Duke Football Lands Top LB Colsen Gatten – 2026 Recruit
Duke Football has secured a major win, landing a commitment from top linebacker Colsen Gatten, a three-star recruit from Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School in the 2026 class. This pivotal move bolsters Duke’s defensive strategy, adding important talent to Coach Manny Diaz’s roster. Gatten, who chose Duke over prestigious programs like Penn State and Notre Dame, is the second linebacker from Central Catholic to commit to the Blue Devils in two years, marking a significant recruiting trend.His notable performance, including a key role in Central Catholic’s WPIAL championship run, positions him as a dynamic force. News Directory 3 is following the story closely. Discover what’s next as Duke aims to solidify its 2026 class commitment and build on this recruiting momentum.
Pittsburgh LB Colsen Gatten Chooses Duke Football
Duke continues to build its football program in Pennsylvania, securing a commitment from three-star linebacker Colsen Gatten from Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School. Gatten, a standout prospect in the 2026 class, announced his decision Wednesday.
Gatten will join coach Manny Diaz and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke at Duke. diaz had initially recruited Gatten while serving as defensive coordinator at Penn State, offering him a scholarship in June 2023. After Diaz’s move to Duke in December 2023, he quickly extended another offer to Gatten in January 2024.
This marks the second consecutive year Duke has successfully recruited a linebacker from Central Catholic. Bradley Gompers, a four-star prospect, signed with the Blue Devils in the 2025 class. Duke signed four Pennsylvania prospects in total for 2025.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Gatten played a key role in Central Catholic’s successful 2024 season, where the team achieved a 12-3 record. The Vikings clinched the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) 6A championship and finished as runner-up in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) 6A state championship game.
Gatten, ranked as the No. 18 prospect in pennsylvania and the No. 50 linebacker nationally for the 2026 cycle, has visited Duke’s campus several times, including a visit in late January.his list of offers included Boston College, California, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, SMU, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
While Gatten’s father,Aaron Gatten,played for Penn State,the younger Gatten chose to forge his own path at Duke. With the addition of Colsen Gatten, Duke’s 2026 recruiting class now includes seven commitments.
What’s next
Duke’s coaching staff will look to solidify Gatten’s commitment and continue building relationships with other top prospects in the 2026 class,aiming to improve their recruiting ranking and on-field performance.