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July 23, 2009

Adding Another O-Lineman

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 11:02 pm

If I had checked some stuff online, I could have gone right to the home of Pitt’s newest verbal and said hello. Instead, I find out after leaving Lebanon that the Cedars are sending an offensive lineman to Pitt.

A senior-to-be on the offensive and defensive lines at Lebanon, [Arthur] Doakes is the latest in an increasingly long line of LHS gridiron standouts to reach the D-1 level, joining, among others, Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick and former teammate and soon-to-be Iowa State quarterback James Capello.

In addition, Doakes, who cannot officially sign on the dotted line with the Panthers until February, will be the first in his immediate family to attend college, something that made for an emotional moment Tuesday evening when Doakes and his mother — his father is deceased — informed Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt of his intentions.

“It means a lot to me,” Doakes said yesterday. “In my family, I’m the only one (to go to college). It’s a great chance. She (his mother) is just really happy for me.”

“He’s proud to make his mother proud,” Lebanon High head coach Gerry Yonchiuk said of Doakes. “He’s really ecstatic, but I don’t know if he understands how big a deal this is. It’s a really big deal.”

It’s just good to be getting another offensive lineman.

“It was really close between Syracuse and Pittsburgh,” said Yonchiuk, who accompanied Doakes on a Monday visit to Syracuse.

“I think it’s where he felt the most comfortable.”

Doakes confirmed his coach’s assertion.

“Pittsburgh made me feel really comfortable,” he said.

“I wanted to do this now so I could focus on this season instead of letting it go on through the football season.”

I’m not sure I could have shown my avatar at the next Big East bloggers meeting if a recruit from my high school had picked Syracuse. So, I appreciate him choosing Pitt.

Pitt jumped on him early.

Even so, the Panthers identified him as a prospect early and invited Doakes to their Blue Chip Day for a men’s basketball game against Cincinnati and to coach Dave Wannstedt’s individual skills camp in June.

“A lot of other schools wanted to wait for my senior film,” said Doakes, who also was receiving interest from Connecticut, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Virginia and West Virginia, “but I’m glad Pitt saw (potential) in me.”

The emphasis is apparently on potential (Insider subs). The stories love pointing out that despite now being a 6-6, 325 to 350 pound man-child, he didn’t start playing football until the 8th grade and only has one year as a starter. Doakes is a 3-star recruit according to Scout.com and unstarred by Rivals.com.





Andre Givens (stud RB – Ohio) is heading to PITT!

Comment by Panther Mike 07.24.09 @ 3:56 pm

From what I see and read of Doakes, he is a good get. He is young and did not play a lot of FB but is said to have good legs. He plays with good knee bend and straight back but will need plenty of work. My bet is he will be playing by his Junior year. He has high potential if he works hard. I areciated his emotion at being the first in his family to go to college. I was the first in mine so that rang home.
Ya’ll need to see the video on Givens. He has run a 10.8 100m already and should get bigger and faster. He really has a quick launch through the line and bursts into defensive secondary with good vision. He can play CB too. Rated #1 RB in Ohio this year.
I like theway this class is shaping up.

Comment by IronManEE68 07.24.09 @ 6:34 pm

Here is a rundown of the Pitt BB roster after the summer league and No, Mark, I did not write this .. it is a bit too optimistic even for me. I do agree, though, that Pitt will be deep with talent, however, there are no big stars, just a lot of pretty good players.

link to pittsburgh.rivals.com

Comment by w bill 07.24.09 @ 10:53 pm

Great news on Givens! This is off topic but I happened to notice that the much hyped SEC has decided against launching its own TV network, and instead signed a mega deal with ESPN for them to be the “SEC/ESPN Network”. While the Big East’s deal is no where near the size and scope of the SEC deal, the basic principal remains the same. Leverage the size and reach of ESPN to market your league rather than set up your onwn rinky dink network (like the Big 10 did). Anyone catch any of the Big 10 Network broadcasts? Its like watching public access TV! The SEC will now be broadcasting its Tenn vs. NW Idaho St games to the entire country, and reaping the financial benefits that come from ESPNs reach. I definitely think the BE made the right decision to go with ESPN vice setting up their own network.

