WPIAL football has always been a place where big colleges recruit and where many great players are born. Two of the five most popular in the area could be headed to Pitt.

The most talked about players are Terrelle Pryor, Lucas Nix, Andrew Sweat, Shayne Hall and Baldwin. The good news for Pitt fans is that PSI believes the Panthers have a very good chance to land 2 of the 5 players.

There has been a little bit of uneasiness about Nix not making any type of commitment, even a soft verbal. I’m not worried yet because no matter what we’ve seen on the field the last two years, we know Wannstedt is a master recruiter and won’t let any player slip through easily. It’s also not uncommon for a young player to want to go through the entire experience (in stead of committing too quickly then dropping out).

Baldwin, the WR with a 4.4 40, also might elect to stay close to home.

Recently, the 6-6, 215 wide receiver spoke to Allen Wallace from Scout.com and said, “I’m just giving everyone an opportunity to recruit me. I want a good education and that’s a main priority for me. I also don’t want to redshirt. I would like to jump right into it.”

Heh, a high school athlete who cares about his education. Mr. Baldwin, may I show you the good things about our school? Get a good education and plenty of playing time if you stay close to home.

Somewhere along the line someone really missed this, and now it’s a bit embarrassing.
The Cincinnati Enquirer has a list of top donors to college athletics in the area and why. This one jumped out like a big frickin’ neon sign.

MAX AND JUDI REDLICH

Occupation: Founders of PENCO Inc. Max is retired, but plays professional poker.

Booster activity: The Redlichs, who are University of Pittsburgh graduates, have been UCATS members since 1995 and longtime Cincinnati residents. They are part of the George Smith Society and give about $20,000 per year. They have decided to leave their seven-figure estate to UC with 75 percent going to athletics and 25 percent going to the College-Conservatory of Music. Currently the value is about $4 million.

Why they do it: “Pitt never asked us,” Max said.

The Redlichs’ children took over the family business and are financially well off.

“So you sit down and you say, what are you going to do with your money when you die?” Max said. “We just evolved into this idea of planned giving. We are both big advocates of a college education.”

They’re also big basketball fans. They have second-row seats at Fifth Third Arena and have traveled to some of UC’s big games. Max even recalled playing blackjack with former UC player Ruben Patterson in Puerto Rico. They’ve also gotten to know UC President Nancy Zimpher through dinner parties and UC basketball coach Mick Cronin.

“The whole athletic department is getting to know the UCATS members better,” Max said.

“A big part of it is the people,” Judi said. “We know Mike Thomas, and these people have been so nice to meet. That’s been a big part of us doing this as far as I’m concerned.”

[Emphasis added.]

Next time. Ask. AD Jeff Long might want to consider reaching out personally on this one.

In the USA Today final rankings of the top-100 high school seniors, two are Pitt commits. DeJuan Blair was ranked 18th and Darnell Dodson pushed into the rankings at #71, after not being ranked until this point. Blair, especially, was noticed.

Elsewhere in the top 100, many of the elite players held steady throughout their season seasons. Perhaps the most notable exception was DeJuan Blair, a powerful big man who had ranked in the top 75 range prior to the season, only to blow up at several national events and arguably deserve All-American recognition by the end of the season.

Players who broke into the top 100 were No. 65 Mike Holmes, No. 67 Jeremy Hazell, No. 71 Darnell Dodson, No. 75 Justin Burrell, No. 76 Malcolm Grant, No. 83 Jason Henry, No. 88 Malcolm Delaney, No. 89 Sam Muldrow, No. 95 Mike Scott, No. 96 Julian Gamble, No. 99 Alvin Mitchell and No. 100 Cameron Tatum.

The most difficult player to place was No. 30 Herb Pope. A potential star out of Pennsylvania, Pope was shot four times earlier this spring, suffering severe damage to his left (non-shooting) wrist. He’s expected to make a full recovery, but obviously any wrist injury is a concern.

