So, who else is planning ahead for the spring scrimmage on April 16?
I have to admit. I’m a little fried after the day. Between the kids being home for two straight snow days and being glued to the computer all day. Well, the Scotch feels real nice right now.
Still a couple things to pass along.
All told, I was pleasantly surprised at the end result of the recruiting class. After all the insanity, I was ready to concede this class as being mostly lost. Instead, it was reasonably respectable. Heck, given the circumstances, I think it’s rather impressive. Yeah, Pitt lost some good recruits, but there is more optimism and hope around the program.
Bleed Black and Gold Blog has a solid little capsule review of all the Pitt commits. Good read.
I know many — including me — were disappointed that Branden Jackson didn’t commit to Pitt. He did offer an explanation.
“Pitt made a big run at the end, but it came down to me not wanting to be close to home,” Jackson said. “When I went on a visit to Pitt, I saw a lot of people down there that I knew and I was down there partying with those people. If I would’ve went to Pitt, I don’t think I would’ve let go of my childish ways. I wouldn’t become a man.”
I completely respect and understand that sentiment. That’s part of going to college. As someone who went to Pitt in no small part to put some distance from where I grew up, I never begrudge anyone who wants to get away. No, Lubbock isn’t where I would go, but it will be a (very) different place. Good luck to Mr. Jackson.
If you watched the Signing Day press conference with Coach Graham (still trying to get used to typing that), he spoke of getting started on recruiting for 2012. They apparently have a guard in the pocket from the Akron-Canton area.
Ryan Anderson, guard, Kent Roosevelt: Anderson has to be a patient kind of guy. It would take that and the wisdom of Solomon to endure what this offensive lineman has with the University of Pittsburgh. He committed to former coach Dave Wannstedt, who resigned, and watched as Wannstedt’s first replacement was fired for alleged domestic abuse. Through it all, Anderson stayed the course. He still seems set to head to Pitt and play for coach Todd Graham.
Lots of interest in the kid. Scout.com has him at 3-stars already. Rivals.com doesn’t have him ranked yet.
And with that, I hope that is the end of my talk about 2012 recruits for at least a few weeks.
Well, they do put Scotch into old bourbon barrels so that sort of counts.
Enjoy your drink and thanks for all the info.
HTP
But truly, given the unique circumstances Graham had to deal with just getting those five kids we missed out on to visit and have us in their final two choices was quite an accomplishment and, I think, a real cause for optimism.
It’s been said many times since Jan 11th – but I’m looking forward to seeing what this staff can do with a full year and some gameday success under their belt.
I also look at who we picked up – and reading all of Graham’s quotes – can’t help but think the current staff had a specific prototype in mind when scrambling around for the last three weeks… granted they sure must be disappointed that they missed some real talented kids – but if you design systems predicated on speed you damn well better have some on the roster.
All in all, like Chas, I am impressed with what Graham and staff accomplished under very unique and trying circumstances.
Lemming had this to say yesterday after ranking the three “laggards” (1.Michigan, 2. Miami, 3. Pitt)
3. Pittsburgh had its own coaching woes: the firing of Dave Wannstedt and the hiring and firing of Mike Haywood before settling on Todd Graham.
To make matters worse, the Panthers had to cope with a down year in a traditionally strong state for prospects. Indeed, Pittsburgh’s top-rated players are from Ohio and New York.
“It was a horrible year in Pennsylvania for talent,” Lemming said. “Then Haywood comes in and gets people on his side. Then when Graham came in it was too late.”
Most impressive was the geography of the recruits. Graham and his staff pulled kids from all of the talent hotbed states. It would be interesting to see how many of the kids on the 2012 Watch List are from the same schools or nearby schools to those attended by this year’s recruits. It may end up that Graham used this year to set up a big haul for next year. Time will tell.
Looking forward to the Spring, because in the end what happens on the field is the only thing that really matters.
TCU’s average star number is 2.85 [#28]. Pitt’s is 2.65 [#55]. Illinois is 2.69 [#34]. Illinois, however, had 29 commits compared to Pitt’s 20. Therefore, they are TWENTY ONE spots higher with the same exact players (measured by star rating system).
Unless you are getting all 4 and 5 star players holding offers from all the big boys, you just have to hope your guys are good football players. Not good athletes that can be placed in some system, but actual good FOOTBALL players.
Notre Dame, goes to several points about recruiting ratings, they always have, and did again this year, get 5 and 4 star players, quite a few, and look at them the last 10 years.
If you had your pick, you’d certainly want 4’s and 5’s, but, there is room in college ball to actually “coach” the kids, and watch them grow.
Should be an interesting year, and an interesting recruiting year next year as well.
You are absolutely right, Dan. There is a reason that players must be out of HS three years before they can play in the NFL. Besides strength and maturity, there is a huge difference between the fundamentals taught in HS and the fundaments taught by a competent college coaching staff.
Published on Friday, Feb 04, 2011 In a story about the recruiting class of 2012 in Thursday’s edition, Ryan Anderson of Kent Roosevelt has a scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh. He has not yet committed to any school. A reporter erred.
