While not yet up on any MSM outlets, it would appear that Jason Pinkston and Justin Hargrove have officially announced their verbal commits to Pitt. These aren’t just two of the top recruits in the WPIAL, they are among the best in all of Pennsylvania.
Pitt’s early recruiting success has caught a lot of attention. From the Rivals100.com site:
The Panthers have seven verbal commitments so far for the class of 2006, all from the Keystone State. The current crop is highlighted by Rivals100 selection Dorin Dickerson and standout defensive tackle Jason Pinkston.
“I think they are doing a great job overall and doing what (former Pitt and current Stanford coach) Walt Harris was able to do early in his tenure, but at a higher level,” Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said. ” Pittsburgh has been, at times, an area where huge programs could spot recruits and steal kids away because there wasn’t a strong enough presence at Pitt to keep them at home.
“Clearly now there is that strong presence in Wannstedt based on the commitments of players like Pinkston and Dickerson.”
And it looks like there could be another by tomorrow:
The staff has other targets throughout the Keystone State who the Panthers are involved with. Monroville Gateway athlete Aaron Smith and Harmony quarterback Kevan Smith both are being heavily courted by Pittsburgh. Junko and Cavanaugh are co-recruiting Kevan Smith while Bray is on Aaron Smith.
Junko also is the recruiting coach for Pittsburgh Woodland Hills linebacker Greg Webster. It was reported by Pittsburgh-area television stations that Webster will commit to the Panthers during the next 24 hours, giving Pitt five commits in five days. Webster is an important recruit for the Panthers. His teammate, five-star Darrin Walls is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the country and the No. 2 overall prospect in the state of Pennsylvania.
Walls has Pittsburgh in his top four, along with Florida, Notre Dame and Michigan. It is an understatement to say that Walls would be the crown jewel in this recruiting class should he choose to stay home and play for the Panthers.
Dominoes. Pitt has the attention of many other interested parties at this point. Some are worried, even as they rationalize it away.
As for the players actually on the Pitt roster for the 2005 season, there is this:
University of Pittsburgh junior linebacker H.B. Blades and junior quarterback Tyler Palko have been named preseason candidates for some of the nation’s most prestigious college football honors.
Blades (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) has been named to the “watch lists” for the 2005 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award. Both awards are presented to the nation’s top defensive player at season’s end.
Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) is on the watch list for the 2005 Maxwell Award, annually presented to the nation’s most outstanding overall player.
It always spices things up when someone is watching.
