The final recruiting weekend brought more commits and seems to have at least put Pitt in the finalist category for a bunch of players that will do the whole reveal on signing day.
Last night Roderick Ryles and LaQuentin Smith got back to Orlando, Florida from their recruiting trip to Morgantown. As with many, seeing West Virginia that close was enough to make the decision for them.
Ryles and Smith both committed to the University of Pittsburgh on Sunday night, hours after returning home from a visit to West Virginia.
The pair talked to their families and friends and both decided Pitt was the best place for them to continue with their education and football career.
“It’s real cool, because we are family already,” Smith said of he and Ryles being able to continue playing together. “We can make our relationship even better.”
And the word family came up several times when both players talked about what it was that put Pitt over West Virginia in this latest of Backyard Brawl stories that will surely increase the hatred between these two interstate rivals.
“It was just the whole part of me feeling like family,” Smith said of his Pitt visit compared to the visit to Morgantown, W.Va. “(Pitt) also has some great coaches and players and, also, the school aspect was even better.”
For Ryles (6-1, 187), the all-time leader in career interceptions at Dr. Phillips with 15, seven of which he picked in both his junior and senior seasons, the feelings were similar.
“I just felt that God sent them my way,” Ryles said. “I vibed with the coaches and everything just was a family.”
Or it could just be common sense, when comparing the two.
In recruits closer to home, Pitt will have to wait for signing day announcements to find out about Desimon Green (DB/QB), Branden Jackson (DE/LB) and Delvon Simmons (DT).
But McKeesport lineman Delvon Simmons was at USC this weekend.
Simmons will make his college decision in the next few days, and he came home today from USC. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Simmons visited a place so far away. He also has been to Oregon and Texas Tech.
Meanwhile, Simmons’ McKeesport teammate, defensive end-linebacker Branden Jackson, visited Pitt this weekend and now has Pitt in his final three along with Oregon and Texas Tech.
I have said for years that when it comes time to pull the trigger on a decision, a kid from Western Pennsylvania who has a scholarship offer from a local school won’t pick a school as far away as Texas, California or Oregon. Maybe once in 200 times pick a school that far away. Will Jackson, or Simmons, be that one exception?
Lastly, Clairton quarterback-defensive back Desimon Green said he probably won’t make a decision until signing day Wednesday. He will be Pitt or Texas Tech.
Don’t really think Simmons will choose Pitt, but I like the chances of landing Jackson or Green. It’s going to be a little tense on Wednesday around here for a while.
Brian Bennett at ESPN.com runs through needs for each Big East team.
Running back: Dion Lewis bolted for the NFL as a draft-eligible sophomore, and fullback Henry Hynoski went pro early as well. That leaves Ray Graham as the only real option for handoffs. It’s no surprise that Pitt has commitments from four players identified as running backs in this class so far.
Wide receiver: Jon Baldwin took his talents to the NFL after his junior year. True, the Panthers still have plenty of talent at the position, including Mike Shanahan and the emerging Devin Street. But Todd Graham’s new wide-open offense is going to need a lot of targets in the passing game, especially versatile players who can do lots of things in space.
Offensive line: Pitt’s problems in the middle of its offensive line to start last season exposed a shocking lack of depth at the position, which had suffered through several recruiting misses in the past. The Panthers now have to replace their All-Big East left tackle in Jason Pinkston and find a new starting center. And Graham’s offense is going to require a different kind of blocking scheme.
WRs don’t have me too worried. Aside from Shanahan, Street and Saddler, there is also Ed Tinker, Todd Thomas, Drew Carswell and Salath Williams in the pipe.
The O-line as always has me stressed. To say nothing of linebacking and defensive backs.
per his twitter:
looks like i’ll be going to PITT
about 19 hours ago via web
this is his twitter address ha…
link to twitter.com
booby… it is reality now… you need to look at all twitters and open your eyes, this is the norm
I do hope that that tweet about him ditching psychology is not a sign of his commitment to attending classes.
Keep in mind that he is just a high school kid, and that he will have an opportunity to mature once he gets up here.
Guys I recommend cracking open a Shakesperean play and trying to read it out loud.
If you were to be flash frozen and thawed out 500 years later. The English that was being spoken (if spoken) that day would sound nothing like the language you used.
Just like if Shakespeare himself were to appear before our very eyes today.
DaveD
So where did all the doom and gloomers go? We should be in panic mode with no recruits at this time. But instead we are talking about Pitt potentially getting top recruits from all over the nation. Talk about a great job by Toddy Graham.
Pitt has become a major academic institution and our athletic graduation rates for our premier sports football/basketball can not be overlooked.
Check out his bio and note also how important his religion is to him.
SHAME ON ME!!!!
I also noticed him flashing the sign of the Devil, we certainly need Rev. George to turn this kid around. Is is was it is for lack of a better way to describe whats going on in these United States anymore.
Such is life as a Zombie in the modern world.
