The last two Januaries leading up to National Letter of Intent Signing Day have been, shall we say, unusual for Pitt fans.
Two years ago there was the absolute mass migration from verbals following the Big East’s fall in stature and Pitt’s hideous on-the-field underachievement. Taking a likely top-20 recruiting class down to 50 or so. The less said about that, probably the better.
Last year was the turmoil of a lame duck coach and then Coach Wannstedt coming in and securing some nice talent in the final month, to make it a respectable class. To some degree impressive, considering the timing and speed of events.
Right now, it’s oddly relaxed. Most of the class has verballed and there is no talk of last minute switches or losses. Pitt may add a few more guys, and there is a recruiting weekend taking place. It’s a group comprised of players who have already committed (Malecki, Corson and K. Smith), along with guys who Pitt is still competing hard to get (Aaron Berry and Andy Miller) and two who don’t appear highly rated but could be considered diamonds in the rough: Geno Atkins and Lance Jeter.
Atkins is not really rated, but holds offers from Pitt, Georgia, Auburn, NC St. and Mich. St. That more than his number of stars indicates the potential of this Florida DT.
Jeter doesn’t actually hold an offer from Pitt, but he’d like one. I guess there is some question as to how strong his desire is to play football, despite some obvious talent.
Beaver Falls basketball coach Doug Biega believes Jeter will make a verbal commitment to Pitt if the Panthers offer a scholarship. But it’s questionable whether Pitt will offer one..
“I think he’s going to be a really good college receiver,” Biega said. “I believe he has basketball in his heart, but the bigger offers from colleges are going to be in the football end.”
Jeter has a few scholarship offers for basketball from Mid-American Conference schools.
“I think he’d be a great fit for Pitt because of that physical nature that Dave Wannstedt wants to play,” Biega said.
He’s 6’3″ and 215 pounds. And obviously with Lee leaving early, Pitt could probably use another WR. Not to mention reduced depth with Richardson and Allen off the team. The issue, though, is his desire. If he doesn’t really want to play football, it’s hard to believe he would be a very good player.
Then there’s the US Army All-American Bowl for top High School players. Pitt verbals Dorin Dickerson and Nate Byham are there getting ready.
The Pitt recruits are two of the nation’s top 78 high school football players who will play in the All-American Bowl Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome. The all-star game will be televised live at 1 p.m. on NBC.
“It’s pretty exciting to come down here,” Byham said. “The practices are different because everybody is an all-star, so it’s intense and faster but I’m having fun.
“I feel blessed and honored to be in this game. It’s just huge. It doesn’t seem like a big deal until you sit down and think about the game. It’s mind-blowing.”
Although as many as 17 players are expected to announce their college intentions during the game, Byham and Dickerson said they have refuted their teammates’ suggestions that they renege on becoming Panthers.
“That’s not going to happen,” Dickerson said. “Everybody wants to have a top recruiting class. I tell them, ‘I’m good.'”
Added Byham: “We all joke about trying to get everyone to go to other colleges, but it’s all in fun. I think schools have all pretty much given up because they see I’m solid on Pitt.”
The 6-foot-5, 217-pound Byham is expected to start at tight end Saturday, but he might play some at receiver. Byham said he expects to be an H-back at Pitt next season. Dickerson, meantime, will back up every receiver position and could even play some running back for the East All-Stars. Both hope to use the national stage to showcase their skills.
You hope that Coach Wannstedt and OC Cavanaugh watched some of the bowl games — especially with USC and Penn State, and started considering all the different ways they can get the ball in Dickerson’s hands.
I also hope they took note in the bowl games of how well running backs did when the offensive line actually blocked, opened holes and sealed lanes. To be honest, after a season of watching Pitt, I had kind of forgotten what a good O-line can do in the college game.
