Either way, bet on a redshirt and look at the latest commit as a project.
Tight end Brendan Carozzoni of St. Ignatius High School in Rocky River, Ohio, made a verbal commitment to Pitt this afternoon.
Carozzoni (6-4, 215) is the 14th player from the class of 2010 to commit to the Panthers and the fourth player to commit in the month of July. He chose the Panthers over scholarship offers from West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Purdue.
Small quibble. St. Ignatius is in Cleveland. Carozzoni is a resident of Rocky River — where there is an excellent brewpub and not a cheap place to buy a decent house in Cuyahoga County (sorry, house hunting creeps into everything I do these days).
Carrozzoni is not highly or at all starred by Rivals.com or Scout.com. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. gives him a decent rank, but definitely evaluates him as a long-term project (Insider sub).
He has experience as an in-line player and if he can add needed bulk, tight end is where he will be listed. His best asset at this point are his receiving skills. He plays from an in-line position and flexed out. Displays solid speed and looks best suited for the short-to-intermediate passing game. … He is a solid blocker who flashes signs. He gives effort and will try and be physical. Flashes the ability to strike an initial blow with his hands and get placement. He will generate power from his hips and get into the defender. He needs to be more consistent in his technique with his hand placement and keeping his hips under him. Carozzoni displays the ability to be a solid tight end who can contribute as a blocker and receiver. Needs to keep developing and could be a kid who benefits from a red-shirt.
The video clips they have of Carozzoni definitley show little burst after the catch. If he is going to stay at TE in the long-term it will be for his blocking and as a safety valve TE.
First of all, with recruits under Wannstedt, his natural inclination is towards seeking to redshirt them. Regardless of whether they should or not.
Second, even with Byham, Dickerson and Pelusi graduating there are Mike Cruz, Justin Virbitsky, Brock DeCicco on the roster.
Third, even if he doesn’t redshirt, the odds are he’ll be cutting his teeth mainly on special teams for his first year.
It’s not a knock on the kid, but realistically I don’t see him lining up at TE in a game until at least 2011.
It’s sweet that you don’t see a redshirt as a project at Pitt. Realistically taking a redshirt for a non-injury is indicative of a project. Even the best programs that seemingly reload, don’t redshirt players unless there is a need for a longer term plan with them.
That will give us four TEs with some playing time under their belts going into the 2010 season, which would preclude the need for a FR Carozzoni to play.
Either way, I don’t see taking a redshirt as anything more an indication of the state of the position at a program rather than a player’s talent level. Few true freshman get playing time anywhere really – unless the program is so well stocked the staff knows using a FR for a few plays doesn’t matter in the long run.
