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February 4, 2013

Recruiting Wind-Down

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 8:39 am

Just a couple more days until National Signing Day. Then the drama will end for a little while. No more worries about Tyler Boyd taking one more trip somewhere. Uh, what?

Although [Clairton assistant coach, Eric] Fusco said he still believes Pitt is No. 1 with Boyd, Fusco also said there is a possibility Boyd might not sign a letter of inent with any college Wednesday, the first day high school seniors can sign with a college. Oh no. What do we have here, another Terrelle Pryor situation? Pryor waited weeks after letter-of-intent day to sign with Ohio State.

“There is no definite either way,” Fusco said. “It’s all going to boil down to the next four days. If he really feels comfortable over the next four days, then he’ll sign. … But he’s not going to make a hasty decision.”

So, yeah, this is fun.

I’m not worried too much about Boyd. This Gorman piece on Boyd’s recruitment only hints at the amount of pressure and recruiting still happening.

Something told Tonya Payne not to ask questions up front. That was the first thing every college football recruiter asked Clairton star Tyler Boyd’s mother:

So, what questions do you have?

“In the beginning, I didn’t know what questions to ask,” said Payne, a single mother of two young men. “As time went on, it was like, ‘Don’t ask anything, and let them present themselves.’ That way, you can see what type of person they are and what their pitch is.”

When Payne finally was ready, she directed a two-part question to Tony Gibson, the West Virginia secondary coach attempting to convince Boyd to renege on his commitment to Pitt: Are you a man of your word? If so, is that something you’re going to teach my son?

“His answer was, ‘Of course,’ ” Payne said. “I said, ‘Well, that’s not something you’re teaching him. You’re teaching him to go back on his word.’ He said, ‘It’s just the recruiting process.’ ”

It’s just business, even if it’s a dirty business.

I really like Boyd’s mom. Added bonus to the piece is having the anecdote take a swipe at the Hoopies. But the reality is that it is not simply unsurprising, but expected.

You don’t think Pitt isn’t still “checking in” with Robert Foster to see if he’s still absolutely sure about Alabama? How pissed would Pitt fans be if the coaches actually didn’t at least try to flip him?

Speaking of Alabama and Nick Saban, this piece is worth the read. On how top running back prospects are looking at sharing the carries as a long-term positive.

“I think of it future-wise,” said Lacy, the MVP of last season’s BCS title game against Notre Dame. “A lot of running backs want to get the ball 20 or 30 times a game, but, at the same time, it wears your body down. So you don’t really know how long you have.”

Back when we worried about whether the Y2K bug would shut down our power grids, tailback recruits worried about carries. Would they be the man once they got to college? High school backs still worry about carries, but that attitude is changing as the importance of the odometer trickles down from the NFL. Now, the term “low-mileage back” has crept into the NFL draftnik’s vocabulary. It’s not an insult. It means a back has taken fewer hits at lower levels and therefore might have a longer career in the NFL.

Lacy is a prime example. In 2010, he split carries with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. In 2011, he split carries with Richardson. In 2012, he split carries with Yeldon. Ingram (572 collegiate carries) was a first-round pick (No. 28) in 2011. Richardson (540 collegiate carries) was a first-round pick (No. 3) in 2012. Lacy (355 collegiate carries) projects as a late first- or early second-round pick in 2013. That’s a far cry from the SEC feature-back days of Herschel Walker, who carried 994 times in three seasons at Georgia before he entered pro football.

The last 1,000-carry back chosen in the first round of the NFL draft was Cedric Benson in 2005.

This is something that Coach Paul Chryst has appeared to embrace as well. He was looking to compliment Ray Graham this past season. Rushel Shell should look for similar this coming season.

And the Scout.com recruiting rankings show the silliness of overvaluing large recruiting classes in rankings.

