Evans Commits to Pitt's Class of 2028

Michigan safety Marquell Evans pledged to the Panthers on Tuesday after several game-day visits to Pittsburgh.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football

Marquell Evans, a three-star safety at Cass Tech in Michigan, pledged to Pitt's Class of 2028 on Tuesday morning. He made game-day trips to Pitt before committing, including the Panthers' 34-11 win over Georgia Tech.

Why it matters

The commitment adds a highly ranked in-state defensive prospect to Pitt's recruiting class for the 2028 season. It also reflects the Panthers' continued interest in Cass Tech, a program that has previously produced Pitt recruits.

Evans is ranked No. 25 among Michigan prospects and No. 71 nationally at safety by On3, a three-star rating from Cass Tech. The stub does not indicate whether his commitment is considered firm or whether other programs remain involved.

The players

Marquell Evans

A three-star safety from Cass Tech in Michigan and a recruit ranked among the top prospects in the state.

Archie Collins

A Pitt assistant coach who previously attended and coached at Cass Tech, giving the Panthers a connection to the Detroit-area program.

The details

Evans chose Pitt over offers from Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Kent State and Miami (Ohio). He visited Acrisure Stadium for Pitt's loss to North Carolina and made an unofficial visit to Michigan State in March before settling on the Panthers.

- March 2026: Evans made an unofficial visit to Michigan State.
- Three weeks before the Georgia Tech game: Evans attended Pitt's loss to North Carolina.
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Evans pledged to Pitt's Class of 2028.

Season Trajectory

Evans's pledge extends a pipeline Pitt has already built at Cass Tech, where current freshman linebacker Marcus Jennings was recruited. Assistant coach Archie Collins's prior connection to the program adds to the Panthers' established presence in that recruiting ground.

Evans's commitment gives Pitt's 2028 defensive backfield a rated in-state prospect to develop over the coming seasons. For fans tracking recruiting, his ranking and visit history offer a concrete read on how the Panthers are competing for Michigan talent.

The takeaway

Evans's decision shows Pitt can still win in-state recruiting battles against Michigan-area programs when it builds consistent relationships and visits. Tracking the visit pattern is a useful signal for how a recruit may ultimately commit.