Not quite the same excitement, but some likely good news today.

I’ve been sick since Sunday. I watched the Eagles win the Superbowl in a non-alcohol induced haze. My wife thought I was just being very restrained during the game. I didn’t tell her until sometime in the 4th quarter. Anytime a member of the family starts to run a fever, my wife immediately starts acting like the black plague is about to descend on the house. Especially this time of the year, as the stories of “worse flu season, ever” hit. I’m better now, thanks for asking.

It’s telling about how low-key today is, as Head Coach Pat Narduzzi will talk to the media about this part of signing day at the relatively early time of 1pm.

There’s actually some drama, but seems to be trending towards Pitt with two undecideds making the call around 10:30 am.

[Mychale] Salahuddin is the No. 5 all-purpose back in the nation, the No. 1 prospect in Washington, D.C., and a top-150 recruit in the class of 2018. He committed to USC over the summer but always kept the door open for official visits, and Pitt was on that list.

Eventually, he backed off the USC commitment and reopened his recruitment, and when that happened, Pat Narduzzi, Andre Powell and the rest of the Pitt staff were ready for him. They had maintained a relationship throughout the recruiting process, and, as has happened in the past, that relationship paid off with an official visit.

Today, Salahuddin will announce a commitment from a final three of Pitt, Syracuse and USC. The expectation is that he will pick the Panthers and bring some more playmaking ability to Pitt’s backfield.

…

The other Signing Day decision to watch today is [Habakkuk] Baldonado. His story has been told often, but it’s worth retelling:

A native of Italy, Baldonado wanted to play American football at the Division I level, so he moved to Florida last summer and set out in pursuit of that goal. Naturally, a prospect with no film to speak of is going to have to put on a show in his one-year audition for colleges, and that’s what Baldonado did, recording 30.5 sacks in 2017 for Clearwater International Academy.

Initially, his recruitment was slow to get off the ground, but as his film circulated, more schools getting interested, and January saw him get offers from Pitt, Michigan State, UCF, Nebraska and more.

Pitt, Michigan State and UCF got his final three official visits over the last three weekends, and those schools made up his top three. Ultimately, it is shaping up as a Pitt-Michigan State battle, and he is expected to sign with the Panthers today.

Assuming Pitt adds both, there is going to be a little more attrition on the roster as Pitt will go over the 85-scholarship player limit as there are two other names on the list for today.

Erick Hallet from Cypress, Texas verbaled to Pitt over the weekend. He had been a Washington State commit, but decommitted and Pitt got him through new DC Randy Bates. Additionally there is the grad transfer from Kent State in Stefano Millin, and Kaymar Mimes from New Jersey.