Once again, Bryan at Pitt Script was all over a verbal commit. So be sure to check his stuff out. The kid from Pottsgrove picked Pitt.

“I loved the campus, the city, and what the school has to offer education-wise,” the 6-foot, 180-pound senior said. “It’s a great fit for me.”

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh received an oral commitment from Jameel Poteat, a running back from Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt. The 5-11, 195-pound speedster, rushed 269 times for 1,664 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

Chestnut, a four-year starter projected to be either a cornerback or safety in college, chose Pittsburgh over runner-up Rutgers, West Virginia, and Penn State. “Pitt edged Rutgers out at the end,” he said.

Terrell Chestnut could have been influenced by plenty of factors on his high school team, but was not.

“Terrell has got the whole package,” Pottsgrove coach Rich Pennypacker said. “Pitt is getting a gem. Besides being a terrific football player, he’s an outstanding kid and student. He’s well respected. It’s a proud day for us.”

Last season, Chestnut, clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 19 TDs as the Falcons went 14-1, claimed the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship, and won the program’s first PIAA District 1 Class AAA title.

Chestnut, of Pottstown, was not swayed by the fact that Pennypacker went to West Virginia and several of the team’s assistant coaches had ties to Penn State. “We didn’t put any pressure on him,” Pennypacker joked.

Chestnut’s high school coach wasn’t kidding about Chestnut being an outstanding student. His intent is to major in pre-med at Pitt.

Credit on the recruiting goes to Tight Ends Coach Brian Angelichio.

With Chestnut and Poteat yesterday, there is little doubt that Pitt has the best recruiting class in the Big East at this point.

Chestnut is the 12th verbal for Pitt’s 2011 class, and the 4th 4-star.

Mike Vukovcan, though, does make an interesting list of other 4- and 5-star recruits in Coach Wannstedt’s tenure. I think he’s a little hard or premature on some, but it is a good reminder of the vagaries of recruiting and rankings.

Still, getting a kid like Chestnut coming to Pitt is nothing but a positive. Regardless of what happens on the football field.

Bloodlines, pipelines, whatever it is Jameel Poteat is ready to embrace the challenges of being a top recruit following others who came before.

Numerous college coaches told Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg) standout Jameel Poteat that, if he chose Pitt, he always would play in the shadow of former McDevitt and Panthers star LeSean McCoy. They also told him he should come to their school to carve out his own legacy.

Not only did such a sales pitch not work, it had the opposite effect on Poteat, who made a verbal commitment Wednesday to the Panthers in large part because he wants to carry on the Panthers’ running-back tradition.

Poteat is close to McCoy.

McCoy and Poteat are very close. The pair go way back, starting from the time McCoy was at McDevitt and came to see Poteat play in a Pony League game.

The relationship has grown since then. McCoy is both a mentor and big brother to him. Every time McCoy stops back to Harrisburg, he offers advice to Poteat about on and off the field matters, including how to conduct himself and what goes into making a pro.

“I speak to Shady every day,” Poteat told MaxPreps last November. “I saw him one time signing autographs here and I told him it was crazy. He told me if I keep doing what I’ve been doing, stay focused, and keep working hard, the same thing could happen to me. We started talking about recruiting. He’s helped me running the ball, telling me I have to realize that every carry is not a touchdown. He tells me to get what you can get and be patient.”

Then there is the fact that Bishop-McDevitt has seen several of its best players head to Pitt since Coach Wannstedt came back to Pitt.

Not only did the school produce McCoy and former cornerback Aaron Berry but also incoming freshman receiver Salath Williams. Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio recruited Poteat, and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt has made McDevitt a priority on the recruiting trail.

“I’m starting to take heat from other schools. They’re saying, ‘Your top kids are going to Pitt,'” Weachter said. “Honestly, they’re outworking people. The six allowable visits, they’re here every time. Whether we have a top kid or not, Dave’s here every time.

“Shady had nothing to do with it. He said, ‘I picked my school. You’ve got to do what’s best for you.’ Every time I turn around, Pitt is here and our kids are really comfortable with the Pitt coaching staff and football program.”

Not to mention his cousin Hank Poteat was a standout at Pitt, when there was little else to enjoy with Pitt football in the 90s. Then there is  family, development and atmosphere aspects at the Pitt program.

I asked him what was your number one reason for picking Pitt. Poteat said” It was close to home, his family wanted him to go there, he had a great relationship with coach Walker the running back coach, great history with running backs, and it feels like home. Poteat also said it’s a big relief to to get this big moment out of the way so he can be a kid again and focus on playing football for McD.”

I am honestly amazed that some SEC school hasn’t thrown a boatload of money at Coach Walker. His track record at developing backs at Pitt and before that Syracuse is so outstanding. I’m not complaining that he is still at Pitt, I’m just surprised Pitt still has his services.

I don’t think anyone really expected anything other than this for the initial preliminary hearing for Jabaal Sheard’s adventure in Barkleyism.

A preliminary hearing for suspended Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard has been postponed to Aug. 4.

Sheard’s attorney, William Difinderfer, asked for a postponement while he and the prosecutors attempt to negotiate a plea agreement, prosecutors said.

By the time the plea agreement is reached, you can expect the felony charge (aggravated assault) to be reduced to some sort of misdemeanor level.

Training camp opens August 7, so you know that Sheard’s attorney is pushing to get a resolution by the August 4 date.

If charges are withdrawn, defense attorney William Difenderfer said he will recommend his client be reinstated to the team in time for training camp next week.

…

Sheard’s lawyer said the hearing was postponed until the court could determine the cost of Parker’s medical bills and lost wages, which Sheard is expected to pay.

I can see Sheard reinstated for camp. Unless the plea agreement gets things down to a mere disorderly conduct charge, though, I can’t see how Sheard isn’t suspended for at least one game. Unlike DGunn’s incident last year, this wasn’t a relatively victimless incident. There have to be some consequences.