I just have to keep reminding myself that getting fired-up about a 17 year-old kid announcing his intention to go to Pitt does seem just a little silly. Not to mention, a tad unfair to the kid. Still, it is nothing but positive. Next year it should be interesting to see if Pitt works in more plays with two tight ends — Strong and Byham — to really take advantage of the talent and athleticism at the position.

Byham really liked the coaching staff.

“I kind of knew in the back of my head for the past few weeks that I was going to Pitt,” Byham said. “I just wasn’t sure when I wanted to bring it out and let everybody else know.”

Byham had visited Pitt a few times and was on campus Tuesday for the opening of preseason camp. Besides talking to Pitt’s coaches, he met with Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. But he didn’t commit. After a talk with his grandfather yesterday about his future, Byham got on the phone and called Greg Gattuso, Pitt’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He informed Gattuso of his decision. Then Gattuso got Byham in touch with coach Dave Wannstedt.

Byham said probably the biggest factor in his decision was Pitt’s coaching staff.

“I really like Coach Gattuso. That’s why I called him first. He’s quite a personality,” Byham said. “They have put together a great staff. Plus, they’re going to be a strong team in the future. They’re building a strong program. And it’s close to home.”

The Gattuso hiring has been an overwhelmingly smart hire. Not just because of getting Byham, but for his experience and connections all over Western Pennsylvania. He probably has more knowledge about how the area high school coaches and how they feel about Pitt than any of the coaches on Pitt’s staff. And all from a different perspective.

Then there is another recruit, Aaron Smith, who gets a nice piece. Here’s a rarity, a QB who is ready and eager to become a receiver. Seems to be in the bloodlines and the training.

For the Smiths, it has become a family tradition.

You throw passes in high school. You catch passes in college.

Harvey Smith did it. He played quarterback at Gateway High School in the early 1980s. Then he went to West Virginia University and became a starting receiver.
…
Harvey’s younger brother, Terry, repeated the process. He led Gateway to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship as the starting quarterback in 1986. Then he became a stellar receiver at Penn State.

But even though Aaron Smith made a mark at quarterback, he never forgot about being a receiver. His father and uncle knew that would be his college position. In workouts, they trained him as a receiver.
…
Maybe Harvey’s and Terry’s pasts helped convince colleges about Aaron’s future. Whatever the reason, many big-time colleges believe he will make a good receiver. Penn State, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan State and Minnesota are among the schools that have offered Smith scholarships. But his three favorites are Pitt, Maryland and Virginia (all have offered scholarships). Maryland was his top choice for a while, but now it’s Pitt.

“He went to an adidas camp at Pitt’s practice facilities in May,” Terry Smith said. “He did the receiver work there. From that day, he became a priority for them.”

Aaron Smith got 13 hand-written letters from Pitt coaches Tuesday. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt called Terry Smith Tuesday, the first day of Pitt’s preseason practices.

“He just called again to let me know they want him bad,” Terry Smith said.

Now, Pitt just needs to have success on the field.

UPDATE: According the latest e-mail update from Pittsburgh Sport’s Report Keystone Recruiting, Aaron Smith will announce his verbal on August 27. It will likely be between Pitt and Maryland.

“The battle is really heating up between Pitt and Maryland,” says coach Smith. “Maryland has put the full court press on him, sending five and six handwritten letters per day.”

I guess I get the flattery of “handwritten letters” but it still strikes me as a bit silly.