Of the 27 players who have pledged to sign with Pitt on Wednesday, 24 are rated three- and two-star prospects by Rivals.com. Only seven project to play quarterback (one), running back (one) and wide receiver (five). And four-star Clairton wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who has been flirting with West Virginia and Tennessee since committing to Pitt, could decide to sign elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the class has garnered respect.

“Pitt is in the top 25, for sure,” CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said.

“Pitt has a lot of kids who are good players, who, if they develop, they will be even better,” said Brian Dohn, a Scout.com recruiting analyst. “A class that has 27 kids in it fills a lot more holes and gives you more of an opportunity to miss (an increase margin for error) than a class with 19 kids.”

As a matter of fact, Scout.com ranks Pitt’s overall class 16th in the nation — ahead of every school in its new conference, the ACC.

“Some of it is quantity,” Dohn said of the Scout ranking. “But there are some quality kids.”

Look, I like this class. I like the potential. I like the chances with this coaching staff to develop the kids. I can see my way to calling it a top-25 class. But if we are going based on the recruiting rankings of the players — flawed though they may be — there is no way this is the number 16 class.





Whether ranked 16th or 60th, I wish these future Pitt Panthers good luck. Besides, it all comes down to what the coaches do with the kids they recruit. Lets hope Chryst coaches up these kids. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by MariettaMike 02.04.13 @ 9:12 am

Chas, you think a 16 ranking for this class is unrealistic, take the case below of how MaxPreps views Pitt’s class as #11, WHAT????

Who really cares? Not me, all I want is for Chryst and Co. to recruit the right guys for the obvious positions of need that we have RIGHT NOW. IMO, he’s accomplished that with bringing in Tra’von Chapman and transfer Savage at QB, and loading up on quanity and quality on the OL.

BTW, I just was looking at the video highlights of our OL recruits in the Redshirt Diaries analysis of our recruiting class and my oh my, does Dorian Johnson look impressive. Defensive players are seen on multiple occasions literally being propelled backwards to land in a heap when Johnson lines them up for some steamrolling blocking. The kid is going to be a beast.

I can easily predict in a couple season when we have that critical 3rd down and 2 play and we absolutely must have the 1st down, same play call as usual, Shell running up behind Johnson waiting for him to produce a hole large enough to drive a truck through. The defense will know it’s coming and won’t be able to do a thing about it. Result? Go Pitt, Go Pitt,,,,, First Down!!!!

link to maxpreps.com

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 9:42 am

The super bowl is over can we have are new DC
SOON.
it has been 50 days with out one.

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 10:01 am

If you sort by average star ranking of the recruit on scout, then Pitt’s class drops to 41. I’d trade Pitt’s class for the lesser ranked Clemson or FSU classes. So split the difference and you are at the mid 20s like you said Chas. Decent class with so many spots to fill. Future classes are going to need to be more legit prospects and fewer projects.

Comment by Wardapalooza 02.04.13 @ 10:14 am

Line men big line men both sides of the ball 2 years of that that is what we need .
if you have them any wr or rb will look good .
the qb will look good.
it is all abought the line men you go no were with out them .

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 10:36 am

I will end the suspense.
I am the new DC.
Now that this is clear, let’s give 17 year old kids a break. Imagine you had to pick from a handful of smoking hot girls who promised you .,,well, you know what I mean.
You gonna tell them “no” immediately or are you going to weigh your options?
It must be an immense amount of pressure to go thru this, especially since “No” is not taken lightly as an answer.
Everyone tells you how great you are and they don’t have you meet with the guys kicked off the team etc…
Now add into the mix your general attitude toward parents when you were 17. Defiant is a polite term I would use to describe myself; and I was a decent young man, but far from perfect.
I wish young Mr. Boyd well. I want him for the right reasons: education, developing his life and athletic skills. Not because someone else wants him.

