2024 Trib's Terrific 25 Football All-Stars

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Q Martin will be an interesting case. They are just recruiting like 2-3 4-5 star RB's every year. Will be interesting if he changes position or goes into the portal.

I think he is their version of Derrick Davis. Great athlete who was able to use those skills against inferior competition to dominate in high school but doesn't translate to a position in major college football.

I thought Dorin Dickerson was the original one in that role, but to his credit Cignetti was able to finally utilize Dickerson and he became a productive player.

 

[forbesfield]

My bet is he never plays a role there other than mop up. Franklin recruits that position too well. As has been speculated when he was being recruited, I don't think there is another position that fits his skill set. Perhaps at safety, but I doubt it. This kid was the type of kid that makes the grade of your recruiting class look good, but, never really moves you forward on the field. Franklin gets alot of these types, it why his classes look good, but he can't beat Ohio State.

The kid's not a running back. If he's a WR, he needs a lot more time to develop, more than likely. And I gather he doesn't want to play defense.

He was a great recruit, on paper, but if he gets in his own way, he'll portal out and probably wind up here and do what most of these guys do when they get here, which usually isn't much. If he's chasing NIL, he isn't going to get more somewhere else than what he's getting at PSU, given that he isn't doing anything at this time.

I don't think the recruiting is the problem with PSU not beating OSU. I think it's Franklin. They are recruiting close enough, have a huge home field advantage, and still can't get it done.

 

[Salempanther2015]

Agree. Bench warmer U came in and swiped some good wpial players who will accumulate plenty of splinters in their ass!

Who is bench warmer U

 

[Pittisit4me]

Who is bench warmer U

If your having trouble keeping up, refer to the 1st entry in this thread.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

Your arguments are straw man (render was a good coach) and the exception that proves the rule (this one guy in 49 years wasnt soft). It's not even about Render. Kids in USC grow up coddled. They just do. It has nothing to do with the coach. Almost all of those kids without exception find themselves in for a ride awakening at the next level. USC has had a great WPIAL team almost every year for eternity. But that has produced nearly zero D1 success.

So "toughness" is the reason USC kids struggle at the next level?

The only thing I know is during their heyday, they would go toe to toe with teams like the 95 Penn Hills and 94 McKeesport squad and they weren't winning the athleticism trophy in those games. When USC was scrimmaging Massilon and such they weren't doing it because they could out-athlete or finesse them.

These kids more then likely don't find as much success at the P5/P4 level has more to do with athleticism then it does toughness.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

So "toughness" is the reason USC kids struggle at the next level?

The only thing I know is during their heyday, they would go toe to toe with teams like the 95 Penn Hills and 94 McKeesport squad and they weren't winning the athleticism trophy in those games. When USC was scrimmaging Massilon and such they weren't doing it because they could out-athlete or finesse them.

These kids more then likely don't find as much success at the P5/P4 level has more to do with athleticism then it does toughness.

That would also speak to Render and his coaching staff doing a good job by winning with less talent.

 

[pittmeister]

Who is bench warmer U

"Bench Warmer U" is in reference to WPIAL kids that go to Penn State to play "big time football", but hardly ever play....

That's because they are sitting behind better 4 & 5 star players (sometimes 3 star players as well) that come from outside the WPIAL....

If they are fortunate enough to see the field, their contributions have very little to do with the success Penn State has had in recent years....

 

[Pittisit4me]

"Bench Warmer U" is in reference to WPIAL kids that go to Penn State to play "big time football", but hardly ever play....

That's because they are sitting behind better 4 & 5 star players (sometimes 3 star players as well) that come from outside the WPIAL....

If they are fortunate enough to see the field, their contributions have very little to do with the success Penn State has had in recent years....

You've got to admit, these wpial kids get a free ticket (scholarship) + some NIL money to sit and get splinters. I guess it must be a true pleasure to sit and watch a football game with 100,000 + screaming nitwits, all while accumulating a large number of splinters in their ass.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

You've got to admit, these wpial kids get a free ticket (scholarship) + some NIL money to sit and get splinters. I guess it must be a true pleasure to sit and watch a football game with 100,000 + screaming nitwits, all while accumulating a large number of splinters in their ass.

It’s not a bad gig, unless you want to play football and/or have aspirations to make pro ball.

