While Jeff Adrien visited with Pitt, the message boards were saying he was really wowed when he visited UConn. Now it appears that he has given a verbal to UConn. While the actual story is behind the Rivals subscription wall, the profile notes “solid verbal” next to UConn.

UPDATE: Here’s the story from the Hartford Courant. He decided to stay closer to home, and he liked the idea of playing for Calhoun.

I’m not sure, but judging by some of the answers, Coach Harris seemed a little annoyed today (PDF version).

On linebacker Clint Session’s absence from practice today:
“He’s got a headache.”
…
On Pittsburgh’s veteran wide receivers :
“I don’t think there are any veterans out there at receiver other than Joe Del Sardo. To say he’s a veteran, he’s a true sophomore, that isn’t saying much right now.”
…
On defensive lineman Phil Tillman:
“We like Phil, but it’s still a little too early to talk about guys who just showed up in horrible shape. He does have some football ability but we’ll see.”

Part of it seems to be that the number of dinged up players is limiting some of what he can do in practice. Lots of questions regarding that today. I don’t know who else got hurt today. Most of the injuries to this point seemed kind of normal as you get more contact drills. With issues of depth, though, any starter being out is a big problem.

Plenty of articles. Not a lot of news. The shine of fall practices has started to come off, and now it is just reporting basic information and some sightings.

Not a player puff piece or profile, but a story on Greg Lee now being the leader of the now thinned wide receiver corp. Lee seems to be handling the role of “the guy coming after Larry Fitzgerald” well. After Lee, the other 2 positions are still open. It does look that Senior Joe Stephens and walk-on sophomore Joe DelSardo are getting the most first team reps. They have the most experience in the offense, so that makes some sense.

A couple complimentary stories concerning the defense. Specifically, improving from the “non-existent” pass rush of last year. For that to happen, the linemen have to actually get pressure on the QB. The numbers from last year were pathetic. Only 21 sacks in 13 games (and 6 came against Temple). A lot of the bad pass rush of last year is laid at the feet of now gone, Claude Harriott’s hideous season. That his bad year, “contaminated” the whole defense. Sorry. Can’t buy that. The pathetic defense was a team effort. Harriott played poorly and underachieved but no one else was doing anything on the line. Of some concern for this line is that several of the linemen are undersized. Now speed and power are good and can help, but you do get worn down in a game and a season. Something to watch.

Now the beat reporter notebooks. Both had similar items, but Bendel had personal observations on players in practice: Murphy had a good day in the battle for the starting RB battle; and the QB battle was a draw. Both noted Brockenbrough’s knee surgery and the growing list of (mostly) minor injuries to players. Zeise’s notebook went more in-depth on the changes to fall practices dictated by the NCAA, and Harris’ dissatisfaction with them.

Both notebooks mentioned it, but Zeise’s was more detailed and this is a juicy tidbit for the basketball team.

Pitt basketball coach Jamie Dixon stopped by practice, along with assistants Joe Lombardi and Orlando Antigua. The trio was escorting prospective recruit Jeff Adrien, one of the top power forwards in the country, who was on an unofficial visit to the campus. Adrien, who is 6 feet 5, 225 pounds and is from Brookline, Mass., visited Connecticut over the weekend and is reportedly going to decide between the two this week. He will play at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire this season.

Us or UConn for a top-50 recruit for 2005 (though not listed in the top 100 in another list). Now that would be sweet. Also very important if Mike Davis doesn’t qualify academically in time.