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June 15, 2014

More Speed Added

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 9:25 am

There is an emerging theme to the recruiting class. Let’s call it what it is, “get faster.”

The latest addition to the speed force is Tre Tipton.

“I was thinking about it and me and my mom and my coach all talked, and we just said Pitt’s the place to be,” Tipton told Panther-Lair.com. “I called Coach (Paul) Chryst and I told him and he was excited. He said he can’t wait to start working with me.”

Tipton had been favoring Pitt for a long time – he was a fixture at the Panthers’ home games at Heinz Field last fall – but it was the two-day visit this past week that pushed him over the edge, since he spent those two days with current Pitt players, and that ended up being a major selling point for Pitt.

“It was the players and the people; they’re all so together, all so close-knit,” Tipton said. “The players are what sticks with you from the whole experience; they’re the ones who will mean the most when you’re there. I know that the guys that are there are the right ones for me; them and the coaches are the best ones for me.

“The coaches are of the best guys you can ever talk. They understand the process and what every young man has to do to be successful, and they’re like fathers to every guy that goes there. Everything just seems right at Pitt. I wanted it to feel like a family and ball out for four years with a family. They’re the ones for me.”

As a junior at Apollo-Ridge last season, Tipton, 6’1″ 170, caught 44 passes for 697 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. But it’s not just his scoring ability that led the Pitt coaches to offer him.

“They said I could be a very good fit for them,” he said. “They said they know I’m a hard-worker and wherever I can fit in, I’ll be able to play there. They said they think they can utilize me all over the offense.”

Tipton was also a standout defensive back, but it is clear that he wants to be on the offensive side of the ball.

Talking to the offensive players — and one in particular — seemed to help his decisionmaking.

“Coach Chryst said he couldn’t wait for me to come in and put work in,” Tipton said.

“I got to talk with (former Clairton star) Tyler Boyd (at the camp). He told me he felt like he could be a big help to me. He thinks we can work together well as teammates.”

[Tipton’s HS Coach John] Skiba did not push Tipton toward Pitt but advised him to put more thought into the situation.

“I’m a Pitt guy, but it was all his decision,” Skiba said. “He felt at home with the players and staff. I’m excited for him. I love that the hometown kid is staying.”

Tipton isn’t ranked at this point by Scout.com or Rivals.com. 247 and ESPN.com (Insider subs) both have him at 3-stars.

Here’s some of the ESPN.com evaluation.

Tipton has good height and speed for a wide receiver. Flashes a burst to accelerate to get into a second gear. Shows lateral agility to avoid defensive back off the line. Can track the deep ball well or make a tough catch away from his frame.

He needs to bulk up, and improve catching the ball in traffic. But, there is definite potential.

Tipton had an offer from Michigan State after going to their camp. He cancelled his planned camp at Penn State for next week. Most of his early offers came from MAC level schools before MSU offered. Pitt only offered recently. He seemed to be flying under the radar in part because of his school. Until the coaches actually get a chance to see him in action, they have not been as willing to offer. Once they see him perform, though, the interest picks up significantly.





Welcome to the Pitt family Tre! Tyler Boyd is an integral part in recruiting. He is a mentor already for these incoming speedy receivers. They watch his highlights and believe our program is headed in the right direction; plus he cancelled his visit to PSU camp next weekend. Gotta love that about him too. A man of his word.

On another topic. Thought it interesting that Bob Huggins went up to UPMC Shadyside last Monday for hip replacement surgery. What do my fellow Blatherers think of that?

Happy Fathers Day to all you dads!

Comment by Panther Fan in Hoopieland 06.15.14 @ 12:19 pm

I’m standing in line for my new hip right behind Huggins now that I have some spare time on my hands to dedicate to rehab.

Comment by Dr. Tom 06.15.14 @ 2:45 pm

Yeah, guys. Let’s give my buddy Upitt a little bit of space. He has passion, which I respect. However, he way reminds me of my wife. How can someone keep saying the same thing again and again and again. I love her. But, I just want to beat my head on the kitchen counter.

So, Upitt, buddy, keep telling us what you think is needed to make things better. Please, I beg you, don’t obsess about what is not perfect.

A great article by DiPola on Chryst’s dad. And, it gives us a lot of insight into how our coach thinks and what he values. And, I miss Franck CAN,too.

H2P

Comment by pmdH2P 06.15.14 @ 4:44 pm

Vingle confirms it, Hugabeer @ UPMC facility for hip replacement, that’s rich! Wonder what the Mountaineer doctors @ the Center for Joint Replacement in Morganhole think of that news! Hail to Pitt! UPone

Comment by UPone 06.15.14 @ 5:57 pm

Does UPMC have a low infection rate? That is a major key factor in selecting where to have joint replacement surgery.