 

[Pittisit4me]

"Bench Warmer U" is in reference to WPIAL kids that go to Penn State to play "big time football", but hardly ever play....

That's because they are sitting behind better 4 & 5 star players (sometimes 3 star players as well) that come from outside the WPIAL....

If they are fortunate enough to see the field, their contributions have very little to do with the success Penn State has had in recent years....

I forgot to mention , with the new rules for the CFP, these wpial kids will now not only get to watch the 10 guaranteed regular season wins, they will get extra splinter accumulation time while they watch at least one CFP game a year now. If you come to Pitt, you can play, but you don't get 10 wins or the chance to watch a CFP game. I guess it comes down to whether you like splinters in your ass, or actually want to play football. These wpial kids would rather watch than play I guess.

 

[forbesfield]

It’s not a bad gig, unless you want to play football and/or have aspirations to make pro ball.

If they are truly good enough to play on Sundays, they will be on the field for them.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I forgot to mention , with the new rules for the CFP, these wpial kids will now not only get to watch the 10 guaranteed regular season wins, they will get extra splinter accumulation time while they watch at least one CFP game a year now. If you come to Pitt, you can play, but you don't get 10 wins or the chance to watch a CFP game. I guess it comes down to whether you like splinters in your ass, or actually want to play football. These wpial kids would rather watch than play I guess.

They would much rather watch than play. They are there for the parties and so their parents can post #107K on Instagram. These kids who volunteer to sit 3, 4, 5 years dont like football and there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone needs practice players.

 

[Mikefln]

This thread is everything that is wrong with Pitt football fans.

You all talk trash on PSU, yet there is no question on who has the more successful football program and athletic department. I swear it is too hard for yinz to just ignore them. Oh that's right, yinz do ignore them. Yet again here we are another topic where they show they live rent free in many of yinz minds.

You trash WPIAL kids, yet bitch when they don't want to come to our undersupported program. There are many reasons to go to a particular school or not to go. You dont need to wish them luck, but to wish ill just shows how little and pathetic you are. The WPIAL is not what it used to be but it is still better than most. I'll take this little area over 25-30 whole states. While it may not be Miami/Dade/Broward, LA, or Dallas Metro, it's also not Iowa, the Dakota's, Neveda, all The NE, etc.

A great majority of you act holier than thou. In your minds Pitt has the education standards of Harvard, the football pedigree of Alabama, the basketball ability of Duke, a commitment to a whole successful Athletic Department like Stanford and produce the upstanding patriotic citizens like the Academies. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

I swear many of you need to come to grips with reality. Maybe take a break from the internet and detrox for a few weeks.

 

[Pittisit4me]

If they are truly good enough to play on Sundays, they will be on the field for them.

I would agree with that. Of the kids from the wpial, how many have you seen play on Sundays?? Miles Sanders is about it. The rest haven't been good enough to see the field for them on Saturdays.

 

[Pittisit4me]

This thread is everything that is wrong with Pitt football fans.

You all talk trash on PSU, yet there is no question on who has the more successful football program and athletic department. I swear it is too hard for yinz to just ignore them. Oh that's right, yinz do ignore them. Yet again here we are another topic where they show they live rent free in many of yinz minds.

You trash WPIAL kids, yet bitch when they don't want to come to our undersupported program. There are many reasons to go to a particular school or not to go. You dont need to wish them luck, but to wish ill just shows how little and pathetic you are. The WPIAL is not what it used to be but it is still better than most. I'll take this little area over 25-30 whole states. While it may not be Miami/Dade/Broward, LA, or Dallas Metro, it's also not Iowa, the Dakota's, Neveda, all The NE, etc.

A great majority of you act holier than thou. In your minds Pitt has the education standards of Harvard, the football pedigree of Alabama, the basketball ability of Duke, a commitment to a whole successful Athletic Department like Stanford and produce the upstanding patriotic citizens like the Academies. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

I swear many of you need to come to grips with reality. Maybe take a break from the internet and detrox for a few weeks.

Dude, you are quite judgemental yourself. This thread has simply pointed out that wpial kids like to go to a place where they aren't good enough to play in most cases, when they might be able to contribute earlier at their home school. Reading anything more into it than that is folly.

