Recruiting never ends. What about 2009?
“Compared to last year, it’s going to be off,” Metro Index scouting director Joe Butler said. “You’re not going to have the number of national recruits, but more Mid-American Conference-type recruits, which is still really good football. Last year, we had an unbelievable number of high-end talents. There’s not as much high-end talent, but there are a couple kids that are exceptional.”
That’s no surprise to WPIAL coaches, who realize that ’08 wasn’t your typical recruiting class. Of the 31 Division I-A recruits, 22 signed with BCS programs. Pryor, named national player of the year by PARADE, was one of four WPIAL stars to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Three others also played in national all-star games.
“I don’t know if there will ever be another group like this past group: You’re looking at five kids nationally ranked in the top 100 by some service or another, then having the No. 1 kid,” Gateway coach Terry Smith said. “I think there’s a chance for two or three kids to be in the top 100 this year. It may be as strong a group from A to Z, but not top end.”
It’s only fitting that recruiting analysts believe the top three prospects in the WPIAL are players who were overshadowed this past season by star senior teammates: Gateway linebacker Dorian Bell and receiver Corey Brown and Montour all-purpose back E.J. Banks.
Dorian Bell is a top-20 recruit nationally. Bell and Brown already have offers from Pitt. Looks like Pitt is going to have look harder at the rest of the state and outside Pennsylvania to pull in a recruiting class comparable to this past one. Winning a lot more games would definitely help that process.
I had been unaware that new Linebackers Coach Joe Tumpkin was actually hired by Central Florida in January. Barely a month on the job before he got a better offer and a chance to work with his old boss.
Well, it’s not like Pitt could avoid playing 1-AA teams for too long. New Hampshire will be coming in 2010 for a $300,00 pay out.
Mark Schlabach at ESPN.com has a revised, way-too-early top-25. Pitt clocks in at 22.
After beating West Virginia 13-9 in one of the biggest upsets of 2007, the Panthers finally seemed poised to turn the corner under coach Dave Wannstedt. QB Pat Bostick and tailback LeSean McCoy both played remarkably well as freshmen, and the defense showed some bite at season’s end. If the Panthers can learn to win close games — they lost four games by seven or fewer points last season — they might be one of the country’s biggest surprises.
How about just blowing some teams out, so it becomes a moot point?