Assuming no injuries to the freshmen and redshirt freshmen (always a tough assumption), Tyrell Biggs, Keith Benjamin and Sam Young are going to find their minutes squeezed. I only feel certain about Levance Fields, Ronald Ramon and Mike Cook for next year. Gilbert Brown (RS Fr, g/sf), Austin Wallace (RS Fr, c), Cassin Diggs (Jr. Transfer, c/pf), Gary McGhee (Fr, c), Darnell Dodson (Fr, sf), DeJuan Blair (Fr, pf) and Bradley Wanamaker (Fr, sg) are going to push to start or be coming off the bench first.

Wanamaker and McGhee will be likely candidates to redshirt, even if McGhee was one of the top players out of Indiana. McGhee’s position is just too deep, and he could stand to put on more muscle for the Big East. Wanamaker, unless he shows ability to create his own shot at guard, is also likely to take a redshirt simply because of keeping the rotation just a little closer to manageable. Even so, that’s likely 5 players pushing for playing time.

Young, especially, will be feeling some pressure. He was unable to handle playing small forward — limiting where he can play on the court — and was battling the tendinitis in his knees all year. While he came on late in the season, it’s hard to shake the feeling that his game actually took a step backwards as consistency was also an issue. His progress will be watched closely.

Benjamin is an energy guy that comes in for around 10 minutes a game. I don’t see that changing. His shooting is too inconsistent, he’s not a great defender and he doesn’t shoot free throws well. Other than that, he’s fine.

Biggs, and this may surprise some, I think he still has a good chance for real minutes in the rotation. He’s still improving his physical conditioning and has something of a scoring touch. He needs to go at the rim, though, and not act like he’s a guard taking jumpers and shots falling away from the basket. It nearly goes without saying that his defense, however, really needs to improve. He has the advantage of knowing the system better than the newcomers.

Well, he thought about it. He came to Pittsburgh. He took a few days. In the end, though, it seems Danny Hurley is going to continue following in his dad’s footsteps in becoming a high school coaching legend in New Jersey.

Hurley, who served as an assistant at Rutgers for four years, acknowledged that he has received other offers in the past, although this was the closest he has come to returning to coaching at the college level.

“I went out there and really thought long and hard about it because it’s a great program and Jamie Dixon is not your usual used-car salesman-type college guy,” Hurley said. “He’s a good family man and an excellent coach.”

I admit to hoping he would take the job. He is happy, though, coaching elite high school. The upside is that Coach Dixon — after trying to hire him for two years — probably has a good relationship and good will with the coach of one of the top prep high schools in the country. That can only help more in the future, even if Hurley chose not to become an assistant at Pitt.

You can always bet that after the draft teams will always say they got guys they were “secretly hoping” would fall to them. The Washington Redskins were no exception, but the numbers on their roster does suggest that H.B. Blades has a better chance than most 6th round picks of staying with the team.

They only had five NFL-level linebackers entering the draft, and there are concerns about the status of two key linebackers, Marcus Washington (hip) and 2006 second-round pick Rocky McIntosh (knee), both of whom will be monitored closely. Linebackers are also usually the lifeblood of special teams, and with veterans Warrick Holdman and Jeff Posey departed, Sartz and Blades could make their first impact on those units.

“We were short on numbers at linebacker, and that’s one of the things we had highlighted,” Coach Joe Gibbs said. “We were kind of holding our breath there [in the sixth round], because there were a couple of linebackers we thought could make the team.”

Blades is excited to get to minicamp to show the Redskins that “they made a great pick.”

Blades will get a chance to learn how to stick in the NFL from another undersized LB, with London Fletcher.

Blades’ lack of height obviously doesn’t bother the Redskins, who signed 5-10 middle linebacker London Fletcher in free agency. Fletcher is 32, which should give Blades a couple of years to learn the position before he’d be called on to step in. Watching Fletcher on film, Gibbs said, helped convince the Redskins that Blades was worth grabbing.

“I might be a sixth-round pick, but you put me out there with anyone and I’m going to make plays,” Blades said.

