Just 22 days until spring practices commence.
Pitt starts spring practice on March 18 . The Blue-Gold Scrimmage or whatever they are going to do to mark the end is set for April 17. I really wish they would have started at least a week later.
I hate saying anything good about them, but West Virginia is doing it right. Start the spring practice on April 6 — the day after the NCAA Tournament ends. That’s just good planning. Attention fully on the football side. All basketball over.
A little more regarding Pitt’s first commit for 2011 and his visit.
Offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio and defensive linemen Darian Cooper and Kendall Patterson went with Collura to Pittsburgh. After touring the campus, they met with position coaches and went to the Panthers’ basketball game that afternoon.
“When we broke off into meetings, their tight ends coach was straightforward what he expects tight ends to do, blocking and running routes,” Collura said. “Right then and there, I had an idea. Coming in, I was thinking Pittsburgh where I wanted to go. That seemed perfect right there.”
On Monday, after reviewing Collura’s game films, the Panthers extended a scholarship offer and it did not take long for him to decide.
“Everything was going crazy in our household, my dad was calling all the family,” Collura said. “Two hours later, after talking with Coach McGregor and my dad, I decided to commit. It seemed like an obvious choice.”
The big name of note in the list of teammates that came with Collura to visit Pitt is Cyrus Kouandijo. Tons of offers for him already (including Pitt, USC and Alabama). A consensus 5-star recruit considered by Rivals.com as the #1 OT in the 2011 class — at a point when most recruiting evaluations are not ready. So that’s something else.
Another visitor from the weekend was Jameel Poteat (apparently the nephew of Pitt standout Hank Poteat — one of the few bright spots from Johnny Majors II) who had a nice time (h/t to Dan).
…Poteat was very impressed with Pitt. Poteat told Peak that, “It was great.” Poteat went on to say that he was very comfortable, especially with head coach Dave Wannstedt. Poteat got to also hang with former Bishop McDevitt and Pitt running back LeSean McCoy.
Poteat is rated by Rivals.com as one of the top running backs in the country and an indication of that was that he just picked up offers from USC and Florida. In the past 2 seasons, he’s rushed for close to 3,000 yards and scored 39 rushing touchdowns.
Poteat says that he hopes to come up with a final five by July.
Here’s some very encouraging that Poteat told Pike when talking about the Pitt program. “I had that feeling. It just feels like you’re at home and the coaches and the fans show so much love. My parents love it, too, and that’s a big thing for me. And I love what Coach Wannstedt is doing with the program and how everything seems to be going right.”
Poteat isn’t yet starred by Rivals.com but is listed as a 5-star and the #5 RB nationally by Scout.com. It could not have hurt to have a former BIshop-McDevitt RB, Pitt great and next year’s starting tailback for the Philadelphia Eagles, LeSean McCoy at the game as well.
from TOS…
“Pittsburgh has a talented young tandem in the backfield (Dion Lewis and Ray Graham), but Poteat thinks the backfield could be a little less crowded by the time he would step onto campus if he were to choose Pitt.
“They basically said, since Lewis did the prep school thing he would be in a situation similar to Shady,” Poteat explained. “If he has another year like he did this past season, he could decide to go to the NFL. When I spoke to Shady he also felt that Dion would likely test the waters if given the chance.”
I’ve been posting that this was a possibility – but most PITT fans can’t fathom it. Lewis’ eligibility is determined by ‘three years after the class he entered high school with’ graduates – and since he repeated his junior year at Blair Academy that allows him to bolt after this upcoming season (like Fitz and McCoy).
I also firmly believe that when Andre’ Givens was ‘wavering’ in his verbal commitment late in the game last month Dion Lewis’ talk with him was about this subject.
Regardless of whether PITT fans think Lewis can, or will, go after the 2010 season… there are lots of thoughts that he’s too short to be a high round draft choice, which I disagree with… the staff is certainly aware of it and IMO planning for him to do just that. Maybe they learned something from the great QB fiasco of 2007 (although 2010 has the same possibilities in only two real QB contenders other than true freshman).
