So anyways, family was in town over the weekend to keep me away from the computer.

Pitt has a new Linebackers Coach and I’m guessing the guy who will be doing recruiting in Florida: Joe Tumpkin.

Tumpkin also coached the linebackers while with the Mustangs (2005-07), serving under then-SMU head coach Phil Bennett, who is now Pitt’s defensive coordinator.

“The addition of Joe to our coaching staff fills three important needs for us,” Wannstedt said. “Number one, Joe is a seasoned linebacker coach. Secondly, he has worked extensively with special teams. Finally, as a Miami native, he is very familiar with the state of Florida and has recruited there the last several years. We’re excited about him joining us.”

Tumpkin, like the now departed, Aubrey Hill, also received a minority NFL fellowship. Tumpkin spent his last summer with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Apparently Rivals.com — despite putting Pitt at #28 in the national recruiting rankings, which is actually a place higher than right after signing day — likes Pitt’s recruiters. Greg Gattuso was named Big East recruiter of the year and Matt Cavanaugh made the list of top Big East recruiters.

Rivals.com highlighted an assistant coach for their recruiting prowess from seven conferences, including each of the six BCS leagues. Gattuso was lauded by the website for “(pulling) off a huge upset when he reeled in cousins Cameron Saddler and Shayne Hale from Gateway.”

Gattuso “was a huge part of Pitt’s success in Western Pennsylvania,” Rivals added, also mentioning his role in helping to recruit quarterback Tino Sunseri (Central Catholic), linebacker Manny Williams (Clairton), defensive back Antwuan Reed (Greater Johnstown) and tight end Mike Cruz (Bishop McCort).

…

Rivals also lauded Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh on its Big East Top 10 Recruiters list, crediting him with helping the Panthers attract standout wide receivers Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa) and Mike Shanahan (Norwin) as well as running back Chris Burns (Wilmington Area).

Rivals.com also produced a Big East signing day dream team (only HS players). Pitt had the most players on the roster with 5: Jared Holley, Shayne Hale, Lucas Nix, Jonathan Baldwin and Cameron Saddler. Louisville and ‘Cuse placed 4 each, WVU and Rutgers with 3 a piece, Cinci and UConn 2 each and USF with 1.

Marcel Pestano — who it was already known that he was leaving Pitt — and Greg Webster have transferred to D-II California (PA) University.

Phil Bennett made SI.com’s Stuart Mandel’s list of impact coordinators hired.

The recently deposed SMU coach made a name for himself under Bill Snyder at Kansas State, where his defenses ranked in the top five nationally all three seasons (1999-2001). At Pittsburgh, he inherits another that ranked fifth in the country last season, trailing only Ohio State, USC, LSU and Virginia Tech.

Led by star LB Scott McKillop, the Panthers return 18 of 22 players on the defensive two-deep that bottled up West Virginia in their memorable season-ending upset. That defense is a major reason many prognosticators (myself included) expect Pitt to make the leap from 5-7 to top-25 contender next season, but it will require a successful transition from Paul Rhoads (now at Auburn) to Bennett.

He, who I would rather not mention, was not on the list.