As an Eagles fan, I really don’t want to see the Redskins win. I am rooting for Blades to succeed.

(This one’s for you, Marco.)

Coach Wannstedt and Assistant Coach Greg Gattuso were in Altoona yesterday. It’s part of Dave Wannstedt’s regular May barnstorming the state.

Pitt reportedly is among the colleges that have offered Mountain Lion standout A.J. Alexander a scholarship, although NCAA rules forbid Wannstedt to confirm or discuss the recruitment of specific players.

“I’m out on the road most of the month of May,’’ Wannstedt said. “Nobody knows more about the football team than me as the head coach. It’s important for me to get out and meet people. I want to let them know that Pitt’s alive. We’re still here.’’

…

“I didn’t realize how improved Louisville, West Virginia and Rutgers are,’’ Wannstedt said. “Everybody can talk about the Big 10, the Southeastern Conference, but look at our wins out of the conference. The Big East will have three of the top Heisman Trophy condidates next year in Brian Brohm, Patrick White and Ray Rice. The biggest challenge is just the competition in the Big East.’’

Arguably, it’s four if you also include WVU’s Steve Slaton as well.

Now here’s the bad news for the Big East. You know how the SEC regularly gets ripped for playing nothing but patsies in the non-con. The top teams in the Big East looks just as bad — except for two programs with varying degrees of struggles.

While the rest of the conference opens against the likes of Buffalo, Elon, Eastern Michigan, Murray State and Southeast Missouri State, Syracuse opens against a Pac-10 school (Washington) and follows with two Big Ten teams (at Iowa, vs. Illinois). The Orange then begin conference play at Louisville, and, after a visit to Miami (Ohio), play host to West Virginia and Rutgers. That’s no way to revive a program. Pitt is the only team in the conference to play road games against the big three — West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers — and also must visit Michigan State and Virginia.

Sigh.

It’s now confirmed that South Carolina assistant coach, Ken Potosnak, has interviewed for the assistant coaching job with Pitt.

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon received permission last weekend from USC coach Dave Odom to interview Potosnak, who expects Dixon to make a decision in about a week.

Potosnak said he is interested in the job because Pennsylvania is his home state.

And if Greg Dave Odom doesn’t win this year, Odom is likely out of a job and so will Potosnak.

Coach Dixon didn’t have to rush the decision since the late signing period is meaningless with all of Pitt’s 2007 scholarships filled.

Good news for Pitt, the NCAA’s Academic Progress Reports have been released, and Pitt (PDF) is still in good shape.

For several years, we have been hearing and reading about how the APR would really start to improve for Pitt football once they started taking into account the post-Johnny Majors (the Walt Harris) years, and sure enough the multiyear APR for the football team it hit 948 this year. That’s well above the 925 minimum and apparently in the 70th-80th percentile among football programs.

In basketball, it was only 907, but because the sample size was too small (not enough players who were eligible to graduate) there are no penalties. Next year will be the big year as the 4th year will be included. Pitt does appear to be in good shape to meet the standards by that point.

UPDATE: I also did a general post for AOL. Not many BCS schools had scholarship losses in basketball and football. Arizona football lost 4 scholarships, Iowa State basketball 2 scholarships and Cincinnati basketball 1 scholarship.

As previously documented, Danny Hurley declined to interview for the vacant Pitt assistant gig last year. He cited family/lifestyle issues. Looks like, with a second chance at the gig he is reconsidering Hurley has actually interviewed with Coach Dixon for the job (via Big East Basketball Blog).

Hurley, the son of future Hall of Famer Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s HS in Jersey City, has transformed the Newark, N.J. prep school into a national power and has a blue chip junior in 6-8 center Samardo Samuels, who is a Top 25 prospect nationally.

Samardo Samuels caught a lot of coaches attention, and is a 5-star blue-chipper. Rivals.com lists him as #7 overall and the #3 power forward prospect. Scout.com has Samuels as the #1 Center prospect and #5 overall. While he wouldn’t be a lock to bring Samuels with him, it sure would vault Pitt into the lead for his services.

