Concerns about medium term recruiting

[SVPanther]

Welcome your thoughts. First, some givens:

1. WPA, Eastern Ohio are a shrinking population base and competition for the fewer DI players from the region is increasing meaning that we will have fewer of DI caliber kids committing to Pitt from the region on an absolute and percentage basis.

2. While the traditional footprint of the ACC is VA, NC, Florida - this has not been a traditional recruiting area for Pitt (exception - FLA in the Jackie years).

3. The big 3 recruiting states are CA, TX and Fla. We do pull the odd recruit from Fla from time to time and negligible to none from CA, TX.

4. Assuming the foregoing is generally correct, an ACC Championship appears beyond our grasp for the foreseeable future.

5. If so, what would you do if you were coach or AD to expand our recruiting base?,

 

[Jpripper88]

I wouldn't. I would focus on PA, OH, VA, MD, NJ, and FL. There is plenty of talent in those places to win and win big, if we have good recruiters and coaches.

 

[SVPanther]

I wouldn't. I would focus on PA, OH, VA, MD, NJ, and FL. There is plenty of talent in those places to win and win big, if we have good recruiters and coaches.

Well some interesting numbers: Of the states you noted, outside of Florida where we do not have a top 100 commit anyway, there are but 7 players (VA 1 -Committed to FSU, Ohio 1-Committed to PSU, PA 1 Committed to GA, MD 3, 1 Committed to OSU and 1 uncommitted from NJ) representing but 7% of the top 100. The South, exclusive of Fla, has 24% of the top 100. With the exception of some small outliers, Fla, TX and CA are split more or less evenly representing 69% in total. Even crediting our "base" as you identified, we come up woefully short. I just find this interesting when looking to the future and how far Pitt can realistically go given its recruiting base. No flaming intended,

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/...yerrankings/_/view/rn300/sort/rank/class/2017

 

[yourhired]

Ga,Sc,Nc,Fl,oh,Va,Pa

 

[VAPITTALUM]

Another way to look at recruiting is to locate regions where similar systems are installed on offense and defense. There's a reason the majority of the BIGXII runs spread option offenses with 5 WRs; that's what the majority of the Texas and Oklahoma HS coaches run.

Obviously you want the most talented players possible, but you also want players who fit into your system.

 

[SVPanther]

Ga,Sc,Nc,Fl,oh,Va,Pa

Pitt has no players on its roster from GA or SC and only 2 from NC (one a PK). The only top 100 player we snagged from those areas is Peterman via Tennessee.

 

[vegasgreed]

prior to here

peterson was at akron
sherman was at purdue(did have vt exp)
salem was at illinois before getting let go
powell was at md
canada at ncsu

simms at ysu
hill at wyoming
conklin and lb at fiu(short stint)

we have some acc experience here and there but not a ton. we have to do better on our own turf, some really good players over the last few years. its important.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

The ACC championship is beyond our reach this year and next year. We simply have too many holes all over the field to realistically compete for it.

However, after that, we have as good a chance as anyone not named Clemson, Florida State or Miami of winning it.

I think of Pitt lands a good quarterback, recruits reasonably well at home as well as Ohio, New Jersey and Del Marva, and it pulls a few kids per year from Florida, they can definitely compete with anyone. That is definitely the template we need to follow and it is absolutely attainable. However, it starts with the quarterback.

 

[PhPanther1]

I wouldn't waste a penny in California or Texas. Pitt doesn't have a national power's recruiting budget to go into those areas and pull those kids out of state. Ya there's a ton of talent there, but there's also a ton of D1 schools in those states.

Stick to PA, OH, NJ, MD, VA, FL. Be selective in targets in GA, NC, DE, NY and midwest states.

 

[Nittany1997]

Coach them up!

 

[Jpripper88]

Well some interesting numbers: Of the states you noted, outside of Florida where we do not have a top 100 commit anyway, there are but 7 players (VA 1 -Committed to FSU, Ohio 1-Committed to PSU, PA 1 Committed to GA, MD 3, 1 Committed to OSU and 1 uncommitted from NJ) representing but 7% of the top 100. The South, exclusive of Fla, has 24% of the top 100. With the exception of some small outliers, Fla, TX and CA are split more or less evenly representing 69% in total. Even crediting our "base" as you identified, we come up woefully short. I just find this interesting when looking to the future and how far Pitt can realistically go given its recruiting base. No flaming intended,

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/...yerrankings/_/view/rn300/sort/rank/class/2017

Who cares? Our program is not going to be built on top 100 players. We need to find top 500 type players and most of the ones we get are going to be in the 150-500 range. If we are signing 22 kids, I would expect our ideal realistic class to have about 3 top 150 players, 15 ranked 150-500, and then 4 flyers that we have to count on as better scouted and coached up players. That would give us a top 15-20 class.

We should not be focused on being Alabama or Ohio State. We should be focused on winning our division and being good enough to compete with FSU and Clemson, even if we aren't beating them more than not. Our strategy should be to win 10-11 games in the regular season and hope we knock off FSU or Clemson in the ACC CG. If we do that, we have a shot at the playoff and let's see if we ever find lightning in a bottle. The chances we have a stacked team and ever go 15-0? Essentially 0.

