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December 19, 2013

Big With Bookser

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 8:36 am

After watching the quarterback be pounded over the last couple years, there isn’t a Pitt fan with a pulse unaware of the need to significantly improve the offensive line. Steps have been taken over the last couple of years, but 2014 is the first year Pitt has landed two studs for the O-line in the same year. Mike Grimm committed a while ago, and after a long courtship Alex Bookser verbaled to Pitt.

Mt. Lebanon offensive lineman Alex Booker made a verbal commitment to Pitt. It is a good catch for Pitt as Bookser is rated a four-star offensive lineman by Rivals.com. Bookser also made official visits to Penn State, Ohio State and Tennessee.

Bookser is 6 feet 6, 295 pounds. He was a Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection and was named all-state today.

What’s funny about Bookser is he was recruited as an offensive lineman, but coaches in the WPIAL Class AAAA Southeastern Conference selected him first-team all-conference as a defensive lineman.

Yeah, but he is staying on the O-line. Ohio State was considered the other team he was really considering, so this is a big verbal. Bookser isn’t just a 4-star on Rivals.com. He is a universal 4-star on 247, Scout.com and ESPN.

Bookser should not be penciled in as a starter for next year. I don’t think he will redshirt, but he still needs a chance to develop. From the ESPN scouting report:

Bookser is a prospect with good size and ability. With focus on just offense and the same type of fire given on that side of the ball, he can develop into a very good college offensive lineman. We don’t see an immediate contributor as he needs to develop and polish technique, but he has the tools to grow into a fine starter.

Pass protection, especially, is where he needs to improve.

Given the way the regular season ended. The recent misses on recruiting and other questions that percolate when a fanbase is frustrated, this was a very big verbal for Coach Paul Chryst and the rest of the staff.

And now the focus turns to a couple other players.

Four-stars Montae Nicholson of Gateway and Shai McKenzie of Washington list Pitt among their final choices and will announce their plans Thursday and Friday.

It’s reportedly down to Michigan State and Pitt for Nicholson. As for McKenzie, he’s doing a hat tease. Tweeting three hats: Pitt, VT and GT.





BTW- lets not forget Steve’s role in Montae’s decision. Kid also wanted to run track at next level. Anybody on here ever run on Pitts track?

Comment by cas myzlinski 12.19.13 @ 2:44 pm

It appears CJ Leggett (RB out of Georgia) is announcing tomorrow, as well. Sounds like the Yellow Jackets are the favorite.

Would sting (no pun intended) if Leggett went to GT, while McKenzie (who is also being recruited by GT) heads to Blacksburg.

Comment by Mailman 12.19.13 @ 2:44 pm

@ Pitt Section 23

Yep like sitting Todd Thomas on the bench for all 3rd down plays. Or the entire game cause he wasn’t included in the genius scheme that allowed Old Dominion to score 24 points.

Cause you know TT is only your 2nd best player on your defense and best LB by a wide margin.

This is what the kid’s mother from Aliquippa was talking about.

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 2:46 pm

@Dr. Tom: Really?? Move Connor to defense? The kid just proved as a true freshman that he had what it takes to be a solid running back for our program. What about that warrants moving him to D?

Comment by MikePITT 12.19.13 @ 2:48 pm

All these good WPIAL players talk, tweet to each other.

We can’t even get the top Defensive players to come to PITT …..wait……wait

AFTER we have a Defensive player who has just won,
EVERY FRICKIN NATIONAL AWARD A DEFENSIVE PLAYER CAN WIN !!!

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 2:49 pm

@ Emel

Yeah, “the kids mother from Aliquippa” good point of reference for judging

Comment by Pitt Stadium Section 23 for life 12.19.13 @ 2:50 pm

Incredulous !

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 2:51 pm

Pitt’s track is in poor condition, yes, but the program – especially the sprints – are in good hands right now. That would have helped in Montae’s decision. We have very strong 200 and 400 runners right now and have had a good recent track record of getting those events to the NCAA’s. He did not choose MSU over Pitt because of track.

Comment by NickW 12.19.13 @ 2:51 pm

Oh no we suck again! Not surprised with missing on Nicholson. Glad we got Bookser but our D is going to suck big time! Also, dont expect Kamara.