 

[forbesfield]

I would agree with that. Of the kids from the wpial, how many have you seen play on Sundays?? Miles Sanders is about it. The rest haven't been good enough to see the field for them on Saturdays.

Not many lately, but doesn't mean they shouldn't recruit the possibilities. They haven't gotten a number of guys that they have wanted that did make the NFL.

Both Michigan and OSU have hit on guys around here. I think Gompers is also a potential home run.

 

[mlvnsmly]

So "toughness" is the reason USC kids struggle at the next level?

The only thing I know is during their heyday, they would go toe to toe with teams like the 95 Penn Hills and 94 McKeesport squad and they weren't winning the athleticism trophy in those games. When USC was scrimmaging Massilon and such they weren't doing it because they could out-athlete or finesse them.

These kids more then likely don't find as much success at the P5/P4 level has more to do with athleticism then it does toughness.

You seem to be drifting further and further from my point. USC kids literally never workout at the next level. From personal experience, I say they're soft. You seem to disagree with that.

If you want to become a college coach and take USC kids all day long, have at it. You'll be out of college before you know it.

 

[mlvnsmly]

That would also speak to Render and his coaching staff doing a good job by winning with less talent.

I wasn't even arguing about Render. Steel brought that in. Try to keep up.

 

[Mikefln]

Dude, you are quite judgemental yourself. This thread has simply pointed out that wpial kids like to go to a place where they aren't good enough to play in most cases, when they might be able to contribute earlier at their home school. Reading anything more into it than that is folly.

I know I'm being judgemental. I'm not saying I'm not.

As for them liking to go to places where they are not good enough. They don't know that. They have had their ass kissed and told how great they were for years. They have egos, they probably go there (or any school) thinking they are going to start from day 1. That is what all elite D1 prospects think. Obviously that is not the case, but that is the attitude. This is not unique to WPIAL kids, it all D1 prospects from all areas. All areas produce bust also, we are just more familiar with the WPIAL kids.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

If they are truly good enough to play on Sundays, they will be on the field for them.

I don’t agree with you. I will use 3 examples just of guys who played for Pitt recently: DJ Turner, Bub Means, and Lucas Krull. Those guys had done next to nothing at their prior schools. They got PT at Pitt and were able to showcase their skills. That helped them make the NFL.

 

[Mikefln]

You seem to be drifting further and further from my point. USC kids literally never workout at the next level. From personal experience, I say they're soft. You seem to disagree with that.

If you want to become a college coach and take USC kids all day long, have at it. You'll be out of college before you know it.

That is such a stupid argument, there are many reasons why a kid is not a D1 player not just lack of toughness. You need to have size and athletic ability too. The best player on the team this year is so undersized, yet everyone struggled to tackle him.
As for as your argument about being a coach and recruiting all day long and not lasting, dude you couldn't even do that at IMG, let alone a boundary public school.

But I guess we need to trust you because you have "personal experience " but don't want to divulge any info. Take that nonsense somewhere else.

I live in the district, my son is a junior on the wrestling team. I've had necessarily and nephews in the HS since 2010. I dont clam to be in the know, but I've seen enough to feel I have a good pulse on the kids. The kids here are like most other places. Are there some super spoiled and soft kids here? Yes. Are there some super tough kids? Yes. Most are just normal kids with normal toughness levels.

 

[Mikefln]

I don’t agree with you. I will use 3 examples just of guys who played for Pitt recently: DJ Turner, Bub Means, and Lucas Krull. Those guys had done next to nothing at their prior schools. They got PT at Pitt and were able to showcase their skills. That helped them make the NFL.

A player needs opportunity and put in good positions. Someone mentioned Dorin Dickerson earlier. He was fastly becoming a bust, until someone figured out how to use his ability. Then he got PT and made the NFL.

You could be extremely talented, but if a coach doesn't develop you or puts you in bad spots, it causes many development issues. I always say Ron Pawlus screwed up going to ND because his style did not mesh well with Lou Holtz style. From the outside looking in, he appeared he lost confidence in himself there. He should of went to a school that ran true pro style. I say that knowing he broke a lot of records at ND.

