Pitt got a new commit yesterday from Dakota Conwell, a linebacker/quarterback/athlete out of Upper St. Clair. Pitt (and most of the other schools that were recruiting him) recruited him to play linebacker. Conwell stands about 6-1, 210 pounds.
Pitt Script has the recruiting summary info — a 3 to 2 star player that works hard and has good speed. There’s also the note about the odd, vaguely interesting comment from Conwell’s coach.
“I could probably build an argument that maybe he should’ve played this season and then see what transpires with colleges. But he’s happy with Pitt, and if he’s happy with Pitt, I’m ecstatic.”
As Pitt Script notes, Pitt hasn’t had a kid on the team since at least 2001, and with a comment like that it could be suggested that the coach is the reason why.
I’m going to be charitable, since that comment appeared alone in yesterday’s initial story. In today’s story (previously linked) this preceded it:
“I think more of his quarterback abilities than a lot of colleges do, but all I know is he makes big plays on both sides of the ball every Friday night,” [Jim] Render said.
In that context, it could be that Render sees Conwell as much more of an offensive player and perhaps that is where Conwell would prefer to play — which his HS coach would know. And playing out the season might bring some offers to play QB somewhere.
And it’s not that Conwell wasn’t counseled by others to wait on his decision.
“He wanted me to be a little patient,” said Dakota of his brother, who initially went to Indiana University before transferring to California University of Pennsylvania. “He said, ‘Don’t just make an emotional decision; really think about it.’ ”
He did, but in the end, it didn’t matter.
Conwell called Pitt coaches Wednesday and became the third WPIAL player — and the first from a Class AAAA school — to verbally commit to the Panthers. Overall, Pitt has seven commitments in its Class of 2012, five from Pennsylvania.
“They make you feel like you are part of the Pitt family,” said Conwell, who also had offers from Maryland, Temple and Toledo. “They are good guys and good coaches.”
Conwell was ready to pull the trigger three weeks ago, so he did take some time. Conwell, seems to be exactly the kind of linebacker Pitt wants for its defense. A little undersized, but athletic and high motor. The kind of kid that will be all over the field.
So the spur is just subbing in a smaller faster LB instead of having your run stopper in.
He’s definitely got speed. He’s a pretty mobile QB and he’s got a decent arm. Maybe he’ll make a switch back to QB once he gets here?
with the usual disclaimer of not to get too excited with the numbers
Plus he’s destined for stardom with that name.
The only advantage I see would be that that the player may more quickly adapt to Graham’s offense, but in the long run, I would think a really good athlete/FB player with no spread experience would be prefereable than just a good prospect.