Comment by SFPitt 02.04.13 @ 10:42 am

Dr. Tom, Do you remember when Pitt came up with a new stat for Bill Fralic? I’m sure you do, it was the “Pancake.” Paul Chryst understands that much of what you can do, is determined by the big guys up front. If you make the holes there are a lot of talented college backs, who can run through them.

I don’t care how this recruiting is rated, I like the composition of it. I think they are getting the types of players that they like.

Comment by Justinian 02.04.13 @ 10:46 am

Honestly, who cares about one receiver? He isn’t Larry Fitzgerald. You can always find a wide receiver.

Comment by Omar 02.04.13 @ 10:49 am

Omar is right you will find a WR .
line men is what we need but for depth i would have liked a RB or 2 we only have 3 now and if conner is switched to rb that makes 4 the outher rb
we got this year is to play safty.
if we have rb get hurt next year we could be in trouble.

but line is were it is at need them more than any thing.

were is the new DC come on chryst hire one.

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 11:08 am

I don’t want to say that I don’t care about getting Boyd or not, but I agree with Omar to an extent. It would be great to have him here, but Boyd is not going to make or break Pitt’s program. A talented QB behind a line that can actually block can make up for a lot of the “deficiencies” of not having a top rated player at the other skill positions.

I think as many people want Boyd to be a Panther for the perception provided by having a top rated player choose Pitt as for what he may contribute on the field.

Comment by JCE 02.04.13 @ 11:17 am

( hear Sean Miller is in line for the DC!

Comment by Dan 72 02.04.13 @ 11:20 am

Oh Omar, really? Let’s be honest here, both Foster and Boyd are true talents. Let’s not sound like a high school kid who might get jilted by his prospective date to the prom. We need Boyd, more than Boyd needs us.

I feel that Pitt is headed in the right direction, and if Boyd wants to get on for the ride now is the time. He could be a star, and who knows, maybe the next Fitzgerald? First, he has to sign on the dotted line, will see, soon enough.

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 11:26 am

Dr. Tom I sort of disagree with that. Anthony Morelli and Andrew Johnson sure panned out and everybody thought we had to have them. I know they are only two examples but my point is these high end guys do fail and fail at a high rate.

I do believe that we need Boyd just to keep the local talent here but more importantly for other young WPIAL players to realize that picking Pitt is a good thing. If he chooses to he elsewhere the young guys notice!!

Comment by QuipScript 02.04.13 @ 11:43 am

Dr. Tom:

I’m not saying that Pitt should tell Boyd to take a hike. I’m saying that all of the consternation about his recruitment is unnecessary. Wide receivers and running backs aren’t hard to find. Great linemen, defensive backs, and QBs are more important. It’s easy to take a wide receiver or running back out of a game. Game plannig against great QBs, defensive backs, and linemen is much harder.

Comment by Omar 02.04.13 @ 11:43 am

DR Tom i dont think i or omar want boyd to go some were else it would be nice if pitt got him.
we are just saying that there will be some wr who steps up.
and that good line are more of a need and we wont fall on are face if he goes some were else.

it would be great to have him but i would rather have 9 good line men on the OL and D line then him

that is what dave did he got a really good WR
and a really good rb and some good DE BUT NOT OL MEN OR QB

we need good line more then any thing chryst is doeing it right

now hire the DC dam it.

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 12:01 pm

No doubt about it Boyd makes this class better. But no doubt about it we needed those lineman more than we needed a WR. I agree with most everybody above. Built it from the inside out. An elite WR is the capstone to a great team, but you can’t build a great team around one.

Keep an eye on Jester Weah BTW … kid has got some athleticism. If he can get more explosive I think he’s going to surprise some people.

Comment by Atlanta Panther 02.04.13 @ 12:09 pm

Boyd is great if he commits to Pitt; otherwise he is not so great … and if by chance he opts for PSU, well, we quit recruiting him anyway.