Comment by HbgFrank 07.24.09 @ 11:27 pm

HbgFrank, but how will the PSU faithful see their ganes vs Akron, Temple, Syracuse & Eastern Ill without the BTN? I know my local Comcast (Pgh) has BTN, and yet not ESPNU … I look at all the games available on the U that I’m missing,and it really makes me cringe. I did watch the end of the PSU-MSU bb game on BTN on Super Bowl Sunday (nothing else on), but that is the only time I’ve ever watched that network.

Meanwhile, Sam signed with Grizzlies .. according to P-G, for 3 years with $2M guaranteed plus incentives.

Comment by w bill 07.25.09 @ 6:51 am

Nice summary link of the upcoming BB team, Bill. Call me crazy, but I’m getting more and more bullish about this year!

Comment by Pauly P 07.25.09 @ 10:40 am

Were those good things I read about Gary McGhee?? Could it be that…. nahhh.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 07.25.09 @ 11:38 am

Here’s a link to some Andre Givens looking good in some vids

link to scoutingohio.com

And Doakes is a good worker, has fast feet and is real strong, over 400 lbs bench press and 26 reps at 225 lbs. His arms are bigger than my legs. If he keeps developing he’ll be outstanding.

Comment by shadyforpresident 07.25.09 @ 11:52 am

Congradulations to”Sam,the Hoop man”. Not only is he getting a nice contract, but he has a degree from a most reputable university. (Guess which one} Congratulations as well to the young Panthers who did so well at Greentree. The sun is finally shining on the Panther nation. George from Columbus.

Comment by rev. george mehaffey 07.25.09 @ 12:26 pm

I do think Pitt basketball will surprise people this season, but not because of what they did in a pickup league. I’m still willing to bet that Gary McGhee still won’t be good. I could care less what he did against competition that is WELL below the Big East.

Comment by Mark 07.25.09 @ 4:09 pm

“I’m still willing to bet that Gary McGhee still won’t be good.”

Mark, it’s possible that you may be right. Most of the time last year, it appeared that he was lost and really didn’t fully comprehend the offensive and/or defensive sytems. But the kid seems to have a very nice work ethic and is trying hard to improve. Contrast him as a person with Chris Taft. Gary appears to represent the university well, and I will be rooting for him. I wish him well (as I know you do also).

Comment by BigGuy 07.25.09 @ 4:43 pm

Young vs. Blair

How about we all meet on this blog 40 years from now to discuss who made out better (financially, socially and personally) over the course of their lives: the degreed Young or the non-degreed Blair. Chas, will you agree to establish the format for the discussion?

Comment by BigGuy 07.25.09 @ 5:18 pm

40 years from now I will be living on Mars and I am pretty sure they don’t have Wi-Fi over there. However, I will return to Earth on my Pitt Script Spaceship to take part in this conversation. I’m in.

Comment by Panthoor 07.25.09 @ 5:54 pm

Panthoor

I think that could be interesting. Of course, we’ll all be communicating in telepathic binary code. But still, sounds fun enough. I’m in.

Comment by maz. 07.25.09 @ 6:00 pm

for what it’s worth, I have two degrees (BS & MBA)as well as 20 years experience and excellent references … and have been unemployed for a while now.

But seriously, Blair has the upper hand right now since he signed ofr more money and guarantee. However, if his knee gives in the next couple of years, will the lack of degree hurt him? …. stay tuned.

There is nothing I would like more than to see McGhee do well, but for once I have to side with Mark .. he needs to do it against better competition. From what I saw, there were not a lot of competition under te boards in the summer league.

Comment by w bill 07.25.09 @ 6:03 pm

Everything I have heard about the kid, I think he sounds awesome so I hope he does well in basketball and in life. And I will be the first to say I was wrong, and I’ll do it happily.

Comment by Mark 07.25.09 @ 6:27 pm

I am the only fan who believes that going to college for four years and getting a good well-rounded education has more benefits than just financially? Take the Blair/BB aspect out of this, but every one on here seems to think college is just about how much money you can make afterward.

That’s too bad IMO.

Comment by Reed 07.25.09 @ 6:40 pm

I agree with Reed. I wouldn’t trade my 4 years at Pitt for anything in the world.

Comment by Omar 07.25.09 @ 8:09 pm

I think going to college and the educational aspects and social aspects etc are VASTLY different for a highly recruited athlete in football or basketball than they are for normal students.