Sorry about making this so serious.

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 06.15.14 @ 10:59 pm

I’m very surprised Huggins came to Pitt for his hip replacement. Our Mountaineer friends to the south often have hip replacement due to running the ridges their whole life, with one hip on the high side and one on the low side. Hence the appropriate name “Ridge Runners.” There’s more old hips in them there hills then there is possum.

Comment by Pittman4ever 06.15.14 @ 11:26 pm

Pitt Grad, a low infection rate is a major criterion for all surgeries

Comment by wbb 06.16.14 @ 5:55 am

My buddy had his hip replaced at UPMC and it got infected, nasty business. Hospital acquired infections are a major problem. Hospitals are to be avoided unless absolutely necessary, then hope for the best.

If you watch the Tipton highlights, you can see the talent, regardless of stars. He cancelled a visit to PSU who badly needs receivers, our kind of guy. We are really loaded at the position right now.

C’mon Mr. Douglas et al., convince those linebackers and D Linemen to play on a team that is really going to score the football.

Dockish has a very positive article about 2015. Only major concern seems to be depth at QB.

Comment by gc 06.16.14 @ 7:44 am

If our O-line gels, we could be very good this year.

Comment by gc 06.16.14 @ 7:46 am

look I hate to admit it, but I like (the exploits of) Huggy, love the passion (& the track suit). Him choosing Shadyside Hosp only confirms his intelligence to me. Buzz seems to be growing over HCPC & we should all recognize the good stock he comes from & the sincere effort he appears to be putting forth. A humble diligent man. On another note, HCJD has the boys in summer school & (despite the obvious lack of size) these kids can play – all of them. While its fair to assume the young Mr. Johnson will redshirt – he doesn’t look like a high schooler next to MY, JA & SJ – the protein shakes & weight room are already showing up (& the stroke is butter). A team that can play with tempo can get away without a “5” in the ACC (& when you have JN on your squad, tempo is brisk). Sorry to ping hoops on the football post! H2P

Comment by ptbreezeb 06.16.14 @ 9:30 am

Had elbow reconstruction surgery 3weeks ago (12years pitching baseball, many years of a bad golf swing) and now have an infection. Not fun!

Welcome to Pitt Tre!

Great article on HCPC in the Trib!

Even if you are not a Noll/Steeler fan, Dejan’s article in the Trib might be the best I’ve ever read……on any subject!

Comment by Dan 72 06.16.14 @ 9:35 am

ptbreezeb, on the contrary, I would welcome any summer league reports or any other info you have

Comment by wbb 06.16.14 @ 9:45 am

Aren’t we the walking wounded.

I’m only out of the hospital myself a little over a week.

Glad to report I got out with no infections, of course no cutting was performed, only lots of sticking. Even in the middle of the night.

Hadn’t been in this hospital for 6 years and now the rooms are like staying in a fairly nice hotel.
Even had hardwood flooring.

Hope everyone mends up well in time for an exciting football season where we make a bigger imprint on the ACC.

Comment by Emel 06.16.14 @ 10:06 am

web COOL. thank you. Im catching a glimpse here & there. IMO, I would rather have JN then some overhyped/underskilled center ALL DAY LONG. He is a gem – lightning in a bottle (quick & fast), great handle, tough chin and his jumper & D will continue to improve. He was a great signing who will play with a chip on his shoulder for as long as he’s in oakland (tobacco roads loss is our gain). And I am still bullish on JR (& love them on the floor together). Forget the semantics of positions JR, CW, JN, DJ & SJ is a rotation that gives us potential we haven’t had in the backcourt/wing for a long time. Last note: the freshman butterflies will be gone, MY & JA can stroke it too (saw JA come up from inside the key off a screen squared his shoulders & shot from the top of the key like he was a 6’3 guard – I was a little shocked, it demonstrated a lot of foot work for a true 6’9 “4”). if they can hit a couple from 18 feet+ the defense will jump the perimeter – they can (& should) put it on the deck & go hard to the bucket. TY will be on the weak side elbow or box waiting to crash the boards. Sorry, I know it isn’t popular – my glass (remains) half full. And I will pony up for my season tickets again this week. my biggest request has been tempo & even HCJD has to see (please) that you can’t slow a cat like JN down! ADVANCE THE ROCK – h2p

Comment by ptbreezeb 06.16.14 @ 11:10 am

Right ptbreeze

JD had to have noticed we played our best games last year in uptempo games sans the Duke game.

