So, it seems football recruiting is not going particularly well at the start of June. With the uptick of early commits in May, Pitt came up rather empty. Right there listed as one of the final picks, but on the outside. Even perceived “locks” going elsewhere.

This despite Pitt coming off a 9-win season. The expectation that this should create more bounce in recruiting for Pitt.

I’ve paid some attention, but not gotten caught up in the minutiae. Understandably there is some concern. The recruiting wasn’t as good this past signing day, but it was excused as a down year for talent in Pennsylvania. This year, it seems Pitt is missing everywhere and the reactions range from absolute panic to a kind of zen state of waiting for things to fall perfectly into place

Since everyone has theories as to what is happening as Pitt recruiting seems to be falling off a cliff right now, I’ll share mine. Keep in mind, this is pure theory and conjecture. I have no proof or sources.

This is the inverse bounce. One good season does not make up for the previous 3 years of disappointing slightly below-mediocrity on the field.

In Coach Wannstedt’s first few seasons he could reasonably claim that he was building something at Pitt. That it was new, shiny and sparkly. The new direction, and aiming higher than what had been accomplished prior. It may take a little work, but it would be stronger, bigger and better.

It could be sold that way and recruits could buy into it. They did.

The problem is, the building is taking too long. That is no longer a realistic thing to sell kids heading into Year Five.

Let’s skip the whole impatience of society today, and Frank Beamer at VT comparisons. That was then, this is now and things are different — money, recruiting, expectations, coverage, TV, etc. There are just as many examples of coaches who have succeeded quickly and with less. This is the landscape Pitt is operating now, and it is not as easy to make the case versus other programs that Pitt is having comparable success or will soon.

That’s what makes this season on the field so important. Pitt needs to show that despite losing McCoy, McKillop, Kinder, Davis and plenty of other key players, that it did not peak last year with a 9-win season and a crappy bowl performance. That they are indeed building to something more.

I would make the comparison to Rutgers in that. They did not pull the big recruiting class right after the 2005 Insight Bowl or even the 2006 Texas Bowl. It was after going to the International Bowl in 2008 (the 2007 season) that was the thing that launched them for their best recruiting class this past year. They had to show that they were sustaining the success.

If Pitt can have a good season — 8 wins or more — then recruiting will pick up again. They will pull some late commits and switches. It still may not be the class expected back in March or April but it will be decent enough. More importantly a good season will be the evidence needed to go forward in 2011.

It’s always good to have buzz increasing about your draft prospects when you start on the outside of the lottery or even on the fringe of the 1st round. DeJuan Blair’s sudden rise is obvious in no small part because he showed up to the Chicago combines in great physical shape.

Sam Young’s physique has not been in question. Following the freakiness in the Toronto workout, neither has his toughness.

He’s been training to increase his ball handling to be able to play some at the guard position (hat tip to Bryan H).

Meet Sam Young, slam-dunkin’ three-point-drainin’, lockdown defendin’ off guard.

The majority of NBA draftniks consider Young to be a 6-foot-6 small forward at the next level, but he is fully intent to change some minds in the days and months ahead.

“For sure,” Young told Inside Pittsburgh Sports at the NBA Combine. “A lot of people don’t think that I can play the two guard, but my ball-handling has gotten to a point that I will play a lot there. I can even bring the ball up the floor. When all is said and done, I’ll definitely be a two.”

In the last two months, Young spent long hours to acclimate himself to the three-point shot, NBA style. In the pros, the arc is located 23 feet, nine inches from the basket, three feet further than in the college game.

“At the beginning, I thought it would affect me a little bit,” Young said of the added distance. “But now, I’m shooting it pretty consistently, especially at the private workouts and (the NBA Combine).

And to think, there was a point as a sophomore where he bristled at being put at small forward instead of power forward.

Yesterday he was working out for the Golden State Warriors with several other teams in attendance, and the reviews were solid.

According to several observers who saw the two afternoon workouts, Pittsburgh’s Sam Young was the most impressive player. Young, a 6-foot-6 swingman, was in Group 1, and played with/against Luke Harangody (Notre Dame), Joe Ingles (Australia), Damion Jones (Texas), Jeff Pendergraph (Arizone State) and Marcus Thornton (LSU).

Five-on-five scrimmaging was not part of the workouts. Instead, players were put through stretching exercises, shooting drills, individual skill work and then some 3-on-3 competition.

It was in the 3-on-3s that Young outplayed Jones and Thornton, according to some.

Of that group, only Thornton seems to get much mention for going in the 1st round. Right in the same mid- to late-20s area where Young has been.

Less than two weeks until the NBA Draft and DeJuan Blair finds himself getting mentioned more and more in the top-14 picks. New Jersey at #11 seems to be the place, since they spoke of needing a “moose.” Of course that goes out the window if they end up getting Carlos Boozer in free agency.

This past week at the Chicago combine, Blair really didn’t surprise in the measurables.

DeJuan Blair measured just 6’5.25 without shoes making him just 6’6 (exactly what we had him listed at all season), but an amazing 7’2 wingspan and a standing reach of 8’10.5 gives him legitimate power forward size. His 1.5 inch standing reach advantage over Griffin almost doesn’t seem possible.

He also showed up in fantastic shape. And his personality is going to be an asset.

Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair has about as much buzz as any player in the draft right now, and he obviously is enjoying showing off his new chiseled physique. “I lost 38 pounds,” he tells us afterwards with a huge grin on his face. He’s relishing the chance to make his presence felt in this setting, no longer asked to lead fast breaks or shoot NBA 3-pointers like he was in the first day.

