I realize some are heading to position changes, and other RBs presently at Pitt might transfer (just a hunch, but getting stronger), but the 2007 recruiting class now has 4 backs with the verbal from Greg Williams. Plus, there is still the possibility of Bo Williams and/or LeSean McCoy giving verbals. I know you try and get the best possible players, but stockpiling players for both lines seems like the much higher need/priority.
This is not to knock Greg Williams. He seems to be a good back. Both services have him as a 3-star RB. Rivals.com has him as the 44th best RB and Scout.com puts him at #69. He is in the top-100 players in Florida. Plus, we did beat WVU for him. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. also likes him (#50 for RBs) and their description is pretty much the type of runner Wannstedt seems to really like (Insider Subs):
This kid is a horse of a back. Williams is tall, well-built and powerful. He has the frame to add at least 20 pounds and could develop into a real force bewteen the tackles. He is very strong at the point of attack and will run right through tacklers who don’t break down and wrap-up. he has a strong lower body and shows he can push the pile and is capable of picking up tough inside yards. He is not a back that will go down easily or on first contact. Shows good initial burst and enough of a second-gear for a bigger back.
Of course, we could have top backs, but it won’t matter if the line can’t do anything.
This goes to the heart of the matter in the posts above in that recruiting really is a 50/50 proposition, on both sides. No coach ever knows who will stand out as a starter or star, and no recruit knows what actually lies ahead at the program he committed to. But I like the verbals of Harris and G. Williams also, both look like players.
I took a look at the 2002, 03, 04 recruiting classes PITT had on Scouts.com and was very surprised how many players don’t last over four years, some of the recruits I had never heard of at all – which means they either never got to PITT at all, or never saw much playing time and quit, transferred, was asked to leave, etc. I didn’t think that happened on the scale it does.
But, DW has had a good track record over the last two years with highly desired RBs in Dickerson in 2006, and Collier & Collins in 2005. Hasn’t used them that well, but did get them to come here. It’s a stretch to think that real top shelf RBs like McCoy or Bo Williams will be making PITT first choice (McCoy less so due to his PA roots) and if DW can land one (doubtful) it would be a real testament to his recruiting skills.
Also, looks like our verbal TE recruit Kyle Hubbard is exploring his options with the new NC coach Butch Davis.
I think we’ll see Stinson at LB down the road, and maybe we can expect some RB transfers.
Actually, PSU has had pretty good success moving players around – it seems no one there ever plays the position they did in HS.
Speaking of which – last week Morelli spouted off about how he came about to be labelled “dumb”. Appears it was all his HS coach’s fault. Nothing in the article that addressed the fact that the PSU O coordinator had to drop 75% of the existing bpassing schemes to accommodate Morelli.