Purdue lands commitment from Pittsburgh offensive lineman
After impressing Purdue at its camp Monday night, Pittsburgh offensive lineman Josh Kaltenberger drew an offer from the Boilermaker coaching staff.
Friday, the offensive tackle jumped on that offer, giving Purdue its third offensive line commitment for its 2020 class.
"They were the first Power 5 team to believe in me," Kaltenberger said, "and I really felt like it was home when I was there. The academics were amazing, and the team's on the rise, on the up and up, and I really like the coaches there, and I feel like that's where God wants me. It's a great fit."
The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder from Seneca Valley High School said Purdue recruited him for center, falling in line with Purdue's clear intention to reload the interior of its offensive line. All three 2020 O-line commitments — the others are Gus Hartwig and Jared Bycznski — project for either guard or center.
"I think I'm a hard hitter, someone who'll drive people into the ground," Kaltenberger said. "A lot of coaches have told me I'm a good finisher without always putting somebody on the ground, and I think I'm pretty good at getting to (the second level) to whatever linebacker we're double-teaming."
Purdue saw it Monday on its campus.
"I'd gone to Pitt's camp before that and ran a 5.03 40 there and a 9-1 broad jump at 280-285 pounds," Kaltenberger said, "and Purdue had talked to me before and been in the school and all that, but they said that if I came to their camp and performed like that, they were probably going to offer. I went there and had good numbers again, didn't lose a one-on-one rep and showed I was coachable. They thought I did a great job."
Kaltenberger was offered by numerous MAC schools, and was recruited by Pitt, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse and others.
"I told (Purdue's) coaches this," Kaltenberger said, "that there's honestly no other place I'd rather go to than Purdue. Any other school could swoop in and it wouldn't matter. I love Purdue, and of the Power 5s that have shown interest, Purdue was No. 1, so it's a dream come true."
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