Comment by Shawn 12.19.13 @ 2:51 pm

Emel, there were some tweets on Dokish the other night about WPIAL’s negative perception of House / Pitt’s defense. Warranted or not … as we see, perception is reality

Comment by wbb 12.19.13 @ 2:51 pm

I would move Connor to defense in a second he is not a fast breakaway speed running back is a bruiser can get you 3 yards when you need it

Comment by Upittbaseball 12.19.13 @ 2:52 pm

This stinks but there’s still a chance at the 2 WRs. I like the fact that Bobby Engram and Joe Rudolph (per Panther247) are recruiting Kamara.

H2P!

Comment by VAYinzer 12.19.13 @ 2:52 pm

That kid’s mother is probably more ‘in the loop’ than anyone on here. lol

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 2:52 pm

Yep wbb

This is exactly is what’s happening. Word out, on the street, in the hood, whatever is:

You don’t want to play for that putz House, who puts his 2nd best defensive player on the bench in most 3rd downs and benched him an ENTIRE game against a FCS bad team who then made it a game with Pitt for all 4 quarters.

So the reality is there as well. And the Perception is a lot worse.

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 2:56 pm

Remain positive troops. Of the big five that we were all hoping for, we are 1 for 2. Getting either Jennings or Kamara is now our new must gets. If we strike out on the remaining RBs out there, in the grand scheme of things no worries. We were set in the running back department for this year once we scooped up Chris James. However, we still need another homerun hitter at wide receiver besides Boyd. either Jennings or Kamara will nicely fit that bill.

Realistically, getting one more commit out of McKenzie, Kamara or Jennings would still be considered a success.

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.19.13 @ 2:56 pm

Anybody remember Dustin Piccotti? HUGE 245 lb 4.5 second forty time, four or five star RB recruit back in 1997-1998 ish time frame. Walt Harris Era.

I remember going into CJ Barney’s once (not sure if it’s still there on Forbes ave or not, right next to Hemmingways). It was like a Tuesday night. It was me, the bartender, Piccotti (who was a freshman or maybe a Sophmore at the time) and Rob Pettiti – who I think turned out to be a pretty good Tackle for us and may have even played a little in the NFL.

So I struck up a conversation.

All I can remember is Piccotti saying how Walt Harris was the worst head coach he’s ever experienced. “A great teacher,” he said, “but a terrible head coach.”

He didn’t go into details, but you know there is always something brewing.

I guess what I’m getting at is that if recruits families are publicly saying that they aren’t comfortable with the defensive staff, then I have to wonder what the players are saying.

I know what the fans are saying.

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 2:59 pm

For the record Piccotti never saw the field – for us or anybody else as far as I know. Concussion issues supposedly.

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 2:59 pm

How low we have fallen. Can it get any lower?

Comment by TX Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:00 pm

Mikepitt, yes, James Conner on defense could be a force at DE or even LB. With a full stable of running backs, including the likes of James and McKenzie why waste Conner on offense?

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.19.13 @ 3:03 pm

All the gloom and doom aside, I do agree with the Good Doctor. I think we all knew that we’d land 2 or three of the big-timers. We landed two. One more and I think this class will be in solid shape. I also think the staff has a couple of backup options, three-star guys who maybe can’t step in immediately but could develop into sold safties over time.

We’ll be okay next year. We have Vinopal back (experience and he has improved) and there is a transfer from Wisc whose name I can’t remember that will probably step into a starting role.

That being said, it is kinda fun to bitch…

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:04 pm

Michigan State is going to the Rose Bowl.

Can’t blame the kid. Strike two for House.

Doesn’t surprise, Justin King, PSU, Dorian Bell OSU, Montae Nicholson, MSU, they like the Big 10.

Comment by gc 12.19.13 @ 3:04 pm

Good point GC. They also have the #1 defense in country I think. Who wouldn’t want to play for that?

I’ll be honest you can sort of tell the kinds of kids that gravitate towards Pitt and I don’t know too much about Nicholson’s demeanour but I just don’t get the same vibe from him. IDK maybe I’m the crazy one here…

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:09 pm

When Dennard won the DB award our fate was sealed. Thank goodness for the Clairton kids.