“I felt much more comfortable out there today,” he explains. “I wanted to dunk the ball hard. Give them something to remember me by.”

Blair particularly shines in the interviews with teams and the media day sessions, showing off his gregarious personality that some go as far as to compare to Shaquille O’Neal. “That’s just me,” Blair tells us with a smile. “I love being around people.”

Once more using the doubts about his decision to go pro as motivation.

It’s a long way from where he was when he first hired agent Happy Walters, when many said he made a mistake by declaring for the NBA draft.

“That’s just something that the people that just wanted to see me back in college again say or thought I wasn’t ready for it. There are a lot of different things people could have went from. I think I’m ready for it; I’m trying to adjust to it and the NBA life. It’s going to be great. Like I’ve said before, if your dreams are in front of you, why not go and reach for them? You never know what could happen. My dream was in front of me so I reached and grabbed it and I’m holding onto it tight. I’m not going anywhere.”

This is just one more reminder how much tougher Sam Young is than me.

Young participated in Friday’s skill work for the first time without a wrap on his left biceps. He was involved in one of the most bizarre incidents ever in predraft workouts.

A week ago in Toronto, Young was impaled by a metal piece off a vertical testing pole. “It was one millimeter away from hitting my nerve; three millimeters away from a blood vessel,” Young said.

He described the incident as follows, and the account was corroborated by at least one Raptors official: Young jumped up to slap the pole, turned in the air and the piece of metal popped into his skin. But the piece had two sides, and it went in two different directions, making it impossible for him to just pull it out. Young was suspended in the air on the pole before Raptors personnel gently took him down with the pole still attached to him.

“It didn’t break off, so I hung on it,” Young said. “They turned the vertical pole sideways. But I couldn’t take the whole thing with me. So the guys in the gym weren’t sure what to do. I waited 15 minutes for paramedics. They came, put a towel over my face and with a chain saw separated me from it. There were sparks flying everywhere.”

The worst part was when Young was in the ambulance. “I’m holding part of the pole that’s still in me, and the ambulance had to go over speed bumps to get out of the arena,” Young said. “I’m trying to keep it steady, but it’s pulling on my skin. It was crazy. I wanted to yank the whole thing out, but I wasn’t sure about the effect. I finally got to the hospital, they drugged me up, they fiddled with it and yanked it out. I would have been in trouble had I pulled it out. It was the craziest hour of my life.”

There were no stitches and almost no blood from the puncture wound. Young said he was told not to do the weightlifting portion of the testing in Chicago, and he isn’t supposed to do any lifting for two weeks as a precaution.

He said doctors told him to rest for a few weeks, but that wasn’t going to happen. Young went and worked out for Chicago and Indiana after the incident. He’s heading to Golden State for a group workout next week. “I was determined to not let it affect me,” Young said.

If it’s me, I’m running around freaked out screaming, “Get it out, Morton! Get it out!”

The more details that emerge from that incident, the crazier it gets.

Temple guard Dionte Christmas witnessed Young’s mishap.

“That was pretty crazy,” Christmas said. “He’s a tough guy. I can see that just from seeing him out on the court, but after that, he’s definitely got my respect.”

On the bright side, that means when the NBA commentators bring up Sam Young, they have something else to mention beyond the backflips and poetry.

Hopefully he got to keep the piece for the potential lawsuit.

I don’t know if the 49ers quietly guarantee his 1st season with the team, in return, or if SF really do “love” him. I do think they would have a hard time cutting McKillop since he is the only player they have doing “Rookie Camp Diaries.”Plus he claimed the  top score of 176 among the rookies in a bowling night.

His latest diary includes a little love to Pitt’s strength and conditioning program.

Although I couldn’t run at first, I was riding the exercise bike and eventually I started working out again with my strength coaches at Pitt (my alma mater). What I did back home is very similar to the weight training we’ve been doing in the morning here. We lifted every morning at 6:30 to be exact. I’m happy I stuck with their weight program while I was home and I have to give them some recognition because they are some great coaches. They definitely helped me prepare for the lifting we’ve done out here.

Which is not too surprising. Buddy Morris has been doing it a long time, and he has been in charge of NFL programs (okay, it was the Browns, but it still counts).

There was an excellent puff piece on McKillop from last week. Sounds like he’s got a good agent counseling him on his money stuff. To say nothing of what his parents have probably tried to teach him.

“I bought a computer, but that’s about it so far,” said the former Pitt and Kiski Area star linebacker. “I’m not getting a car or anything like that. I am going to invest it in the bank.”

…

McKillop said the only thing guaranteed in his contract is his signing bonus. But he guarantees he will go all out every play. And he’ll earn his keep.

“I know I am very fortunate to get this opportunity,” he said. “It’s my job. Only I am putting on spikes, not dress shoes. Football is fun, but it’s a business, too. I want to invest properly and spend my money correctly, not go out and waste it.

“The average NFL career is 3.2 years, and the average player goes broke 80 percent of the time when he’s done playing.”

McKillop will get to play for one of the greatest linebackers of all-time in 49ers coach Mike Singletary, who already has become famous for his postgame rants. He may have to move to inside linebacker because the 49ers use a 3-4 scheme.

“Scott is exactly what you want, from an attitude and physical standpoint,” said McKillop’s agent, Dave Dunn.

Apparently, going to SF, also means trying to grow a beard.