Hey, maybe Pitt should lose an OC more often.
/remembers that this will be OC #4 in 4 years
Oh, yeah. Pitt already has that down pat.
Despite the departure of the offensive coordinator, Pitt picked up two recruits on the offensive side of the ball. It’s been a while since there has been a Pat Signal.
The first came in the morning in offensive lineman Jerry Drake from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. While “only” a 3-star recruit (ESPN, though has him as a 4-star), his offer sheet included Alabama, Auburn, UCLA, Tennessee and LSU. He plans on being an early enrollee. Not necessarily because of football, though.
“After seeing the academics and being around the players, I knew I couldn’t pass it up,” Drake told Panther-Lair.com. “It took a few days to be sure but I had a good idea of where I was going to go after the visit. It was really the academics and the football program, because they had a need for me.”
Pitt’s need for offensive linemen was important to Drake and a selling point from the coaching staff, but the University’s engineering program had just as much of an impact on his decision.
“Being an academic kid, I looked for the engineering program and after getting a tour of the academics, I could tell it was something I couldn’t pass up,” he said. “That was a big part of the visit for me. We toured the whole engineering building and saw every level.
“They have a lot of stuff and a lot of different groups. Like, one group is working on robots, one group is building cars. Some of the students built a robot that folds clothes. That was pretty cool. I like building stuff and I like fixing stuff, and I really liked what they have to offer.”
At 6’7″ and 300 pounds, he should stand out in the Engineering Department.
The other may not show up in the recruiting rankings, but is a big get.
Max Browne is headed to the ACC.
Browne, who began the season as USC’s starting quarterback, announced Thursday he will transfer to Pittsburgh in January. Browne already earned his degree from USC, so he will be eligible to suit up immediately for the Panthers in 2017.
Browne made the decision to commit to Pitt after visiting campus over the weekend.
Browne started the first three games of the season for USC, but was benched after a 1-2 start in favor of redshirt freshman Sam Darnold. USC lost in Darnold’s first career start, but have since reeled off eight straight wins and will face Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
In his three starts, Browne threw for 474 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 63.2 percent of his passes. Browne spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as USC’s No. 2 QB behind Cody Kessler, a 2016 third round NFL Draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.
Browne is by no means a lock to win the job. He will once more have to battle a redshirt freshman. This time in Thomas MacVittie. But Pitt definitely needed a little more depth at the spot.
Both visited Pitt this past weekend and have made the commitment.
The PAT signal comes through!
Congrats to both players – if Browne has NFL aspirations he has to have seen what Pitt did for Ton Savage and probalby Nate Peterman.
And a degree from Pitt’s prestigious Engineering school will allow Mr. Drake to write his own ticket in life regardless of whether the NFL is in his future – I love to get brainy recruits with their priorities in order.
But hey, let the best man win
Nice to see some positive news out of the pitt camp this week!!
Except for the weather Pittsburgh is an attractive town. Seattle has a lot to offer as does the whole West coast. But our part of the Country is not chopped liver either
The middle game was at home against Utah State (where Herman came from) and USC won 45-7
Browne was 23 of 30 (77%) for a buck 87, 2 TD’s and a pick. 143 QB rating for the game.
So Browne’s 3 starts included 2 of the toughest opponents on USC’s schedule, Bama and Stanford.
I expect a kid who was #1 at USC to win the starting gig at Pitt. And if he doesn’t that would mean McVittie is very good. A win win. 🙂
So maybe we get a repeat of Savage, Peterman and now Browne.
With what we’ve seen from Narduzzi, I don’t think there’s much doubt that Browne is going to be the starter. Not saying he’ll remain the starter, but a former 5* guy does’t visit one school only without a guarantee of sorts that it is his job to lose. Just hope MacVittie stays the course.
Any solid, experienced senior DB’s taller than 5’10” out there looking to continue playing? HAS to be, no?
I wish I was this excited about basketball.
Played Mt Lebo in ( both 9-1) 67 for all the marbles in front of 10,000 + at Lebo. Got blown out. Largest amount of $$ gambled on a HS game in history according to police.
4 players out of that game became pros!
By the way…..wasn’t Mooseface’s post Big Ten championship interview priceless. Deer, meet headlights.
Pitt moving up:
First Savage……… not with Peterman probably getting an NFL checkup…….