 

[mlvnsmly]

That is such a stupid argument, there are many reasons why a kid is not a D1 player not just lack of toughness. You need to have size and athletic ability too. The best player on the team this year is so undersized, yet everyone struggled to tackle him.
As for as your argument about being a coach and recruiting all day long and not lasting, dude you couldn't even do that at IMG, let alone a boundary public school.

But I guess we need to trust you because you have "personal experience " but don't want to divulge any info. Take that nonsense somewhere else.

I live in the district, my son is a junior on the wrestling team. I've had necessarily and nephews in the HS since 2010. I dont clam to be in the know, but I've seen enough to feel I have a good pulse on the kids. The kids here are like most other places. Are there some super spoiled and soft kids here? Yes. Are there some super tough kids? Yes. Most are just normal kids with normal toughness levels.

You want me to drop my LinkedIn on here or something? You first. I'm 3rd generation in the community and I've been there my entire life and currently serve on the the board ls of 2 different athletic associations.

Anyway, I'm talking about the the group as a whole, not some specific example of an exception here or there over the last 50 years. The data speaks for itself. There is little to non success at the next level. I can understand if someone has a difference of opinion on why, but I feel I have seen it my whole life.

As far as toughness, wrestling is a perfect example. How many state champions in the history of USC? I already know, but I'll wait for your answer.

 

[Mikefln]

You want me to drop my LinkedIn on here or something? You first. I'm 3rd generation in the community and I've been there my entire life and currently serve on the the board ls of 2 different athletic associations.

Anyway, I'm talking about the the group as a whole, not some specific example of an exception here or there over the last 50 years. The data speaks for itself. There is little to non success at the next level. I can understand if someone has a difference of opinion on why, but I feel I have seen it my whole life.

As far as toughness, wrestling is a perfect example. How many state champions in the history of USC? I already know, but I'll wait for your answer.

No need for LinkedIn, you stating 3rd gen resident, lived here whole life, and other personal experience is enough. We now know why you maybe credible and are paying attentionto USC.

Again, you are focused on USC and calling them soft because of lack of D1 success is misguided. 1st Gabe Houy was close to making and even starting for the Bears his rookie year but unfortunately towards the end of camp he suffered a career ending injury. Brandon Ford well not successful in D1 football, he is now a cop. That's not soft.
Do you hold the same standard on being tough or soft to Butler since they have even less success despite almost 3x as many boys? How about Baldwin, Canon Mac, numerous other schools who fail to produce top quality D1 players? All their kids soft?

There have been 2 state champs and we just celebrated alumni night and 60 years of USC Wrestling last Wednesday the 18th. Wrestling was never a priority here at USC. With that said the current coach and staff are doing a great job as there are 35 wrestlers and 1 of the few schools who has a full girls team.

With all that said I stand by my argument that USC is like most places in that some kids are soft, some tough, most just normal. I will give you that the soft kids here are super soft, and that too many kids are spoiled, which can co.e off as being soft. But when pushed, the great majority of kids respond like most places.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

You want me to drop my LinkedIn on here or something? You first. I'm 3rd generation in the community and I've been there my entire life and currently serve on the the board ls of 2 different athletic associations.

Anyway, I'm talking about the the group as a whole, not some specific example of an exception here or there over the last 50 years. The data speaks for itself. There is little to non success at the next level. I can understand if someone has a difference of opinion on why, but I feel I have seen it my whole life.

As far as toughness, wrestling is a perfect example. How many state champions in the history of USC? I already know, but I'll wait for your answer.

Connellsville
Norwin
Fox Chapel
Burrell
Quaker Valley
Frazier
Freedom
Burgettstown

 

[pittmeister]

This thread is everything that is wrong with Pitt football fans.

You all talk trash on PSU, yet there is no question on who has the more successful football program and athletic department. I swear it is too hard for yinz to just ignore them. Oh that's right, yinz do ignore them. Yet again here we are another topic where they show they live rent free in many of yinz minds.

You trash WPIAL kids, yet bitch when they don't want to come to our undersupported program. There are many reasons to go to a particular school or not to go. You dont need to wish them luck, but to wish ill just shows how little and pathetic you are. The WPIAL is not what it used to be but it is still better than most. I'll take this little area over 25-30 whole states. While it may not be Miami/Dade/Broward, LA, or Dallas Metro, it's also not Iowa, the Dakota's, Neveda, all The NE, etc.