Comment by wbb 02.04.13 @ 12:10 pm

If last night’s Super Bowl told me anything it is that you have got have receivers and TE’s that can make plays for you. Really, so many times Flacco just threw jump balls and his receives made great plays to make the catch. The WR and TE positions are vital for what Chryst wants to do with the run game. If the opposing defense does not respect your QB or receivers, running the ball is difficult.

Comment by HbgFrank 02.04.13 @ 12:15 pm

How do I get paid to do an analysis like this…

“Pitt has a lot of kids who are good players, who, if they develop, they will be even better,” said Brian Dohn, a Scout.com recruiting analyst.

Maybe that explains why Scout has Pitt at #16.

Comment by ME 2001 02.04.13 @ 12:24 pm

@ Omar, “Honestly, who cares about one receiver? He isn’t Larry Fitzgerald”. was your quote, actually that does kind of imply that you’re telling one of our highest “rated” recruits he can “take a hike”, to me. Just saying.

I mentioned way back when, at the time that Foster decided to verbally commit to Alabama, that all of the attention that that decision was getting should make Zach Callingsworth kind of feel like chopped liver, which he ain’t, BTW.

So yes, I agree with you and others that have mentioned that we have found other talented wide receiver recruits in this class, and Zach isn’t the only good WR snatched up in this class either.

My only point is, IMO, that if a highly rated recruit, has doubts about his previous verbal commitment to Pitt, as LOI signing day approaches, sharing opinions, in a public format, that implies that his worth to this recruiting class is less than valued, serves no useful purpose. If you are truly a vested Pitt fan, that is hoping the best for your team, why would you want to imply negative vibes towards one of only two of our four star recruits in this class?

I personally will be greatly disappointed if Tyler Boyd decommits, as I was when Foster showed Pitt no love. But dissing on him during this critcal time when he is determining his final decision, is not the way to show him that we appreciated his initial commitment to the Panthers.

The last thing, as a Panther Fan, that I would want to do is negatively impact Pitt’s football program. Comments like yours, if they were read by Tyler Boyd on the eve of signing day could be the kind of vibe that turns his final decision towards another program. Just ask yourself how you would feel about that, if it happened. Thats my only point.

BTW, neither you nor I know whether he is the next Larry Fitzgerald, but if he turns out to be a player of that elite ability down the road, I sure as hell want him to be wearing a Panther uniform when he proves his worth to the college football world.

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 12:32 pm

Well said Dr.Tom

Comment by notrocketscience 02.04.13 @ 12:44 pm

DR Tom no one said that we did not want him no one
said he wasent great becuse he is great.
all were saying is if he goes some were else it isent the end of the world.
and if he thinks the whole pitt team will sink or swim becuse of him. he needs to grow up.
there is no I in team.

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 1:00 pm

Getting Rushel Shell last year and having him get significant playing time as a freshman was huge for us in that other WPIAL stars view him as an icon of sorts and he is key in recruiting elite talent to the program. They see his journey and project themselves on the field making contributions early on in their careers instead of being red-shirted and waiting till their 4th or 5th year at an SEC school. I really like how this recruiting class is coming together. If Boyd and Foster, for that matter, would come to Pitt they could very well be two and done and playig on Sundays verses playing 5 years at an SEC school waiting their turns behind some other 4 or 5 star player. Hail to Pitt!!

Comment by Panther Fan in Hoopieland 02.04.13 @ 1:04 pm

FWIW, Pitt is 23rd in the AP and 25th in the Coaches. Still don’t mean much at this time

Comment by wbb 02.04.13 @ 1:25 pm

SFPitt – you deserve honorary consideration for DC given your initiative in attending the UBuff game – haha!

Comment by JLawrence 02.04.13 @ 1:30 pm

INFO for you allthe reason we cant do 29 commits
the panthers have to get down to 85 scholaships bye the time the class enrolls in the fall.

so we are at 27 now om commits which means we will be at 89 scholarships so we need to lose 4 bye the fall eather players become walk ons or some have to transfer. this is per the post sam waner

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 1:37 pm

How can you have rankings before LOI day. Everyone’s still a free agent until then.