Comment by Frank MD 12.19.13 @ 3:10 pm

Look we all know House is the very weak link on this coaching staff and we have been saying it since the second he was hired. I just dont see how HCPC can stick with him. The D stunk it up with the best college defensive player in the country and its going to be much worse next year. On top of that we cant get a single high quality defensive recruit to pick Pitt. Its only a matter of time before HCPC must can this guy or lose his job. I said there needed to be some coaching changes and I am sticking by it. H2P!

Comment by Shawn 12.19.13 @ 3:11 pm

Get those Clairton kids into the weight room.

Who gets Hendricks job?

Comment by gc 12.19.13 @ 3:15 pm

I’m no House fan but his stats were nearly identical to Huxtable’s when you adjust for level of competition.

Granted he did have the best defensive player in the country on his squad.

He needs another year, and will probably learn a ton in the offseason. We have too much invested right now. If he stinks it up after this season, I think then it’s time to go fishing for a new DC.

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:15 pm

*if he stinks it up after this upcoming season

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:15 pm

Comment by Atlanta Panther 12.19.13 @ 3:16 pm

You can be a middling 6-6 team with a couple 4 star players in your starting 22.

Cause let’s face it, you can schedule 2-3 rent-a-wins each and every year. Which means you only have to win 3 or 4 conf games to get to 6.

However based on our past history we only had years where we won double digit wins when we had lots of 4 star recruits. See 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981. Even the 2009 team had more than a couple.

So based on our history, trying to coach up 2’s & 3’s isn’t going to get you to double digit wins.

And the jury is still out on whether this coaching staff can coach up 2’s & 3’s. And don’t say Aaron Donald, that kid is special and he was very good 2 years ago at DE on Graham’s team with 11 sacks that year.

So again, PITT history tells us, we need lots more upper end recruits.

Comment by Emel 12.19.13 @ 3:21 pm

I don’t get it. How can you suffer through a football season like Pitt just gave us and come away with the conclusion that the defense was our biggest problem? Our problem areas in order of largest to smallest: (1) Special Teams – flat out horrible with the exception of the Fla St game – bad punts, long returns by them, no returns by us, fooled by fakes, fumbles…(2) Offense – at times powerful, but too often erratic, and sometimes inept. (3) Defense – Too often put in bad positions by our horrible special teams play (bad punts, long returns) and 3 and outs from our erratic offense, and, too often playing it way too safe…just my opinion.

Comment by HbgFrank 12.19.13 @ 5:54 pm

Please stop with the Todd Thomas was our second best defensive player crap! It was obvious that he had NO idea what he was doing. He might have been the second best athlete on the defense but he was completely lost when it came to the game plan. That is why he couldn’t see the field on 3rd downs. Let him roam free and he could make plays, but if he didn’t make the play he hung the rest of the D out to dry. Many of these Mon Valley kids try to get by on athletic talent and don’t want to spend time in the film/weight rooms. Some pan out but that pipeline ship has sailed. Let them go to WVU. Mon Valley work ethic moved out shortly after the mills closed.

Comment by Bigdawg219 12.20.13 @ 1:10 am

Emel,

You really remember the star ratings for HS players from the late 70s and early 80s? I don’t even remember star ratings having existed in that era.

Dion Lewis was at best a two star who was “coached up” on that 2009 team.

I don’t understand all the hand wringing. Two years ago everybody was crying about the quality of the o-line. Since then Chryst has successfully recruited Bisnowaty, Johnson, Grimm and Bookser. Three four stars and a five star.

We’ll see whether any or all pan out. Then we can talk about the reliability of the star rankings as a predictor of success. I’d imagine the stance will be based on Pitt’s W-L record if they don’t succeed. The judgement will likely be a reflection that Chryst didn’t coach them to their potential. Since Emel doesn’t like Chryst as a coach, Aaron Donald just succeeded in spite of his poor coaching.

There are guys on here all the time writing about how much Pitt needs to recruit a player that the poster has never even seen play. Really?

For example people have bagged on Elijah Zeise on this board. Have you seen him play? He looks like a really good athlete to me. That’s what Pitt needs. Seemingly teachable kids with skill.

Comment by Barvo 12.20.13 @ 6:49 am

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