Another recruiting tidbit.

Aaron Smith is yet another elite prospect from the state of Pennsylvania. Smith, 6-0 and 185 pounds, plays quarterback for Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway High School but projects as a likely wide receiver in college. This season he will also play wideout, safety and cornerback.

“I have 17 scholarship offers,” said Smith. “Michigan State (verbal) just offered me today and Notre Dame told me today that they will offer me this summer at their camp. It’s been a good spring. Pitt., Penn State, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida (verbal), Minnesota and all the MAC schools have offered.”

According to Smith he will have a busy summer and camp at Penn State, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

“Right now I like Pitt., Penn State, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida or Notre Dame.

“Coach (Dave) Wannstedt and the staff at Pittsburgh are great. Plus my cousin (Josh Lay) plays there.[“]…

I’d say it’s still wide open for his services.

I want to be a homer. I really do, but I’m having trouble believing or even understanding how this conclusion was reached.

The Big East has the toughest schedule strength overall largely because six of its eight teams went to bowls last season. The league got a huge boost in schedule strength by inheriting Louisville and Cincinnati, two 2004 bowl teams from Conference USA.

Seven of the top 12 teams in CBS SportsLine.com’s strength of schedule rating are from that reconfigured Big East. That will be a big surprise to SEC (No. 2 in schedule strength) and Big 12 (No. 3) loyalists who annually argue about the strongest conference.

Pitt is listed as tied for 1oth with UConn for toughest schedule in the country.