One of Pitt’s incoming freshmen, taiback Chris Burns didn’t play in the Big 33 game, but will be playing in the PFSCA East-West All-Star game this Saturday.
Going from Class AA football to big-time Division I is quite a leap, though. New Wilmington might be just an hour from Pittsburgh, but, for most high school athletes, it might as well be a world away.
‘‘It’s probably going to be quite a change for me. All the guys are just as fast, just as strong,’’ Burns said. ‘‘I’m just going to work on the little things, do what got me here and ask questions, keep working hard and ask God for strength in the hard times.
‘‘I think if you can play football, you can play football. It doesn’t matter what class you come from.’’
Burns will have to play behind LeSean McCoy at Pitt. Burns grew up an Ohio State fan, but neither that, nor having to wait his turn to carry the ball, could keep him from joining the Panthers.
‘‘I picked them is because they’re an up-and-coming program. I think they’re on the rise to being one of the big contenders in college football in years to come. We’ve had great recruiting classes these past few years, and the coaches really know what they’re doing,’’ Burns said. ‘‘Things kind of fell into place there.’’
One of Burns’ future teammates at Pitt is Bishop McCort tight end and current West player Mike Cruz. The pair went head to head in the PIAA playoffs this year; Burns ran for 233 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-24 Greyhound win.
Gateway (and the West) Coach Terry Smith believes Burns will be fine in the transition to D-1. It’s not a rush. He is a virtual lock to redshirt this season. A depth chart with McCoy, Stephens-Howling and then Harris and Collier jockeying for the 3d and 4th spot.
This same weekend, some of the incoming freshmen will be moving into their dorms.
Big 33 teammate and Central Catholic graduate Andrew Taglianetti was to move into his dorm at Pitt this weekend. Certainly a standout on offense and defense throughout his high school career, perhaps the most special part of the Post-Gazette’s WPIAL Class AAAA player of the year is special teams.
“I have yet to see a kid dominate three sides of the football in high school as much as he did,” Central Catholic coach Terry Totten said.
Name the special teams unit — kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt return coverage, field goal blocking … Taglianetti was on it for Central Catholic. And he found ways to standout amongst standouts on special teams for the Pennsylvania team at the Big 33.
Taglianetti blocked a first-quarter Ohio field goal attempt.
“I take a lot of pride in special teams,” Taglianetti said. “I think it’s a huge asset that can change the game. It’s something I can consistently do well in. The coaches put me in the position to make plays, use my speed and athleticism. I just do whatever I can to come through for the team.”