 

[thebadby2]

The ACC championship is beyond our reach this year and next year. We simply have too many holes all over the field to realistically compete for it.

However, after that, we have as good a chance as anyone not named Clemson, Florida State or Miami of winning it.

I think of Pitt lands a good quarterback, recruits reasonably well at home as well as Ohio, New Jersey and Del Marva, and it pulls a few kids per year from Florida, they can definitely compete with anyone. That is definitely the template we need to follow and it is absolutely attainable. However, it starts with the quarterback.

It actually starts with the offensive and defensive lines. Without strong line play nothing else works. But I agree that to become a real top-20 player, in addition to the lines, you have to have a difference-maker at QB and some complimentary playmakers on both sides of the ball.

 

[chethejet]

WPIAL generally provides 3 to 7 very good Div1 prospects. Three star and four star ratings that Pitt lands. So that leaves 15 roughly form OHIO, NJ the rest of PA, and then the ACC footprint. Pitt can recruits nice classes as they win more and a top 25 class is right there with 90% of the ACC if not better. For Pitt it comes down to the trenches and support people.

 

[medixman]

Pitt could land these Wpial recruits if ND would stay away!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Staff Coaches are in Florida today as TribLive Reports to recruit, so that reveals what Coach Pat wants to target for his talent to Pitt too!

 

[pitts-lament]

Welcome your thoughts. First, some givens:

1. WPA, Eastern Ohio are a shrinking population base and competition for the fewer DI players from the region is increasing meaning that we will have fewer of DI caliber kids committing to Pitt from the region on an absolute and percentage basis.

2. While the traditional footprint of the ACC is VA, NC, Florida - this has not been a traditional recruiting area for Pitt (exception - FLA in the Jackie years).

3. The big 3 recruiting states are CA, TX and Fla. We do pull the odd recruit from Fla from time to time and negligible to none from CA, TX.

4. Assuming the foregoing is generally correct, an ACC Championship appears beyond our grasp for the foreseeable future.

5. If so, what would you do if you were coach or AD to expand our recruiting base?,

THIS years recruit rankings in Ohio list 69 players as a 3 star or higher, in Pa, there is 17.
Spend more time recruiting in Ohio, Va. NJ, Florida, Michigan, chase the top 4-6 from Pa. hit Texas, Mississippi, NC, SC, THE TOP 5 IN N,Y.

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

Where ever the coaches choose to recruit, the current DB situation is a beautiful selling point for some of the country's best HS DBs.

"Coach, why would a 4 star DB like me want to come and play for a Pitt team that's 5 and 3?"
"Simple. If we had another DB like you this season, we'd be undefeated right now."

 

[TD_istheman]

I wouldn't waste a penny in California or Texas. Pitt doesn't have a national power's recruiting budget to go into those areas and pull those kids out of state. Ya there's a ton of talent there, but there's also a ton of D1 schools in those states.

Stick to PA, OH, NJ, MD, VA, FL. Be selective in targets in GA, NC, DE, NY and midwest states.

How do you know what Pitt has ? Honestly

 

[TD_istheman]

Who cares? Our program is not going to be built on top 100 players. We need to find top 500 type players and most of the ones we get are going to be in the 150-500 range. If we are signing 22 kids, I would expect our ideal realistic class to have about 3 top 150 players, 15 ranked 150-500, and then 4 flyers that we have to count on as better scouted and coached up players. That would give us a top 15-20 class.

We should not be focused on being Alabama or Ohio State. We should be focused on winning our division and being good enough to compete with FSU and Clemson, even if we aren't beating them more than not. Our strategy should be to win 10-11 games in the regular season and hope we knock off FSU or Clemson in the ACC CG. If we do that, we have a shot at the playoff and let's see if we ever find lightning in a bottle. The chances we have a stacked team and ever go 15-0? Essentially 0.

Sounds like someone who is a loser by nature, like accepted your role as a 2nd class team, sorry, don't feel that way.

 

[deepelemblues]

ohio ohio ohio

look at ohio state's roster they get the cream of the cream of ohio and there's a lot of cream there to get

narduzzi is doing the right thing going after the guys ohio state doesn't have room for or ohio state thinks isn't good enough but they're still really good players and it is paying off and will pay off more in the future

 

[Jpripper88]

Sounds like someone who is a loser by nature, like accepted your role as a 2nd class team, sorry, don't feel that way.

Not at all. I am just realistic that we don't have the resources to have the staff and fanbase to consistently be at the top of the sport. We can achieve at the highest level, but we have to do it a different way.

 

[PhPanther1]

How do you know what Pitt has ? Honestly

How do you know what I know?

 

[big marty]

Pitts recruiting Budget is top 25. Thats a fact. The NCAA rules prohibit an Ohio St. From doing amymore than Pitt . If we want a kid in California and actually feel we can get him nothing financially stops us. Other factors such as the school, staff, recent success, and winning trump everything. Money is not the issue. Pitt has spent as much time in Florida as it legally can. The kids we are recruiting are in contact daily as much as we are in contact with Lamont Wade back home.