Let’s face it, these are guys that possibly wouldn’t even go to college if it weren’t for football or basketball.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 07.25.09 @ 9:04 pm

i still think PITT will be a great life uplifting experience for these guys. It really changed my life for the better.

Comment by IronManEE68 07.25.09 @ 9:25 pm

“I am the only fan who believes that going to college for four years and getting a good well-rounded education has more benefits than just financially?”

Uh, Reed. Here I was thinking that I spent too much time on the soap box when I posted, but I see that you tuned me (and obviously others) out. (That’s OK. My wife tunes me out also.)

Comment by BigGuy 07.25.09 @ 10:05 pm

w bill, in what part of the country do you live? I know it must be discouraging, but the economy always goes in cycles. Best wishes.

Comment by BigGuy 07.25.09 @ 10:11 pm

BigGuy – I didn’t tune you out – I agreed and expounded on your point.

I’ll tell you right now what I wouldn’t trade for a million $$ – the joy that I have had for the last 30 years of having any and all intellectual challenges leading to my learning new things; the ability to hold up my end of a conversation in both a social setting or professionally and the desire to keep moving forward in my life on all fronts. Not only does it make life interesting – it adds to the quality of life things money literally can’t buy.

I ‘learned how to learn’ in HS and college – but most importantly I learned how to WANT other peoples knowledge and opinions on things so that I could help myself grow.

And please, spare me the socio-economic-athletic argument in all of this – that’s demeaning and basically a load of crap. Anyone can flourish in the years of growing to maturity between 18-22, all they need is the ability to speak, read and to have someone in authority care more about them as human beings than as pieces of meat that can score points or grab rebounds.

Comment by Reed 07.26.09 @ 5:33 am

BigGuy, I live in Pgh area. While the local economy is good compared to many other areas, certain industries and companies here have not fared well. E.g., both big healthcare providers let many people go last year, as well as US Steel which let go much of their corp workforce. As for me, I left one of the healthcares last Aug where big layoffs were pending, to work for a smaller private company which last Sept was growing and actually adding new positions. That lasted a couple of months until the market bottomed, and all the new hires plus about 10% of previous workforce was let go due to the large amount of contract cancellations, including the $90M contract that I was assigned to.

Note that while this area hasn’t experienced the major layoffs as some other areas, new hiring has been reeled in almost everywhere. Despite my credentials and contacts I have made in past 25 years, I have gotten just a couple of interviews, and nothing in the past 2 months.

Personally, I am not close to bottoming out, however, individual healthcare costs are prohibitive. Looking forward to fb season but I have yet to renew my season ticket since I don’t know if I will even be living here come Sept.

Comment by w bill 07.26.09 @ 7:41 am

I remember looking at Aaron Gray like — WTF? And, although I will never forgive him for being such a pussy in the BE final his senior year, he did turn into a decent big man threat against 95% of BE competition. Here’s to making a leap of faith that Gary “Big Thunder” McGhee can come around with Jamie’s coaching…

Note: I consumed a lot of booze last night, and I hope that this is not residual intoxication nonsense coming out of my mouth!

Comment by Pauly P 07.26.09 @ 11:18 am

“I’ll tell you right now what I wouldn’t trade for a million $$”

Reed, my sentiments exactly. Pitt (or nature) taught you to express yourself quite eloquently and more eloquently I can. (Maybe it is because my degree is in a technical field where we were taught to express ourselves with numbers rather than with words.)

Comment by BigGuy 07.26.09 @ 11:56 am

w bill, my prediction is that your next hit will be a home run.

Comment by BigGuy 07.26.09 @ 12:01 pm

BG, thanx, but truth be told, I thought I had homered before each of last 2 jobs. Nonetheless, I do realize that I am pretty frustrated now and have no doubt that things will work out …. as they always have.

Comment by w bill 07.26.09 @ 12:32 pm

w bill: I can empathize with your plight. My career has had its moments that seemed like the end several times. I started with Westinghouse Electric over 40 years ago so you know i have riden a career horse downhill for decades. But somehow I came back working and doing well and the markets have now come back 48+% since the March Bottom (but is still down 25%) so my future retirement may not be as bad as it seemed just a few weeks ago. Just keep hitting the blocks hard with confidence amd Good Luck to you!

Comment by IronManEE68 07.26.09 @ 9:50 pm

I found this on youtube.. its dejuan rapping link to youtube.com

Comment by Hogan 07.26.09 @ 10:01 pm

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