Given that Maurice Williams has the potential for the NFL, I have to believe he wouldn’t make it permanent at Edinboro.

When Williams was ruled ineligible for the 2008 season, Pitt confirmed Williams was going to attend summer school there.

“It’s nothing that was a surprise,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt told the Erie Times-News earlier this month. “We’ve had ongoing discussions with Mo this whole semester that he knew what he had to get done academically. I would preface everything by saying he’s the first guy on the football field.

“Never misses a weight workout. Works as hard as we like. The disappointing thing is that he didn’t put the same type of effort and interest in the academic end of it like he addressed the football and weight workouts.”

The school was planning to red-shirt him.

“We will red-shirt him this year and I expect him to be a major player here in the next couple of years,” Wannstedt said earlier this month.

He would still have to sit out the year if he transferred to Edinboro. This appears to be about Williams — an Erie native — taking courses over the summer while being home.

If he was really leaving, I doubt he would be worried so much about taking the summer courses.

The article notes that former Panther Tommie Campbell transferred to Edinboro, but dropped out after a year. He had been suspended for several games because of not going to class.

The focus on recruiting (or at least commits at this point) remains on the lines. Pitt got another commit on Friday. Jack Lippert out of Central Dauphin gave a verbal.

Jack Lippert, a 6-4, 248-pound defensive end from Central Dauphin, on Friday became the fourth recruit to commit to the Panthers for the Class of 2009.

“I like the coaching staff a lot and the overall environment and opportunity at Pitt,” Lippert said.

Lippert, ranked by rivals.com as the nation’s sixth-best defensive end, chose the Panthers over Boston College, Buffalo and Temple. This fall, he will be a fourth-year starter on the defensive line and a third-year starter on the offensive line.

Lippert played last season with an injured knee, which is why there were other teams interested in him, but waiting to make an offer until after the season got underway.

Rivals.com has him as a 4-star prospect and ranked #161 overall in their top-250. Scout.com has him as a 3-star. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. has him listed as a potential includee for their top-150 (Insider subs).

He is a good and physical wrap-up tackler. Plays with a good motor. As a pass rusher displays the ability to get some push up-field and will flash the ability to use his weapons to swat down a blockers hands and can get turned some to round the corner.

My favorite part in their evaluation was this statement, “He comes across as a good football player who will try and work a little harder than the guy across from him.”

Assuming the knee stays healthy, this is a verbal that will look even better later in the fall.