One of the kids who came for a visit last week has apparently chosen Pitt. At least according to one of the two sites. Scout.com is listing Roderick Ryles out of Orlando Florida as giving a verbal to Pitt. Rivals.com, at this time, does not have him checked for Pitt.
He and LaQuentin Smith took the visit last week.
“It was way better than I expected it to be,” Smith said. “It was my first time up north for a recruiting visit. You can literally walk across the street two steps and you are in the Steelers’ practice facility.
“To think that Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett came out of there. I didn’t really know a lot of the history of Pitt football … nine national championships. It’s kinda like DP history. They’re used to winning, same as at DP. The motto is ‘Restore the Beast in the East.’ ”
It was cold during the visit, but Smith said you just have to get used to it.
“It was snowing. First time I’d seen that, so that was pretty cool,” Smith said. “When we got there it was like 12 degrees, but you get used to it by the second day. On the second night we were outside in long-sleeved shirts having a snowball fight against some of the other players.”
Smith said he and Ryles were both impressed with the Pit visit and said the Panthers are definitely in consideration by both players. Ryles, a man of few words, has been unavailable, but Smith, somewhat the opposite, had no problem filling in.
“We talked about and we definitely had a great time,” Smith said. “We’re going to wait on our last visit and then sit down and talk to our families. We never imagined we might end up playing at the same place, but I gotta do what I gotta do, and he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.”
Smith and Ryles had a visit to WVU for this weekend. Assuming the info is true, Ryles made his call.
Ryles is a 3-star safety in both sites.
UPDATE: LaQuentin Smith also has verballed to Pitt. Smith is a linebacker. Another need spot. Also 3-star on both sites. Guess that WVU trip worked out well for Pitt.
Both Scout.com and Rivals.com have them in the verbal department.
Here are the videos:
Smith: link to youtube.com
Ryles: link to youtube.com
The true test will TG and his staff figure out a way to incorpate the holdovers into his system.
I like that he is planting a flag in Florida (like walt!) and Texas… back to national recruiting instead of just WPIAL and Jersey.
big ones still left:
Pitts – not sure if the cousin coming/being offered to Pitt will help him come back from Rutgers commit… but should be interesting
Michael Eubank – 6’5″ 220lb qb from California with a soft verbal to ASU… had a great visit and is between Pitt, ASU, and Utah. Could start next year… great talent and physical prowess. Will have those 3 hats out when he does press conference signing day… fingers crossed
link to recruiting.scout.com
Delvon Simmons – the big fish… Pitt, USC, Oregon, Rutgers, and Texas Tech… will announce signing day, anybody’s guess at this point
link to recruiting.scout.com
Branden Jackson – had a great visit with Pitt… and with so many commits coming from this weekend Im liking Pitt’s chances. These commits tend to come in waves and hopefully the momentum from this weekend carries on…between Pitt, Oregon, and Texas Tech… shares those 3 with Simmons.. both announcing on signing day at press conference
link to recruiting.scout.com
Cortez Johnson – cb out of New Orleans… had a good visit… same high school as Keenan Lewis and Mike Wallace… announcing Wednesday between Pitt and Arizona
link to pittsburgh.scout.com
Desimon Green – back from visit from Texas Tech, gave it high marks… especially living arrangements. Will decide between Texas Tech and Pitt wednesday at 10am
link to pittsburgh.scout.com
Since recruiting is the hot topic this week, did anyone else read the article about football recruiting in the 1970’s? (appeared in the PG Friday)
Its a good read if you get a few minutes:
Here are the first two paragraphs just to give you a sense of the article:
When Dan Marino was a senior at Central Catholic High School, colleges wanted him so badly they used help from outside the school to recruit the standout quarterback. UCLA even used The Fonz.
When Marino made an official visit to UCLA in 1979, he was picked up at the airport by a couple of female representatives of UCLA and taken to the set of Happy Days, a popular television comedy that featured the character Fonzie played by Henry Winkler.
Tino would be walking over to the Admin building to file transfer papers to Delaware immediately.
BnG, for me, I like WPIAL players. I find nothing to support your suggestion that somehow a 2 or 3 star from the WPIAL is inferior to a 2 or 3 star from FL or TX.