With the Colorado game at the top of the list and then the UNC win, who only got back in the game when we tried bilking the clock.

Comment by Emel 06.16.14 @ 11:15 am

Hey fellas, missed a few days. Had to go struggle down at my Aunt and Uncle’s place in Cape May, NJ.. Tough life they have!!

@wbb, the pepperoni sounds great.

@steve1 picante, yes, love em’ hot. Sorry about the Rangers. Kings too big and fast.

@Frank MD. would love to try your reciepe. When you get a chance, you can email it to me.

ddlochness@Hotmail.com

Looks like some speed came in, good to hear.

As someone said above, sure, many of us have hope, what else can we hang on too??

Saying that though, I also believe that HCPC is moving the program in the right direction. It’s more than hope. I am also pretty amped up to watch Voytik play. Not just from the Bowling Green game, my gut feeling says at the end of his career, we’re gonna be saying “Voytik, hell of a ball player”. Just my thoughts and my gut feeling.

Also, getting some big time players like Boyd, usually leads to those types talking some others to come too. They can be the teachers.

Good thing about sports, we’ll get to see what happens. Right on the field. I believe I have seen improvement. This will be HCPC 3rd year, I’d like to see some more improvement, and I’d like to see a hell of a year in 2015 with Voytik having a year under his belt, and his recruits coming in to their own.

If not, then we talk about what we need to do, but bashing a coach after just his second full season seems a bit fruitless. What do you get out of it. Being able to tell all of us on the Blather two years from now, “I told you so”????
Big deal to that.

**Caveat** I’m not talking about game day criticism’s. “why’d he call time out”, “why wasn’t Boyd in on that”, “he should have never went for it”.

That’s all fair game, fun stuff and what we bs about on here.

But to say “he sucks”, after two years?? I don’t know, I played a little ball, have watched a ton of college and pro football in my life, and I am quite sure, that I am not qualified to say “he sucks” after just a few seasons.

4th or 5th year, we’re still 6-6, 7-5 stuck in mediocrity, then sure, I’ll join you.

Comment by Dan 06.16.14 @ 11:49 am

Dan, everything I’ve read, heard, rumored and seen with my own eyes tells me that Chad Voytik is a class act and a natural leader. The way he stepped in and held his recruiting class together when Fraud Graham left town on the midnight express said tons about him right from the get go.

If Chad stays healthy, I think we are successful this season, (8 wins predicted). For HCPC’s well being, there better be 8 W’s in the WIN column come regular season’s end or else those who are impatient will definitely be calling for his dismissal after only his third season.

I feel that would be uncalled for even if we have a dismal season (5-7), just too soon to bail on Chryst just yet, especially if it is due to injury at the QB position. I’m hoping that Trey Anderson is a prepared adequate QB waiting in the wings to contribute but my gut says that Chad is the guy that our season rests with. As Voytik’s season goes, so goes the Panthers season also, IMO.

So here is hoping that Chad does great and stays healthy, Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Dr. Tom 06.16.14 @ 1:25 pm

Dan and Dr. Tom,My gut also says good things about Voytik. I think we can win 8 or 9 this year. Not sure we will but feel pretty good about what could be. I am also confident in Anderson. Just a feeling. Can things go to hell?? Absolutely. HCPC is a teaching coach and I’m most encouraged by that. I don’t think I’m a Kool Aid drinker…but I’m certainly not a malcontent. HTP

Comment by The Hagen 06.16.14 @ 1:54 pm

Bisnowaty said his back is healed & he has begun lifting again. Good news for sure. We need all hands on deck to get this O-line moving in the right direction. Incoming freshman report this Sunday.

Comment by Nick 06.16.14 @ 3:28 pm

I don’t think we have to worry about JD ever going to Morgantown to have major surgery.

Comment by spiritofsection22 06.16.14 @ 4:58 pm

Bisnowaty would be football player I’d hate to see wasted. Healed? Great! Now show me!

Comment by Dr. Tom 06.16.14 @ 5:31 pm

Didn’t like reading about the hip infection at UPMC. Dan72, hope the elbow getting much better too. I hope that experience was not also UPMC.

Wbb there is low infection rates and then there are the elite hospitls with really LOW infections. The Hospital for Special Surgery comes to mind. They want you home as soom as possible, hopefully without a rehab center in between. They win the prize every year; just about

Like said earlier infections are becoming a bigger problem.

