Pop open a Saranac.

Kevin Collier, the running back recruit from upstate NY, has apparently committed to Pitt. This recruit gets credited to RB Coach David Walker. Scouts, Inc./ESPN has Collier ranked as the 26th best RB in the country (Insider Subs.).

Evaluation: Collier has the potential to become a special player and is a very natural, explosive runner with excellent vision and instincts. He is what you would call a darter type back, with superb quickness and explosiveness. He shows great burst to the hole, can pick and slide to avoid contact and can really make people miss. Has smooth hips, can swerve and slash and is very difficult to get a beat on. Is certainly fast enough, but not a burner. Question level of competition as he is a man amongst boys in his conference. He is surprisingly effective as an inside runner, has some power, runs low and can avoid taking on big hits. Will bounce plays outside and this is where he is at his best. He does not have great size, but he is well built, and he has excellent change of direction skills and the ability to create in space. He shows some suddenness, he can bounce it to the outside, and he has the ability to get to put it into a second gear. He catches the ball naturally out of the backfield and he is a threat in space when you get him on the perimeter or if you can line him up in man-to-man coverage on a linebacker. He is very effective on dump offs and screens, and he can give you a lot of big plays.

The optimism for the future is on the verge of unbridled at this point.