Well, not really changes, but some positive news (finally) about the development of some of the young offensive linemen on the team. The coaches are feeling much better about that group after watching some of these youngsters develop over the past two months. Jack Lippert is one who next year should really be in the mix at center or guard next year. Coaches have tried to get him some work at guard this year but he is the back-up center right now so he has to get as much work as possible at practice since he is one play away. But don’t be surprised if Brandon Sacco emerges as the starting center next year, he is a guy I’ve heard a lot of good things about. I’ve heard him compared most often to John Malecki in terms of his athleticism and his physical, hard-nosed, tough-guy approach to the game. The other guy who has shown some promises, believe it or not, is Matt Rotheram, who came in overweight but now that he has slimmed down some has been pretty good. Rotheram could figure into the mix at tackle next year as well. One other player who apparently is coming into his own a little is Juantez Hollins, the kid from Aliquippa. The development of these young guys is crucial to the development of the program so it is at least good news that we are starting to hear some good things about them. And to bring this all togther – if Jordan Gibbs shows he can play this year it means next years line could look something like this – Gibbs at left tackle, Jacobson at left guard, Sacco at center, Lippert at right guard and Lucas Nix at right tackle. In other words, suddenly, there is some hope though playing well in scout team situations is much different than playing well on Saturdays against real competition so we’re a long way from writing any final chapters on any of these guys.
I don’t think there hasn’t been a year where the O-line hasn’t been a source of angst for me — at least in the offseason.
Desimon Green is high on Pitt and Tx Tech.
If Pitt can get either of these and one of the two McKeesport players, then all things considered it will be a decent class
Wiz Khalifa: “E’erthing I do, I do it big…”
Not as much a difference as many people think…
Interesting, considering Morris was supposed to be the weight room maven.
Or it could just be common sense, when comparing the two.”
Of course, if God doesn’t have the ultimate common sense then who does?
The writing from the Scouts staff has been great over the last two years and the diligence they use in getting info out is impressive. Plus, lately they have had a lot of other regional recruiting reporters coming onto the PITT board to discuss the recruits PITT is looking at in their areas… something the didn’t happen much in the past.
But the main reason I do is because I very much enjoy the higher quality of discourse and debate on the pay boards as opposed to the free ones – there is very little or no bitch slapping contests between posters and if one disagrees with others it is treated conversationally as if you were sitting with friends having a beer and talking.
Since this is all a hobby for me and I enjoy talking about PITT, the $10 a month is well worth it.
Brian Bennett reviews the 2010 All-BE team and how they were ranked coming into college as recruits…
Again, this just reiterates the fact that the star ranking system is highly subjective in the first place and no real or consistent indicator of future success in the second. It all depends on the player’s ability to adapt at a higher level and, more importantly IMO, the ability of the coaching staff to get the most out of the players.
Honestly – while it’s nice to land 4* and 5* star players I’m pretty content with getting 3* players as the majority or your recruiting class also – as long as the coaching staff has wanted those kids onboard from the beginning (which is a moot point this season with Graham but will play out big time in 2012)
Sorry…
I don’t put much stock in star ratings but when Rivals.com – who is notoriously stingy in give out four and five star ratings gives a kid 4*s, as they have done with Grisby, then I think it means that he’s pretty good. They have been pretty accurate with that.
I believe we are going to get one or two more big surprises either today or tomorrow – Graham has done a great job in even keeping these higher rated kids interested in PITT up until LOI Day.
I’m a little shocked he’s done as well as he has so far. Talk about coming into a volatile situation – very unusual and not like a normal coaching turnover at all where some of the staff may remain on board.
We still have a lot of naysayer PITT fans regarding Graham though and that’s OK – but I think that is more of a disappointment with DW being fired than it is with Graham himself… IMO you have to take things as they come and evaluate as it unfolds. I was a huge DW fan when hired and through the 2008 season when I though he was rebuilding the program to what he wanted… then my opinion changed when he drastically underachieved in 2009 and 2010.
So, I’ll give Graham “wins” on what he’s done so far regarding his infectious attitude and his recruiting efforts.
been following this from all ends… he is killing it with kids who werent even on Pitt’s radar before
I like that he is planting a flag in Florida (like walt!) and Texas… back to national recruiting instead of just WPIAL and Jersey.
big ones still left:
Pitts – not sure if the cousin coming/being offered to Pitt will help him come back from Rutgers commit… but should be interesting
Michael Eubank – 6’5? 220lb qb from California with a soft verbal to ASU… had a great visit and is between Pitt, ASU, and Utah. Could start next year… great talent and physical prowess. Will have those 3 hats out when he does press conference signing day… fingers crossed
link to recruiting.scout.com
Delvon Simmons – the big fish… Pitt, USC, Oregon, Rutgers, and Texas Tech… will announce signing day, anybody’s guess at this point
link to recruiting.scout.com
Branden Jackson – had a great visit with Pitt… and with so many commits coming from this weekend Im liking Pitt’s chances. These commits tend to come in waves and hopefully the momentum from this weekend carries on…between Pitt, Oregon, and Texas Tech… shares those 3 with Simmons.. both announcing on signing day at press conference
link to recruiting.scout.com
Cortez Johnson – cb out of New Orleans… had a good visit… same high school as Keenan Lewis and Mike Wallace… announcing Wednesday between Pitt and Arizona
link to pittsburgh.scout.com
Desimon Green – back from visit from Texas Tech, gave it high marks… especially living arrangements. Will decide between Texas Tech and Pitt wednesday at 10am
link to pittsburgh.scout.com