Pitt has one scholarship open for the 2008 season (barring a transfer). Pitt is also waiting on 5-star guard Power Forward Eloy Vargas out of Miami. How’s that for a choice?

They keep throwing out names, and I’ll keep looking for a little more information about the possibilities. Here’s another bit of information.

Former College of Charleston coach Tommy Herrion and St. Benedict’s (N.J.) coach Danny Hurley appear to be the front-runners for Jamie Dixon’s most recent opening at Pittsburgh.

Dixon lost two assistants a year ago and one this year. Two other coaches who are under consideration are Providence assistant Steve Demeo and South Carolina assistant Ken Potosnak, who hails from Pennsylvania.

Steve DeMeo is considered a very good recruiter for Tim Welsh in the NY area. He’s credited with getting Ryan Gomes, Geoff McDermott and Sharaud Curry. He’s been an assistant for Welsh for 9 years, going back to the Iona days. DeMeo was also in the running for the Iona job this past spring that went to Kevin Willard. I’m really not sure what he would be bringing to Pitt from the recruiting standpoint since Orlando Antigua is supposed to be working the NYC area. Seems like it would be a lot of overlap.

As for Ken Potosnak, yes he is from New Kensington, but his recruiting connections are all elsewhere. He went to school in Virginia and helps run a basketball camp in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Georgia and more Southern recruiting connections, he has developed a reputation as something of an international recruiter. He has gone on international coaching clinics to Spain, Greece, Turkey and China. It may be a coincidence, but South Carolina’s recruiting has improved since Potosnak joined the Gamecocks in 2005. Before that, he had been an assistant at Furman.

Obviously at this point, there is a real issue of separating rumor and speculation from what is actually happening. What’s worth noting is that Potosnak and previously mentioned Scott Rigot are both assistants with reputations for being able to recruit internationally.

I would have to think Herrion or Hurley still make the most sense among the 6 rumored candidates at this point.

We know Campbell’s work ethic has been questioned. We know he has been suspended from the team and no one expected him back. Campbell has now made it known that he is transferring.

The former Aliquippa High School star, who was a PIAA Class AA champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, hasn’t decided on a new destination but is considering Eastern Michigan.

After converting to weak-side linebacker as a sophomore last fall, Campbell finished fifth in tackles with 49, with one interception and a fumble recovery in 11 games.

Campbell is determined to return to the secondary.

“I want to play safety at a Division I school,” Campbell said. “I wasn’t a linebacker. It was something I got tired of playing. I’m a defensive back, not a linebacker.”

Campbell has asked for, and received a release from his scholarship. Eastern Michigan had offered him a scholarship before, so it makes sense. He, of course, won’t be eligible to play until 2008 if he transfers there or any other 1-A school.

Better for him to transfer rather than give questionable effort because he didn’t like the change of position.  Campbell was part of that ‘tweener class that was mostly recruited by Harris but finished by Wannstedt, and it just didn’t work out for him.

Saw some great news on Steelers.com the other day. Forget that the Steelers will be wearing some throwback unis this year or got a creepy new mascot. No, I’m talking about a little nugget buried inside of the festivities this year.

The 75^th Season Celebration theme will also be reflected at each of the following Steelers annual events:

Men’s Fantasy Camp (Saint Vincent College) – Friday, June 1 – Sunday, June 3
Women’s Training Camp (Saint Vincent College) – Late July
Hall of Fame Game – Sunday, August 5, Canton, Ohio
Kickoff Luncheon – Wednesday, August 29
The 2007 Rib Fest – Thursday, August 30 – Monday, September 3
Pittsburgh Steelers 5k Race and Fun Run – Sunday, September 2
The Pittsburgh Steelers Fashion Show – Friday, October 5

Whoa. You see that? RIB FEST!

Honestly, I look forward to eating great ribs before the season opener each year almost as much as the game itself. Anyone else with me on that one?