A great majority of you act holier than thou. In your minds Pitt has the education standards of Harvard, the football pedigree of Alabama, the basketball ability of Duke, a commitment to a whole successful Athletic Department like Stanford and produce the upstanding patriotic citizens like the Academies. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

I swear many of you need to come to grips with reality. Maybe take a break from the internet and detrox for a few weeks.

Don't take this personally Mike. I like your posts. I'm about to make a general statement...

No Mike, I’ll tell you what’s wrong with this fan base. The fans have a defeatist, loser, surrender at all cost attitude when it comes to Pitt.

*We are not supposed to hate our enemies, we are to treat them with reverence, with admiration, with respect and never say a bad word about them. Not only are we ostracized by them, but by our own fanbase as well. I’m sure the Ohio State fans are telling each other to shut up and admire what Michigan has done to them over the last few years…

*They have a tunnel vision when it comes to sports. They never look at the entire landscape to see what’s going on at other schools. They think that bad things only happen to Pitt while everyone else reaps the rewards of championships and money.

*They demand results but do little or nothing to help the cause. They constantly complain. Post, after post, after post, after post….

But you know what really bothers me? What really pisses me off? They don’t look at FACTS and have unrealistic solutions to the problems. They stick to their narrative no matter what the evidence says. I’ll give you one example:

Fire Narduzzi! Honestly, if Pitt had the money to pay for his contract and had the money to hire a big-time coach, I’d say pull the plug. BUT THEY DON’T! – FACT! So the best solution is for Greene to get off his ass and get more money for NIL and retain the players we have and get better ones…

If you want more, I‘ll be glad to provide.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

You want me to drop my LinkedIn on here or something? You first. I'm 3rd generation in the community and I've been there my entire life and currently serve on the the board ls of 2 different athletic associations.

Anyway, I'm talking about the the group as a whole, not some specific example of an exception here or there over the last 50 years. The data speaks for itself. There is little to non success at the next level. I can understand if someone has a difference of opinion on why, but I feel I have seen it my whole life.

As far as toughness, wrestling is a perfect example. How many state champions in the history of USC? I already know, but I'll wait for your answer.

Connellsville
Norwin
Fox Chapel
Burrell
Quaker Valley
Bentworth
Frazier
Freedom
Burgettstown

They all stink in football, but are ranked in the Top 10 in wrestling in their respective classification.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

As far as toughness, wrestling is a perfect example. How many state champions in the history of USC? I already know, but I'll wait for your answer.

I guess Berwick in their heyday wasn't too tough because I can't remember any state champs in wrestling.

 

[mlvnsmly]

No need for LinkedIn, you stating 3rd gen resident, lived here whole life, and other personal experience is enough. We now know why you maybe credible and are paying attentionto USC.

Again, you are focused on USC and calling them soft because of lack of D1 success is misguided. 1st Gabe Houy was close to making and even starting for the Bears his rookie year but unfortunately towards the end of camp he suffered a career ending injury. Brandon Ford well not successful in D1 football, he is now a cop. That's not soft.
Do you hold the same standard on being tough or soft to Butler since they have even less success despite almost 3x as many boys? How about Baldwin, Canon Mac, numerous other schools who fail to produce top quality D1 players? All their kids soft?

There have been 2 state champs and we just celebrated alumni night and 60 years of USC Wrestling last Wednesday the 18th. Wrestling was never a priority here at USC. With that said the current coach and staff are doing a great job as there are 35 wrestlers and 1 of the few schools who has a full girls team.

With all that said I stand by my argument that USC is like most places in that some kids are soft, some tough, most just normal. I will give you that the soft kids here are super soft, and that too many kids are spoiled, which can co.e off as being soft. But when pushed, the great majority of kids respond like most places.

No, not all lack of success is because of a "soft" mentality in the district. Most places are probably a lack of opportunity. This clearly isn't the case in USC. Other places just have different priorities. Can't say that about USC either. Football is king. Canon Mac is a good example. Literally nobody cares about football there. It's all about wrestling all the time. A club I deal with wasn't even allowed on property this week because of Powerade. Not even if they were gone before the first wrestler showed up. And these are kids that live in the district. As you know, the AD is heavily involved with wrestling and only supports that team. Everyone else gets table scraps. Despite that, CM has had just as many NFL players as USC this century.

