Well, Darrin Walls will make his announcement this morning. Walls is considered one of the 3 best recruits in the country, depending on which recruiting site you view.

Walls, who narrowed his choices to Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame and Pitt, did not tip his hand Sunday to which school will win his services. He will reveal it today at a 9 a.m. news conference at Woodland Hills High School.
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“I had to really look everything over. I basically tried to keep everything consistent. I tried to base it on academics, head coaches and position coaches. I tried to pick the four that were best for me.”

Walls said the determining factor was academics.

“No matter where you go, you’re going to have to compete for a position,” Walls said. “I’m going to work hard. The most important thing is the academics because if I don’t make it to the NFL, I’m going to have to use my degree.”

Pitt and Notre Dame made strong pushes for Walls in the final weekend. Irish assistant head coach John Latina attended the Woodland Hills-Connellsville game Friday, the same day that 45 handwritten letters arrived at Walls’ home from the Panthers’ coaching staff.

“I took that into consideration,” Walls said of Pitt’s mass mailing. “It was from all the different coaches. I think it was a good move. They’re showing they’re really into me. They really want me to come to the school.”

Walls has been on visits to several schools — but not Notre Dame yet. 2 of his 3 visits, though, just happened to be when the hosting school was playing (and lost to) Notre Dame.

I think the conventional view is that he is heading to Notre Dame.

One of Pitt’s local recruits, Justin Hargrove not only has his season ended, but his entire football future is in question after suffering a brain contusion.

“They told me I had bleeding of the brain,” Hargrove said.

Doctors also told Hargrove his season was over. Hargrove (6 feet 3, 245 pounds) will go back to the doctors in 11 days.

“I’m scheduled for a re-evaluation Oct. 10,” Hargrove said. “They had told me there might be a little chance that I won’t be able to play next year, but I think I’ll be OK.”

I don’t know if I’d ever be able to put a helmet back on to smack heads on the field after an injury like that. That is just scary.

Lineman and Pitt recruit John Malecki did a Q&A with the P-G a couple days ago. He re-affirmed his commitment to Pitt.

Several top recruits have reaffirmed their commit to Pitt, despite continued (and not unexpected) sniffing around by other schools.

A handful of Western Pennsylvania prospects who chose the Panthers said that they remain solid in their commitments despite hearing regularly from other schools. And they view Pitt’s struggling start as an opportunity for them to make an impact early in their college careers.

“A lot of schools have been trying, but I usually just don’t pick up my phone,” said Franklin tight end Nate Byham, who is hearing from Iowa, Miami, Southern Cal and West Virginia. “When I committed, I called and told all the other schools, ‘Thank you, but no thank you. I’m going to Pitt.’

“Obviously, I’d like to see them win, but it’s not changing my mind at all. I’m still sold on Pitt.”

Ditto for Dorin Dickerson of West Allegheny, Jason Pinkston of Baldwin and John Malecki of Franklin Regional.

Dickerson, like Byham, was named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and also heard from Southern Cal. After a fast start, where he scored 12 touchdowns in three games, Dickerson has been recovering from an ankle injury.

“Schools were recruiting me,” Dickerson said, “but they’ve lightened up a lot.”

Malecki promised not to renege on his pledge the way Penn Hills quarterback Anthony Morelli and North Hills running back Andrew Johnson did to Harris in the Class of 2004, when Morelli picked Penn State and Johnson chose Miami.

“Recently, I’ve been worried that the big recruits would pull out like Johnson and Morelli did,” said Malecki, a defensive lineman who said he still receives mailings from Michigan State. “I’m not reconsidering anything. I’ve always wanted to be a Panther. Hopefully, they’ll make the right choice and stick with Pitt.”

Four months until signing day.

UPDATE: Walls made it official, he’s going to ND (hat tip to Bill).