Inside The Panthers

Pitt Commit Transfers After Eligibility Decision

Pitt Panthers 2025 football commitment Shawn Lee Jr. transferred to a new high school.

Dominic Campbell

Harrisburg quarterback Shawn Lee Jr. keeps the ball on the ground during a PIAA District 3 Class 6A semifinal game against Central York on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in Emigsville. Hes Dr 111822 Cyfb
Harrisburg quarterback Shawn Lee Jr. keeps the ball on the ground during a PIAA District 3 Class 6A semifinal game against Central York on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in Emigsville. Hes Dr 111822 Cyfb / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers football Class of 2025 commtiment Shawn Lee Jr. will transfer to a new school for his senior season, after eligibility issues initally kept him from playing in 2024.

Dan Sostek of PennLive reported that Lee will transfer to Milford Academy Prep in New Berlin, N.Y. to play this season. He will then enroll early at Pitt following the end of his senior season. Milford Academy also broke the news prior to the report from Sostek.

The PIAA denied eiligibility for Lee, who previously played at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Pa. in a 5-0 vote, keeping him from starring in his final season of high school football

Harrisburg put in an appeal request after a District 3 ruling ruled Kee ineligible in late July. The ruling was that Lee exceeded his four year of play, but his family argued against the ruling, saying that he only played three years of high school football and needed a medical waiver for the COVID-19 2020 season.

Harrisburg put in an appeal request after a District 3 ruling ruled Kee ineligible in late July. The ruling was that Lee exceeded his four year of play, but his family argued against the ruling, saying that he only played three years of high school football and needed a medical waiver for the COVID-19 2020 season.

Lee is an excpetional athlete and had a fantastic junior season in 2023. He completed 144-of-215 passes, 67.0%, for 2,256 yards and 26 touchdowns to five interceptions, while rushing 163 times for 1,451 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground at quarterback.

He also made 47 tackles (32 solo), plus five interceptions and one returned for a touchdown at cornerback, where Pitt is looking for him to play in college. 

His efforts led Harrisburg to the PIAA Class 6A Semifinals, where they lost to North Allegheny, 24-12. 

Lee has great speed and awareness on the field, which helps him to deal with opposing tacklers, but also to make the right decisions at cornerback, breaking up a play or making an interception.

Lee also had offers from ACC foe NC State, Iowa State, MAC schools in Akron, Buffalo and Kent State, Old Dominion, James Madison, UConn and FCS offers from Howard and Monmouth. He also visited Penn State, Temple, Florida and UCF for games last season.

He took an official visit to Pitt on June 14 and would commit on June 19.

Lee also received plaudits from former Pitt great running back LeSean McCoy when he announced his offer. McCoy is from the Harrisburg area and loves what he sees from Lee and Pitt fans will, no doubt, enjoy seeing the bridge between the two. McCoy also played at Milford Academy Prep in high school himself.

"Yea u kno how we do at Pitt lol ball n go straight to the league yougn," McCoy wrote in his tweet.

247Sports ranks Lee as the No. 24 recruit in Pennsylvania and No. 95 athlete in the Class of 2025, Rivals gave him a three-star,a 5.5 rating ranked him No. 30 in the commonwealth and ESPN rated him the No. 77 athlete and No. 23 recruit in the state.

The Panthers have 23 commitments in the Class of 2025, along with Lee, as the program hopes to see their future players succeed in their senior season. 

Five of the commitments made their decision following the first weekend of official visits June 6-8, including tight end Max Hunt from Tampa, Fla. athlete Ja'Kyrian "Boosie" Turner from Wildwood, Fla., linebacker Justin Thompson and wide receiver DaMarion Fowlkes from Olney, Md. and defensive end Julian "Juju" Anderson from Blairstown, N.J. 

247Sports ranks Lee as the No. 24 recruit in Pennsylvania and No. 95 athlete in the Class of 2025, Rivals gave him a three-star,a 5.5 rating ranked him No. 30 in the commonwealth and ESPN rated him the No. 77 athlete and No. 23 recruit in the state.

The Panthers have 23 commitments in the Class of 2025, along with Lee, as the program hopes to see their future players succeed in their senior season. 

Five of the commitments made their decision following the first weekend of official visits June 6-8, including tight end Max Hunt from Tampa, Fla. athlete Ja'Kyrian "Boosie" Turner from Wildwood, Fla., linebacker Justin Thompson and wide receiver DaMarion Fowlkes from Olney, Md. and defensive end Julian "Juju" Anderson from Blairstown, N.J.

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Dominic Campbell
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