Welcome Pitt fans to DreamBackfield.com’s edition of Pitt Football Recruiting Q&A. In these sessions, I will be asking Pitt football recruits and targets football-related questions as well as other factors in their recruiting process. Every athlete I interview has the right to not answer any questions I ask them. I’m a Pitt football season ticket holder and huge Pitt football fan. I wanted to get the opportunity to cover Pitt football in a way I have never done before. In my first article, I sat down with Quadree Henderson from Alexis Dupont High School, Wilmington, DE and Darrin Hall Jr. from Austintown Fitch High School, Youngstown, OH. I hope to write many more articles like this in the future so Pitt fans can get to know the athletes they root for on Saturdays (or hope to root for). Sit back, have your phone or computer on, Tweet and enjoy!
QH = Quadree Henderson
DH = Darrin Hall Jr
Q: When did you realize that Pitt was the school you wanted to attend?
QH: Well I always was favoring Pitt after WVU dropped out of my top 3. Also after I heard Alex Hornibrook committed that really got the ball rolling for me to make me decision even sooner. I felt it was an injustice to hold Pitt off any longer.
DH: I first knew after my first unofficial visit. My parents knew Pitt was it when we were in the cafeteria and Mike Tomlin walked in. My dad is a huge Steelers fan.
Q: What was your last recorded 40 time?
QH: 4.42
DH: 4.58
Q: Do you have any expectations for playing time next year?
QH: Yes, I feel as though I would be a key factor to Pitt’s offense opposite Tyler Boyd. I also feel like our WR tandem will be the best in the ACC & that defenses will have trouble trying to figure out how to stop us run and pass wise. I feel like I’m a game changer.
DH: As much as I can get!!!!!!!
Q: Thoughts and differences between this staff and the previous staff?
QH: I really was well in tuned with the other staff before coach Chryst left. But as I said before, I choose Pitt for the school, not the coaches. So the changes didn’t really affect me. But as coach Narduzzi said, relationships with your coaches is a key in a program. So I’m willing to build the same relationship with the new staff and with Coach Sherman.
DH: Mostly the connection between me and Coach Pat is better because I knew him since my sophomore year. And between Coach Powell and coach Settle, Powell is more of a before the play running backs coach. He wants us to know what the defense is doing before the quarterback snaps the ball. He wants us to know what hole we have to hit if the DL does a certain thing. But they’re both energetic old school coaches.
Q: Who is your favorite current player on the Pitt team, or have any close friends on the current roster?
QH: My favorite player hands down is Tyler Boyd. Me and him talked a couple times at their practices and he is a real laid back dude.
DH: Not close friends, but I’m cool with James Connor. If I need something, or if I’m going up there one weekend, I just hit him up. All the running backs are cool like that.
Q: Give me your best and or favorite moment in your high school football career?
QH: My junior year against a rival team. I had 6 catches for 210 yards, 5 TDS and 1 interception. (and we won 49-20)
DH: Definitely going undefeated my junior year.
Q: Favorite pro team, and favorite pro athlete?
QH: Carolina Panthers. Tavon Austin.
DH: Pittsburgh Steelers. Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster.
Q: What song would you want playing over the loud speakers at Heinz Field when you buckle your chin strap up for your first home game?
QH: T.I. – Bring Em Out.
DH: Dang IDK. Off the top of my head Wale Ambition.
Q: What are you majoring in at Pitt?
QH: Undecided.
DH: I don’t know for sure but it’s going to be a sports major, therapist, sports medicine.
Q: How about favorite meal, or food?
QH: Ribs.
DH: Chicken Alfredo.
Q: Who has been your biggest influence growing up?
QH: My dad.
DH: My dad.
Q: What college team would you like to play against and why?
QH: Maryland, because that’s where I originally seen myself, and even though I was high on their recruit board, I was never offered. So I would like to show them what they missed out on.
DH: Ohio State. A little grudge for not offering haha.
I would truly like to thank Quadree Henderson, and Darrin Hall for taking time to participate in this article with DreamBackfield.com. I also asked Darrin Hall how his knee was holding up and his response was “Great, cleared to do anything, so far no pain”. So it’s safe to say that when Hall arrives on campus he will be at 100%. I’m looking forward to covering more of these Q&A sessions with current Pitt commits and targets. Hope all of you Pitt fans enjoy, and if you have any suggestions and or questions, you can hit me up on twitter @jkrenitsky88. H2P