals ranks Farmer first. 156 junior overall, while 247 Sports ranks him No. 1. 110. 247 Sports also ranks Farmer was the No. 23 wide receiver in the class of 2024.
COMMITTED💰‼️ #H2P #LONGLIVEDAD @CoachHooksCOCOA @Cocoa_Schneider @TiUnderwood @CoachDuzzPittFB pic.twitter.com/cTUPXzVccq
— Ric’Darious Farmer 4⭐️WR (@Dayday_F7) December 25, 2022
Prior to choosing the Panthers, Farmer also received offers from programs such as Arizona State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, South Florida, Central Florida, Virginia and West Virginia. In the end, Farmer tells NHP that his last three were Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia.
Farmer received his offer from Tim Salem and Pitt on June 17, 2021 and credits Tiquan Underwood for being his primary contact since joining Pitt last season.
Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke to Farmer this morning and he discussed his relationship with Underwood, as well as the two visits he made to Pittsburgh in July and for the West Virginia game as reasons for being sold for s to be engaged early to Pitt.
“When I visited there, they showed me all the wide receivers they had and how they were able to produce in all kinds of weather conditions, including cold,” Farmer said. “I told my coach that the weather doesn’t matter where I go, as long as you perform. Also, Coach Wood has kept things real with me since day one. In the end, I wanted to block a spot especially with the transfer portal because the portal is going crazy right now. I wanted to lock in my spot with Pitt. I called and told Coach Underwood my first decision and he was going crazy on the phone. It was so crazy.
“When I came to visit Pitt earlier this year, it really surprised me. I thought Pittsburgh was going to be a lot colder than it was. It wasn’t that cold, so I said I could play in that type of weather. The other thing I remember was the Pitt crowd. It was packed and they were so loud, and I thought to myself that might be the place for me.
Underwood has recruited elite rookies from across the country and came close to landing five-star Hykeem Williams this year, but his hard work, coaching ability and interpersonal skills helped land his biggest rookie since joining Pitt .
“I’ve learned that if you don’t have a good relationship with a coach, it’s not going to be right for you and the school you want to go to,” Farmer said. Coach Underwood, I have a very good relationship with him. He keeps it real with me and I keep it real with him.
If there’s one word to describe Farmer, it’s explosive, and he thinks he’s a nightmare for opposing defensive backs.
“My explosiveness is elite, but my hands are really good, as well as my running route. It’s really a combination of all that. If you play with me, I’m going to run away, if you try to play with me, I’ll run beside you. You can’t touch me. Either way, he’s a loser for the defensive back.
Signing Day 2024 is a year away and Farmer expects other teams to chase him, but he tells PSN he’s ready for it. It doesn’t matter because he’s sold to Pitt.
“My decision was based on wanting to lock in a spot now with Pitt and with everything that’s going on with the transfer portal,” Farmer said. “I believe my recruits are going to get a lot crazier with the offers. Teams will see my film and probably offer it to me. It won’t matter to me, but I’m ready for it to happen.
Farmer becomes second member of Pitt’s Class of 2024, joining fellow four-star defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington.
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