Coach Wannstedt and the rest of the coaching staff were out on the recruiting trail this week, and a lot of them still are.

Wannstedt spent the past three days recruiting and he said he is always energized by that part of the job because of the positive feedback he gets everywhere he goes.

“It has been fantastic,” said Wannstedt yesterday after the Panthers began practices for their Thanksgiving game against West Virginia. “I was local today and I was in Florida yesterday and the day before and the reception has been outstanding. We’re going to hold on to a great class … with the verbal commitments and we’re going to add probably another four or five, which I believe, are big-time guys before it is all said and done.”

Wannstedt along with coordinators Matt Cavanaugh and Paul Rhoads were the only three coaches at practice because the rest of the staff was still on the road and won’t be back until today.

Since the coaches can’t talk about recruits, and even verbal commits until they sign, he can’t say who he was seeing, but others can.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is heading out on the road to visit several high schools of Florida prospects that the Panthers are recruiting in the coming days… The Panthers are in on several Florida prospects including Thaddeus Lewis and Darrell Davis…

Last week, it was noted that Jovani Chappel, a cornerback from Ohio who had given a soft verbal to Purdue visited Pitt during the UConn game. Apparently he liked the trip.

“Coach Wannstedt is a great guy and he told me I could join the team in January and compete for playing time,” Chappel said. “I need to sit down with my family and make a decision. I should know where I’m going by the end of the month.”

Other schools have continued their pursuit, but it appears this one will be a two-team race between the Panthers and the Boilermakers.

The emphasis on the corner to replace Josh Lay seems to be on speed over size. Chappel is 5′ 8″ and another top commit for Pitt, Ricky Gary, is also 5’8″.