By Kevin Connelly

kconnelly@vindy.com

Warren Harding defensive tackle prospect Javon Provitt has narrowed his list down to three schools he’s considering for next year.

However, those three — Pittsburgh, Maryland and Kentucky — will have to wait a few weeks after the Feb. 4 signing day to learn of Provitt’s decision. The senior has elected to hold off on making a commitment until late February or early March, he said on Wednesday.

“I’m just trying to get things together right now,” Provitt said.

One of the reasons Provitt says he’s waiting to decide his college destination is so he can improve his ACT score. The Harding senior confirmed there are no issues with his grades, he’s just re-taking the standardized test.

It’s a busy time of year for both coaches of college football programs and the players they’re recruiting. It’s even busier for new Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, who’s had to make up for lost time since his Dec. 24 hiring.

Provitt said he had a scheduled phone conference with members of the Panthers’ coaching staff on Thursday and was excited about the possibility to play close to home.

“It’s a school I’ve been looking at for a while,” Provitt said. “It’s a good program and I trust Coach Narduzzi.

“I love Coach Narduzzi as a coach.”

Pitt has been targeting Provitt since last season, but the 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle said Kentucky was the first of his three finalists to give him a look.

“It’s exciting to have coaches coming in that you watch on TV and coaches that you see doing different things,” said Provitt, who hasn’t taken any official visits yet. “It feels good that these coaches are looking at me and these coaches want me at their school.”

Steve Arnold, Provitt’s coach at Harding, has helped more than a dozen of his former student-athletes with the Division I recruitment process. Provitt is no different.

“Coach Arnold has been telling me to go wherever best suits me,” Provitt said. “He wants me to be the best player I can be — go wherever I feel comfortable.”

Provitt says he’s been working toward becoming a faster player coming off the ball, while maintaining his power at the point of attack. He credited the Raiders’ coaching staff, who he says have tried to get the best out of him.

“Basically they’re helping me be the player I know I can be and they know I can be,” Provitt said. “Just being a part of the tradition has been very humbling.

“It’s a very good program to play at.”

He’s also gone up against Raiders teammate, and Iowa commit, James Daniels in the trenches during practice. Provitt says battles between he and Daniels, a 6-foot-4, 304-pound offensive lineman, were an everyday thing.

“We gotta get practice started somehow — why not start with your two leaders?” Provitt said with a laugh.

“We know how to turn the friend thing on and off. It’s very competitive on the field.”