I'm honestly just combining results with what I've witnessed over the years. I understand that the WHY is just an opinion and opinions vary.

 

[mlvnsmly]

I guess Berwick in their heyday wasn't too tough because I can't remember any state champs in wrestling.

Berwick? Were talking about USC. One has nothing to do with the other. If you want Berwick to be your straw man, have at it.

 

[mlvnsmly]

Connellsville
Norwin
Fox Chapel
Burrell
Quaker Valley
Bentworth
Frazier
Freedom
Burgettstown

They all stink in football, but are ranked in the Top 10 in wrestling in their respective classification.

All else is equal too right? LOL. Moving the goalposts 10 times in one post.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

You seem to be drifting further and further from my point. USC kids literally never workout at the next level. From personal experience, I say they're soft. You seem to disagree with that.

Your original point was that you would stay away from Stohl and USC kids because they aren't tough.

If you want to become a college coach and take USC kids all day long, have at it. You'll be out of college before you know it.

It depends on what level I'm recruiting at. The higher the level I'm recruiting, the better the athlete I'm going after - pure and simple. Toughness is part of the equation only if the kid can run and has the requisite size to play at that level. I don't care how tough a kid if he can't play.

Berwick? Were talking about USC. One has nothing to do with the other. If you want Berwick to be your straw man, have at it.

Strawman? How about some deductive reasoning? You continue to equate USC's lack of NFL players and high level college success with a lack of toughness. Hence, that is why the Berwick example was used when you attempted to use USC wrestling as a barometer of toughness in the area.

 

[mlvnsmly]

Your original point was that you would stay away from Stohl and USC kids because they aren't tough.

It depends on what level I'm recruiting at. The higher the level I'm recruiting, the better the athlete I'm going after - pure and simple. Toughness is part of the equation only if the kid can run and has the requisite size to play at that level. I don't care how tough a kid if he can't play.

Strawman? How about some deductive reasoning? You continue to equate USC's lack of NFL players and high level college success with a lack of toughness. Hence, that is why the Berwick example was used when you attempted to use USC wrestling as a barometer of toughness in the area.

So you say you're not making a straw man argument and then double down on a straw man argument. I think I'm done here other than to say what happens in Berwick clearly has nothing to do with what happens at USC. If that isn't obvious, I don't know what to tell you. Hope you and your family have a happy new year.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

No, not all lack of success is because of a "soft" mentality in the district. Most places are probably a lack of opportunity. This clearly isn't the case in USC. Other places just have different priorities. Can't say that about USC either. Football is king. Canon Mac is a good example. Literally nobody cares about football there. It's all about wrestling all the time. A club I deal with wasn't even allowed on property this week because of Powerade. Not even if they were gone before the first wrestler showed up. And these are kids that live in the district. As you know, the AD is heavily involved with wrestling and only supports that team. Everyone else gets table scraps. Despite that, CM has had just as many NFL players as USC this century.

I'm honestly just combining results with what I've witnessed over the years. I understand that the WHY is just an opinion and opinions vary.

canon mac would actually have a decent team if central catholic didnt poach some of their players. i grew up in the south hills, canon mac was non existant in the late 80s, wresting program in farmland. it's gown big time and could be a decent program with how many kids are in that district now..

USC is weird, again, i grew up in bethel, watching those Render teams, played against them in the early 90s. The demographic has changed big time from then til now. A ton or asians, indians in USC. demographics that arent known for producing good high school athletes but they still are doing very well usually.

Good coaching still with Junko, a strong foundation from the render days has carried over..

 

[sonofabit]

If they are truly good enough to play on Sundays, they will be on the field for them.

Yeah, look for Hayes to follow Sanders’s career path, although with NIL who knows. Find out next year if he indeed accepts PSU’s “offer”…

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Yeah, look for Hayes to follow Sanders’s career path, although with NIL who knows. Find out next year if he indeed accepts PSU’s “offer”…

Which Hayes are you referring to?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

canon mac would actually have a decent team if central catholic didnt poach some of their players. i grew up in the south hills, canon mac was non existant in the late 80s, wresting program in farmland. it's gown big time and could be a decent program with how many kids are in that district now..

