Pitt Panthers WPIAL scorer commits to Alabama

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers offered a local WPIAL recruit a chance to kick for them, but the recruit wanted to leave home and go somewhere else.

North Allegheny kicker Peter Notaro announced on Twitter that he will be joining the Alabama Crimson Tide as a member of the 2025 class. He chose Alabama over offers from Pitt, rival West Virginia and Ohio State.

100% COMMITTED 🐘🐘#MaréeRoll @AlabamaFTBL @nunez_jay @KalenDeBoer @nafootball_tfl @KohlsKicking @ADresmich @Bama_247 @HKA_Tanalski pic.twitter.com/HxeDNRxFwr

— Pierre Notaro (@peternotaro36) July 3, 2024

Notaro had a stellar junior season in 2023, hitting 7 of 8 field goals with a long of 47 yards, 69 of 93 of his kickoffs going for touchbacks, 74%, and making 23 of 24 PATs. His efforts earned him WPIAL Class 6A All-Conference First Team honors and helped North Allegheny win the WPIAL title and the PIAA final.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FULL JUNIOR SEASON

• 7/8 Field Goals (Long of 47) (1 blocked)
• Kickoffs: 74% Touchbacks 69/93
• 23/24 PATS (1 blocked)

I am grateful for this team and all the opportunities I was able to get this year! #T4L pic.twitter.com/jPoD6fBmf3

— Pierre Notaro (@peternotaro36) December 20, 2023

Kohl’s Kicks ranks Notaro No. 4 in the Class of 2025 and gives him a five-star rating.

He visited Pitt in April, where special teams coach Jacob Bronowski hosted him and former recruiting assistant Jacob Sakk gave him a tour of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side where the team practices.

THANKS @coachjbronowski for welcoming me to Pitt yesterday! Thank you @CoachSakk for showing me around the facilities and showing me everything Pitt has to offer! @CoachDuzzPittFB @Pitt_FB @nafootball_tfl pic.twitter.com/w26qRicr56

— Pierre Notaro (@peternotaro36) March 20, 2024

Pitt starting kicker Ben Sauls has two years of eligibility remaining and will graduate after the 2025 season.

The Panthers also have two walk-ons in sophomore Franco Fernando-Enjo and freshman Samuel Carpenter. Those two will also be competing for that starting spot in 2026.

Pitt has had a few former North Allegheny players on its roster, including defensive backs Dante Caputo, receiver John Vardzel and linebackers Oluwaseun Idowu and Elijah Zeise. Notaro won’t be joining that list, as he chose to head south to play for the Crimson Tide.

The Panthers have 21 commitments in the 2025 class as they look to sign their final recruits before the start of fall training camp.

Five of the commits made their decisions after the first weekend of official visits June 6-8, including tight end Max Hunt of Tampa, Fla., standout Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner of Wildwood, Fla., linebacker Justin Thompson and wide receiver DaMarion Fowlkes of Olney, Md., and defensive end Julian “Juju” Anderson of Blairstown, N.J.

Four recruits committed after taking their official visits the second weekend, June 13-15. That includes three-star defensive backs Joshua Guerrier of Ocoee, Fla., Shawn Lee Jr. of Harrisburg, Pa., and Cole Woodson of Haymarket, Va., as well as offensive tackle Akram Elnagmi of the NFL Academy in Loughbrough, UK.

The final weekend of official visits, June 20-22, featured six commitments, including athletes Synkwan Smith of Roswell, Ga., Emmanuel Taylor of Virginia Beach, Va., wide receiver Kha’leal Sterling of Miami, offensive lineman Torian Chester of Albany, Ga., as well as four-star defensive back Mason Alexander and linebacker Denim Cook of Columbus, Ohio.

The rest of the 2025 class includes offensive lineman Shep Turk, quarterback Mason Heintschel, wide receiver Tony Kinsler, athlete Bryce Yates, defensive lineman Trevor Sommers and defensive back Elijah Dotson.

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