Comment by alcofan 02.04.13 @ 2:16 pm

Dr. Tom:

I don’t feel like my comment was disrespectful to Tyler Boyd. He should do whatever he thinks is best. I simply don’t care. It’s a waste of time to interview teenagers about these decisions.

Comment by Omar 02.04.13 @ 2:19 pm

@JLawrence
I accept the position, honorary or otherwise, of Drinking Coordinator. It is a position for which I am uniquely qualified and for which I have trained a lifetime.
Was thinking about that Buffalo game the other day: there is cold, then there is Buffalo cold.
Somewhere, the camera guy whose equipment we saved is hopefully having an adult beverage in our honor.

Comment by SFPitt 02.04.13 @ 3:51 pm

@ Omar, then let us compromise and agree that your comments towards Tyler Boyd’s commitment status were, lets say, “uncaring”.

And since we’re finding middle ground on which to agree, how do you feel about wasting your time sharing opinons on subjects of which you don’t care about?

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 3:55 pm

EGO SUM MADIDUS

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 4:03 pm

How about doing away with verbals, and also, no contact from any schools 1 month before LOI day??

Comment by Dan 02.04.13 @ 4:11 pm

I would be worried about the Seton Hall game tonight if it was in Jersey.

At home, I believe the guys should be pumped up and ready to play some ball!!!

Comment by Dan 02.04.13 @ 4:12 pm

If the success of any school, organization, business, etc hinges on the recruitment of a 17 year-old kid, then they are doomed for failure. Trying to project high school football players to college is pointless. If he goes somewhere else, who cares.

Comment by Denny 02.04.13 @ 4:36 pm

Dan, Still coming off of a big win, it still could be a trap game. Pitt is the type of team that excels in doing many of small things. They still have to hustle, play good defense, box out and rebound, set good screens, and not turn the ball over. I hope you’re right and the Panthers come to play.

Comment by Justinian 02.04.13 @ 4:40 pm

Lets not forget that although Tyler Boyd was great with four other D1 recruits on that team playing against “A” competition that he played primarily as a running back. He will be a project! He may be a star next season but I find it hard to believe that he comes in and takes a spot from somebody that knows the position. With that said, and sincerity, good luck to him!! Hopefully it’s here at Pitt!

Comment by QuipScript 02.04.13 @ 4:49 pm

FRANKCAN…LOL Ego sum madidus…You are drunk in Latin……stay sober we need you to be on your own two feet to celebrate the rebirth of Pitt Football with this incoming class…Boyd or no Boyd.

Comment by isnore 02.04.13 @ 5:12 pm

REMINDER:

Pitt vs Seton Hall tonight 9PM ESPNU

No letdown against the Pirates

Comment by isnore 02.04.13 @ 5:29 pm

“Pitt has a lot of kids who are good players, who, if they develop, they will be even better,” said Brian Dohn, a Scout.com recruiting analyst.

Using that logic = if the recruits don’t develop, they will be even worse.

I stopped paying attention to recruiting rankings a long time ago. Too many 4 and 5 stars are duds and too many 2 and 3 stars develop into really good players. Just look at how excited everyone was about Bostick in FB and Sleepy in hoops. Give me a bunch of smash mouth overachieving blue collar kids any day. With this large FB recruiting class, many goods ones will rise to the top over their 4-5 years at PItt, and it may not likely be the 4 and 5 stars.

I believe in PC as a talent evaluator, and it will be great to see him continue to beef up the OL. Imagine what the OL looks like in a couple years – all 6’4″ to 6’7″ and over 330 lbs. Even I could get 3 yards with that in front of me. The fact that we have a class of 25+ kids is awesome! Should be an exciting season next year. Now go beat up on the HALL in hoops!

