Jerry Drake will head north to begin his college football career.
The Palm Beach Gardens lineman has committed to Pitt, he announced Thursday through Twitter.
Drake, 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, is the area’s No. 3-ranked player on the Post’s Class of 2017 Big Board. He also was a preseason Super 11 selection.
A three-star composite recruit, Drake drew offers from numerous Division I schools, among them Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and LSU.
He visited Pitt Dec. 9, and liked what he saw from the school and football program, according to Gators coach Rob Freeman.
“I think he was comfortable with the coaching staff,” Freeman said. “And also he wants to major in engineering. He’s done a little research with what they have to offer there.”
Freeman expects big things from Drake at Pitt, which finished 8-4 this season and will play Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl Dec. 28 in New York.
“I think his best football is in front of him,” Freeman said. “He obviously has great size, but even more importantly, a great work ethic. Since he’s been here at Palm Beach Gardens, he’s never made anything but an A. He has a lot of pride in what he does, in every aspect of his life.”
Palm Beach Gardens finished 4-5 this season and was runner-up in District 9-8A.
