Paul Chryst just convinced RB Corey Clement, a 5’11”, 205 lb power runner with great moves out of Glassboro, NJ that “PITT is It” for his college career. He carried the ball 249 times for 2,510 yards (10.1 ypc) and 34 touchdowns last season, his JR year. This is a big deal PITT fans and one that portends good things. Here, take a look for yourself. Stud RB at Work.
This is a great pick up by the Panthers in any year – a four star RB who had great offers nationally. We beat out ND, OSU, PSU, Nebraska, Wisconsin, etc…
You can just imagine the conversations Chryst had with this kid at camp this afternoon:
CC: What about Shell and Bennett, aren’t they going to be returning starters?
PC: Kid, look at what I did at Wisconsin. Hell, we had Heisman trophy hopefuls at RB and still got three kids tons of carries each year. I have one word for you; White-Clay- Ball. That may be more than one word but get this, in 2010 they each had over 160 carries and almost all had over 1000 yards.
CC: That’s pretty nice I guess – OK, I’m in.
PC: Are you sure because I want you to want to be here.
CC: Coach, I already said I would.
PC: Just checking, because you know….
CC: Damn, coach – back off a bit!
This is why we here on the Blather have been advocating patience with this staff and recruiting. There are more and better HS seniors looking at PITT now than maybe any time since the 1980s. I may exaggerate a bit but we have a real chance to land Robert Foster (4/5* WR), Tra’von Chapman (4* QB) and Dorian Johnson (4/5* OL). That ain’t chopped liver my friends and we have more than a fighting chance – each one is a heavy PITT lean. The fact that Clement chose us with a first year HC and all the turmoil of the past two years is a real indication the PITT’s reputation is on the rise.
I know from some conversations that the local HS coaches are very high on Paul Chryst now and that is a rather small fraternity – if a coach in NJ, VA, MD or any other state wants to know about Chryst that’s who they will call to find out what type of person he is. Well, we are starting to find out just what that is.
I am very happy about Clement’s choice of us to play ball for and believe this will get the other high ranked kid’s attentions and hopefully we’ll get the real ball rolling.
I also like that he is getting connected to many local HS players ans coaches as he develops important relationships. Relationships and trust help recruiting in so many ways.
The only negatives about PC have been about recruiting. You are seeing that he is starting to show results in recruiting even before he starts winning games. Just wait until we see the progress and results on the field. Eventually, we will have the QB situation figured out. Let’s get behind the coach and the program. The coach has a game plan for recruiting and on the field. He has a stable of assistant coaches that he knows and trusts and he has begun the process of shaping the program in his old school football way. Keep the recruits coming. I’m not complaining about his recruiting style. Good for him for being real and unlike all the used car salesmen in coaching who BS these HS kids. Keep it real! Hail to Pitt!!!!!
I told my friends, and I think I said here, that Chryst is it. He may not be “high octane” (who the #)$*)%_ wants that!?) but he is steady, he is good and he is Pitt.
I like his slow and steady approach to the recruiting. It shows that he’s willing to get the best for Pitt and if they don’t want Pitt then he wishes them well. It shows class and respect for the sport and the player.
I’d love to say we’d win a national championship under Chryst but I’ll settle for a Big East title just so we can give them a big middle finger.
So far PA is up 21 to 7 and the fourth is starting.
I doubt it. We wouldn’t be Pitt fans if we didn’t overreact negatively.
Hope they keep up the good work . Things sound like they are turning around.
Great get for the coaching staff and us alums.
Would love to have Chapman. Hail to Pitt…
Pitt is going to be loaded at runningback for the next 3-4 years, Chyrst is stocking up on giant O-linemen he can coach up into beasts, the defense is young and athletic, Western PA is loaded with great recruits again . . . can a Pitt fan be hopeful for the future?!
He is the #27 RB by Scout and #26 RB by Rivals. ESPN and Scout give him 4-stars. The less generous with stars, Rivals gives him 3-stars.
Given the pedigree of his offer sheet he may be better than his ratings would indicate.
Great pickup for Pitt. Hope it potentially opens the flood gates — with strong currents, of course — capably luring-reeling in the likes of Foster & Johnson.
No matter, really, one recruit does not make a program. What Paul Chryst really has to produce is some WINS to get this ball rolling downhill with some momentuem. As always, “just win baby win” and then watch how the recruiting process picks up steam, pronto.
Many are bemoaning Pitt being forced to remain in the Big East for this last year. In contrast, I’m glad Chryst has this weak BE schedule ahead of him. We have the opportunity to have a successful season and compete for the BE Championship without having to do too much heavy lifting this first year. I hope that Chryst can get his house in order early and produce an 8-9 win season this year, if so Pitt will really have the monenteum going into the ACC come 2013. HTP
Hopefully Chryst can continue to identify guys who fit his system and then go out and get them. What gets me really excited is that the high school coaches seem to like and respect Chryst. If Pitt is ever going to build that proverbial “fence” around Western PA, winning over the coaches is almost–almost I said ;)–important as winning the games.
WRs are great to have but the backbone of Paul Chryst’s offense begin and end with a strong and talented OL.
I want them both of course but if we have to land only one, which would suck, I’d take Johnson with this HC.
Guess who has the most comments on The Blather? At least as far as I can figure out.
Take a guess at who is #1 with 3401 posts and #2 with 2059 posts.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and granddads.Now let’s go get some more good kids and coach em up!!
The real test will be in the season and the 4 day stretch of YSU followed by UC on the road and then VTech is formidable.
Recruiting in year one is based on the person alone…tear 2 gives a track record.
I suspect Chryst will start slowly as a coach, but he strikes me as a quick learner.
BTW…is Ricketts in the mix at all?
Slow, slow, slow…
Clement plays in Group A in powderpuff South NJ league. He runs an 11.7 (slow, slow, slow). Overrated. Reminds me of Vernillo of Fort Cherry (#2 wpial rusher with over 7500 yards)… initially went to WVU and rode the bench for 2 years before transferring to Slippery Rock.
Harper ran a 4.98 at Nike sparq combine in March… his track times are laughable… there are 100 track girls in NJ faster than Harper.
Challingsworth knew he was slow and never ran track or attended a combine
Any thoughts to this response. First note that it is not mine so please hold back your condemnations.
I am not comparing Clements to Herschell Walker but Walker ran up his yards in high school at the lowest level of divisions in Georgia, Division A.
