HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Ten days out from its season opener, Marshall received good news Wednesday when safety Derrek Pitts was ruled immediately eligible to play this season.
Eligible ??
— DerrekQuadonPittsJr. (@LabelMeAsQuadon) August 21, 2019
Pitts, a junior, spent his first two collegiate seasons at West Virginia University, where he appeared in 19 games and recorded 36 tackles.
Last season, Pitts had an interception in a Camping World Bowl loss to Syracuse and returned a blocked field goal 72 yards for a touchdown in a loss at Iowa State.
Pitts announced his intention to transfer from WVU on June 5, just one day after fellow former Mountaineer safety Kenny Robinson said he would enter the NCAA transfer portal. Pitts, a South Charleston High School product, enrolled at Marshall two weeks later, but his status for this season was up in the air for two months.
A 4-star recruit who was the state’s top ranked 2017 prospect by Rivals, Pitts should offer immediate help to the Herd secondary.
The 6-foot, 189-pound Pitts had been practicing with Marshall since preseason camp opened and could help to fill the void left behind by former Herd safety Malik Gant, who earned All-Conference USA first-team honors last season.