I know everybody is tired of overly negative statements. It does get boring reading the same things over and over again.

Of course that goes both ways. Tired of hearing how good Chryst is— character building— doing it the right way—academics—knows the game — player development expert—great coach—bla bla —coolaid—coolaid.

Can we try and be realistic! Real is good. Real is real!

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 06.16.14 @ 5:32 pm

REALLY???

Comment by Pittman4ever 06.16.14 @ 5:42 pm

ESPN Tweet:

Jeff Goodman ? @GoodmanESPN
Pittsburgh Jamie Dixon has targeted UMass assistant Marlon “Smoke” Williamson to fill Barry Rohrssen’s role on staff, source told ESPN

Smoke is supposed to be a super, young recuiter

Comment by wbb 06.16.14 @ 6:17 pm

Yea Dan72….get that elbow healed…so we can hoist a few and you can be unhindered, trying to keep up.

🙂

Comment by Emel 06.16.14 @ 7:55 pm

Infection rates are going up due to organisms (germs) becoming more resistant to antibiotics. As they’re being used to much.

Watched a PBS Frontline report the other week about, and it was quite alarming how much at risk we are.

Comment by Emel 06.16.14 @ 7:58 pm

Just read in the PG that Pitt grad Sam Parks won the US Open golf championship in 1935. Intresting.

Comment by alcofan 06.16.14 @ 8:18 pm

It’s sounding as if Marlon “Smoke” Willamson has replaced Barry “Slice” Rohrrsen on Jamie Dixon’s staff.

Comment by Mailman 06.16.14 @ 8:46 pm

Welcome Smoke. I hear he has some deep ties in the AAU circuit. Get out there & get some good recruits.

Comment by Nick 06.16.14 @ 9:17 pm

Remember a few years ago when Pitt was just about to get a commitment from this guy when ND came calling. Welp….

link to cbssports.com

Paul Chryst is doing a nice job…..

Comment by dhuffdaddy 06.17.14 @ 12:15 am

Yeah, that’s one thing, old Pitt grad, that I like to keep BORING, “not” reading about some bonehead move by a dumba$$ player that can’t stay out of his own way in trouble with the authorities again. It’s been a full year since the last incident involving Pitt players, and two of the three involved are long gone from the team in that one. I think the rest of the players have all gotten the memo. Plus, Chryst is recruiting based on personal character, which IMO, is a smart idea, boring or not.

Running a college football program SHOULD be about more than just wins and losses. Chryst may be old fashioned in that regard but he understands that he has a responsibility to help his young players develop into mature men as well producing a winning team. Both can be accomplished together with the right coach at the helm. Who cares if some see those aspects of the coaching process as boring?

Comment by Dr. Tom 06.17.14 @ 6:13 am

I really haven’t seen many people say how “good” Chryst is.

I think most of us are giving him the benefit of the doubt. He’s going in to his 3rd year.

Positive people will talk about his positive attributes. Character and hard work. Last I checked, those two are very important in life, not just football.

I’m certainly not going to go look for negative things to say after the guy has only had two seasons coaching at Pitt.

Comment by Dan 06.17.14 @ 9:39 am

Real is good, real is great. I pride myself on one my best attributes (if I have any at all), is being realistic.

Like I said yesterday. After his 4th or 5th year, if we’re still 5-7, 6-6, 7-6, still wallowing in mediocrity, I’ll be the first to say so.

After two years, I admit, I don’t have the ability to say whether he is going to be a good or great coach, or be just another name in the long list of coaches in the last 30 years at Pitt.

He is doing a lot of the mandatory and simple things, that you need from a coach, (that not all coaches do) in starting off his career here.

I mean, we ain’t gettin’ Nick Saban or Les Miles, we have Paul Chryst.

From a totally unbiased, nothing to gain, nor knowing anyone on the coaching staff point of view…………..

realistically, he seems to be building the program, and doing it the right way.

No, he doesn’t get “forever” to do it. The guy, any college coach, in any college sport, should at least get a full recruiting class to see what he’s capable of.

Also, it would be different, if the first two years we were 1-11 or 2-10. We weren’t, we had decent years, with some exciting wins.

Yes, some bad losses too. Hopefully we are building on that.

Frankly, and simply, I don’t know what else you can do as a fan. He’s the coach for at least the next few years.

I haven’t seen anyone gushing about him, or being overly positive that he is Lombardi or something.

He has some positive traits, that he has transferred to his players and team, and most of us are hoping it turns Pitt into a good, solid football program. That’s all.

Comment by Dan 06.17.14 @ 9:56 am

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