Comment by dish 02.04.13 @ 5:50 pm

Here here Mr. Dish

Comment by Atlanta Panther 02.04.13 @ 5:53 pm

si i musti isnore

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 6:50 pm

great time sat,great atmosphere great info,

Comment by paul shannon 02.04.13 @ 6:53 pm

Question;

If Boyd de-committs, do we still get stuck with his 2 Clairton pals ?? Or was it was package deal.

Comment by EMel 02.04.13 @ 7:15 pm

Maybe Elijah Zeise will be the 2nd coming of Larry Fitzgerald.
Same kind of setup.

Let’s hope.

Comment by EMel 02.04.13 @ 7:17 pm

@ FRANKCAN, the advantage that you have over the rest of us, exploiting your Latin lingo knowledge, is that no one knows if you are misspelling every other word or not, as you do in your native language. LOL,,, and no harm intended.

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 7:37 pm

i love you to DR TOM CAPE NOCTEM FOVIA

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 7:45 pm

IT SHOULD READ CARPE NOCTEM FOVIA BUT I AM A LITTLE BIT IN MY CUPS AT THIS POINT. I THINK I NEED
SOME SLEEP.
GOD SAVE the QUEEN OR SOME SUCH THING .

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 7:54 pm

@EMel, Considering that the Pitt football program was in such a total sense of disrepair just two short years ago, I find it totally ironic that all of a sudden we “FANS” consider Pitt football such a premium product, that we can dis on whomever we so chose, especially ironic, on those, who have so selected and already pledged their allegiance to the University of Pittsburgh.

I totally recognize the spirit of levity that your comment was made, but be cognizant that a recruit’s own perceptions are his personal reality.

If we are to aspire to become champions, then we must begin to conduct ourselves appropriately.

Evaluating a 17 year old recruit, it is difficult to distinguish the also ran from the future throughbred.

So I may suggest, that we all congratulate every recruit that makes his commitment final to Pitt, and always wish the best to those who seek another path other than the Univeversity of Pittsburgh. Veritas et Virtus, how’s that FRANKCAN??

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.04.13 @ 8:00 pm

A thought for tonight (Yeah, I took Latin at Pitt)
Dr. Borsay was my prof.

vincere et totum To win is everything.

Tonight we win and HCPC will win on LOI day.

Comment by isnore 02.04.13 @ 8:06 pm

ISNORE DR TOM and all outhers i love you all
this DOMINUS TRULLAM MUST GO TO BED.
HAIL TO PITT
VERITAS ET VIRTUS

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.04.13 @ 8:41 pm

Dr. Tom:

I care about Pitt. That is why I commented on the thread.

Comment by Omar 02.04.13 @ 9:03 pm

for christ sake boyd is a pitt lock, let it go,if u guys are so concerned about pitt, u should be watching what md pays to get out, our conference will be an after thought if its in their favor, supposedly more than a few are lining up to bolt,or as in latin, leavus behindus

Comment by paul shannon 02.04.13 @ 10:02 pm

Shannon in Latin…yousus doofus.

Comment by isnore 02.04.13 @ 11:45 pm

isnore guys beat our recruits and players up,who are are the doofuses .shove ur cute latin

Comment by paul shannon 02.05.13 @ 7:27 am

Don’t look now but Terrish Webb is a three star on ESPN with a very solid rating of 77. Not too shabby for a ‘package deal’

Comment by Atlanta Panther 02.05.13 @ 1:27 pm

ESPN only has Pitt listed as tied for #39 in recruiting this year…and UPS at #24 with limited scholarships.

link to insider.espn.go.com

Comment by Jackagain 02.05.13 @ 6:09 pm

Looks like Boyd to Pitt to me…

“Clairton senior Tyler Boyd plans to sign a national letter of intent at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the school’s library, alongside teammates Terrish Webb and Titus Howard, he posted on Twitter Tuesday evening.”

link to triblive.com

Comment by Jackagain 02.05.13 @ 11:02 pm

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