USC is weird, again, i grew up in bethel, watching those Render teams, played against them in the early 90s. The demographic has changed big time from then til now. A ton or asians, indians in USC. demographics that arent known for producing good high school athletes but they still are doing very well usually.

Good coaching still with Junko, a strong foundation from the render days has carried over..

I agree with you on USC. Very large Indian, Far Eastern, and Arab populations. Engineers, Professors, Doctors. My guess is this is at least 20% of the enrollment. These kids generally don't play football and basketball. So in that sense, USC really has a 4A football enrollment with the foreign kids taking them up to 5A. But they still win. So not sure what gives. I think it's coaching and the football culture there. USC never has legit D1 athletes. How many in the last 30 years? But the kids are well coached and well drilled. I dont think its a case of rich kids being soft as to why they don't play D1. It's the fact they aren't good athletes. They win based on coaching/culture. Peters is kinda like that now though they have produced McMillon and that kid going to Stanford.

 

[YourPittDanceTeam]

Terrific 25

Donald Barksdale - Steel Valley, RB/LB - 5-11, 185, senior - Youngstown State

Dayshaun Burnett - Imani Christian, WR/DE - 6-4, 220, senior – Bench warmer U

Brock Cornell - West Allegheny, RB/DB - 5-11, 185, senior - Penn

Parker Cunningham - South Park, OL/DL - 6-4, 300, senior – James Madison

Eric Doerue - South Park, RB - 6-0, 210, senior - Uncommitted

Bradley Gompers - Central Catholic, WR/LB - 6-4, 213, senior - Duke

Tyler Eber - Thomas Jefferson, RB - 5-10, 175, sophomore

Elijah Faulkner - Central Catholic, RB - 5-9, 185, senior - Uncommitted

Tikey Hayes - Aliquippa, RB/DB - 6-0, 205, senior – Bench warmer U

Lincoln Hoke - North Allegheny, OL/DL - 6-2, 260, junior

Nick McCullough - Peters Township, WR/DB - 6-0, 165, senior - Uncommitted

Mason Metz - Avonworth, OL/DL - 6-1, 215, senior - Seton Hill to play baseball

Naytel Mitchell - Penn Hills, RB/DB - 5-10, 190, senior - Uncommitted

JaVaughn Moore - Bethel Park, RB - 5-11, 185, senior - Uncommitted

Tanner Pfeuffer - Bethel Park, QB - 6-6, 195, senior - Uncommitted

Matt Sieg - Fort Cherry, QB/DB - 6-1, 185, junior – Bench warmer U

Scoop Smith - Woodland Hills, WR/DB - 5-7, 150, junior

Kemon Spell - McKeesport, RB/DB - 5-9, 185, sophomore

Nate Stohl - Upper St. Clair, OL/DL - 6-3, 270, senior - Princeton

Khalil Taylor - Seton LaSalle, WR/DB - 6-1, 185, sophomore

Xxavier Thomas - Central Catholic, WR/DB - 5-11, 180, senior – Bench warmer U

Jay Timmons - Pine-Richland, WR/DB - 5-10, 175, junior

Shep Turk - Thomas Jefferson, OL/DL - 6-5, 285, senior - PITT

Mickey Vaccarello - Peters Township, TE/LB - 6-3, 215, senior - Stanford

Brayden White - Thomas Jefferson, WR/DB - 6-1, 175, senior - South Dakota

These kind f lists are nice but mean nothing other then showing where some local high school football players are going to play football next year. Few, if any of them will start and I'm willing to bet that within the next two years over half of them will transfer out of the program they committed too. I have trust in the Pitt coaching staff that they can find good players from around the country to play for the program since the local kids all think they are to good to play for Pitt.

 

[pittiswhereiamfrom2]

If they are truly good enough to play on Sundays, they will be on the field for them.

Not really. Playing in real games is part of developing as a player.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Not really. Playing in real games is part of developing as a player.

Quinton Martin is going to be the perfect example of this. Elite athlete but doesn't have a position. He needs to be developed and has to play. He took the money to go to PSU and sit and will probably never see the field because Franklin recruits ready-made players who are as good or better. So he can't waste time developing Martin. At Pitt, he's a 4 year starter somewhere and plays in the NFL.