Despite what I think we all consider to be a disasterous football weekend, Pitt has a new verbal.

“I just called Coach (Dave) Wannstedt and committed to Pitt,” stated rugged middle linebacker Max Gruder (6-foot-2 inches, 220pounds) from Charlotte Country Day High School in Charlotte, NC. “Pitt was the school I wanted to go to all along. I told every school recruiting me that Pitt would be my choice if they offered.”

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Gruder has received scholarship offers from Western Michigan and Rice. North Carolina State and Illinois have recently contacted him about his senior film and hope to schedule official visits.

“I have had a number of college players and I can tell you that Max is as good as any of them,” stated Charlotte Country Day High School Head Football Coach Bob Witman. “You just don’t see too many players with Max’s size that can move that fast. Max is a really big player, but his main asset is his speed. He runs sideline to sideline and he can run anyone down.”

Gruder is listed as a 1 to 0-star recruit according to the recruiting sites.  He was all-state last year been selected for the NC team in the NC-SC Shrine Bowl All-star game. Also, he was selected to another all-state all-star team.

His asset and why Pitt recruited him, seems to be his speed. We all know Pitt needs speed. Of course, it also hinges on Pitt teaching and developing his talent. Erp.