Looks like Pitt will find out soon about another potential recruit on the O-line.
“I’m very close to a final decision,” stated massive Evan Blankenship. “At this point, I’m down to Pitt and Ohio State. Both schools have a great deal to offer.”
Blankenship has been a three-year starter for Center High School. He led his team to an outstanding 10-2 record last season.
“It looks like I should have decision within the next two weeks. I want to get to Columbus and Pittsburgh within the next two weeks and spend time with both coaching staffs. I’ve already been to both schools a bunch of times but I think the final visit will help me separate the schools.”
Blankenship is capable of bench pressing 340 pounds, squatting 500 pounds and running a 5.4 forty-yard dash. He is a solid student with a 3.0 grade point average. Scout.com’s Eastern Football Analyst Bob Lichtenfels recently ranked Evan the 32nd best player in the state of Pennsylvania.
“I have been to Pitt many times and I’m very familiar with their facilities and coaches. The coaching staff there is great. It’s close to home and they need offensive linemen,” he said. “Pitt has a big campus and you have to take shuttles to get to parts of it. It’s a little more in the city compared to Ohio State’s campus but that’s not a big deal.”
Rivals.com lists Blankenship as the 25th best prospect in the state. Chris Dokish and PSR puts him at 18.
Meanwhile, someone Pitt will definitely have and need in 2007 is Dave Brytus, a top-flight punter who is sitting out this season after transferring from Purdue.
He would appear the frontrunner to win the punter and kickoff specialist positions. After all, as a sophomore last season he was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football.
But, Brytus has found something to fill the void for someone hungry for competition as he sits out — he has undertaken a career in Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Cage Fighting. Yes, the kind of ultimate fighting seen on television.
…
No, he isn’t. Typical kickers don’t have fights scheduled in an event called Caged Inferno on July 29 in Lawrenceburg, Ky. That is when Brytus, a heavyweight, will square off against Jeremy Wurm.
Brytus is coming off a June 17 loss in Kentucky against Ron Francisco. It was the only fight of 18 on the card that went to a decision after the three, 5-minute rounds. All others ended in submissions or knockout. That said, Brytus isn’t exactly sure he lost.
Before he shifted to this, he was an amateur heavyweight boxer. Maybe an exhibition bout could be set up between Brytus and ND’s Tom Zbikowski.
