Pittman attended Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio, where he earned All-Ohio honors as a senior.

On Pittman's left arm is a tattoo honoring his brother, Anthony, who died at the age of 23.

His rushing yardage was the 10th-best single-season mark in school history and only Archie Griffin gained more yards (1,577) as a sophomore.

[5] In 2005, he became just the fourth sophomore in Ohio State annals to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season, joining Archie Griffin, Vince Workman and Keith Byars.

At the beginning of the 2006 season some called for split playing time between Pittman and freshman Chris Wells, another Akron native.

In games against Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, Penn State, and Iowa he rushed for over 100 yards and scored touchdowns.

Against the Florida Gators in the BCS National Championship, Pittman rushed for 62 yards and one of Ohio State's two scores.

On January 15, 2007, Pittman made the decision to forgo his senior year and declared himself eligible for the NFL draft.