How did we flip (let alone get the ear of) a USC commit from Florida?

[pittpitt]

4* DT Keyshon Camp commits to USC last summer. He still visits Texas and Michigan, has offers from Oregon, Ohio St, Alabama, everybody. Then he ends up using one of his 5 official visits on Pitt, who have none of the pedigree, brand name recognition, weather, recent success, etc. of these schools, and actually flips to us. By the way, USC's class full of 4* players has zero DT's in it. He was it, so it wasn't like he de-committed due to just being another 5*/4* recruit at the position.

Seriously, how in the hell did we get him interested in even looking at Pitt in the first place - anyone know beyond just "Narduzzi must be that good"? Ton of great talking college coaches with bigger inroads to Florida than Pitt.

 

[Pitt83Panther]

I think your selling the program short.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I don't know and only care Coach Pat & Staff keeps doing it!

 

[Las Panteras]

I think your selling the program short.

he isnt selling the program short at all. USC, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Pitt

Which one of these doesnt belong with the other?

The correct answer is......Narduzzi likely was recruiting this kid for the past 2+ seasons....thus getting his foot in the door.

 

[pittdan77]

he isnt selling the program short at all. USC, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Pitt

Which one of these doesnt belong with the other?

The correct answer is......Narduzzi likely was recruiting this kid for the past 2+ seasons....thus getting his foot in the door.

Nope. When I was a kid, Pitt out recruited all of those schools. Pitt belongs.

 

[Gary77]

Our staff doesn't 'fear' rejection, or the chance of losing a recruit to a rival, like some others. Self-confidence goes a long way in recruiting.

Bottom line..............You don't ask, you don't get!

 

[doubleAA's]

great school... Aaron Donald!.... great defensive minded coach.... practice right next to the Steelers.

Better question is why dont we get more.

 

[OriginalEther]

he isnt selling the program short at all. USC, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Pitt

Which one of these doesnt belong with the other?

The correct answer is......Narduzzi likely was recruiting this kid for the past 2+ seasons....thus getting his foot in the door.

Probably.
Hope and early playing time may have resonated with the kid.

 

[dbricker]

Good question, maybe coach or the player will spell it out someday. If you check Panthers Prey or Pitt Blather you'll find some background about the move his USC recruiter made to Missouri (where the player would've gone, if, then to the NFL, so if he had stayed at Mizzou as a line coach, Camp would've been happy to go there. There must be some history with whoever recruited him to Pitt.

4* DT Keyshon Camp commits to USC last summer. He still visits Texas and Michigan, has offers from Oregon, Ohio St, Alabama, everybody. Then he ends up using one of his 5 official visits on Pitt, who have none of the pedigree, brand name recognition, weather, recent success, etc. of these schools, and actually flips to us. By the way, USC's class full of 4* players has zero DT's in it. He was it, so it wasn't like he de-committed due to just being another 5*/4* recruit at the position.

Seriously, how in the hell did we get him interested in even looking at Pitt in the first place - anyone know beyond just "Narduzzi must be that good"? Ton of great talking college coaches with bigger inroads to Florida than Pitt.

 

[paulbl99]

4* DT Keyshon Camp commits to USC last summer. He still visits Texas and Michigan, has offers from Oregon, Ohio St, Alabama, everybody. Then he ends up using one of his 5 official visits on Pitt, who have none of the pedigree, brand name recognition, weather, recent success, etc. of these schools, and actually flips to us. By the way, USC's class full of 4* players has zero DT's in it. He was it, so it wasn't like he de-committed due to just being another 5*/4* recruit at the position.

Seriously, how in the hell did we get him interested in even looking at Pitt in the first place - anyone know beyond just "Narduzzi must be that good"? Ton of great talking college coaches with bigger inroads to Florida than Pitt.

Lol

Something everyone should learn ..
Fear the Duzz

great school... Aaron Donald!.... great defensive minded coach.... practice right next to the Steelers.

Better question is why dont we get more.

we had coaches who didn't want to put in the effect, do what it takes to sway these kiddies today ????

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

There's been playing time available every year for the last 30 at most positions. Narduzzi put a staff of relentless and good recruiters together. There may be more to it but it begins there. This doesn't happen by accident for coach in his 1st full year in a recruiting cycle with a program that's had a few ups but a lot of mediocrity for 30 years. I'm impressed as can be with the class he put together. And believe that kids all over the place have taken notice.

 

[thebadby2]

4* DT Keyshon Camp commits to USC last summer. He still visits Texas and Michigan, has offers from Oregon, Ohio St, Alabama, everybody. Then he ends up using one of his 5 official visits on Pitt, who have none of the pedigree, brand name recognition, weather, recent success, etc. of these schools, and actually flips to us. By the way, USC's class full of 4* players has zero DT's in it. He was it, so it wasn't like he de-committed due to just being another 5*/4* recruit at the position.

Seriously, how in the hell did we get him interested in even looking at Pitt in the first place - anyone know beyond just "Narduzzi must be that good"? Ton of great talking college coaches with bigger inroads to Florida than Pitt.

He didn't technically "flip" as he decomitted from USC quite a while back. He was very interested in Missouri where he had a close connection to a position coach. That coach left for the NFL and Camp cancelled his Mizzou visit. He took his time to settle on Pitt, and made a good decision. Dooz has a lot to offer a defensive player, I think this class reflects that.

 

[pittpitt]

He didn't technically "flip" as he decomitted from USC quite a while back.

He decommited a week-and-a-half ago.

 

[UPitt '89]

Don't underestimate the success that Aaron Donald is having in the NFL when it comes to recruiting DLs to Pitt.

Yes, I know that Narduzzi didn't coach Donald. But he's still an ambassador of the program and an example of being able to achieve your NFL goals by coming to Pitt.

 

[MajorMajors]

4* DT Keyshon Camp commits to USC last summer. He still visits Texas and Michigan, has offers from Oregon, Ohio St, Alabama, everybody. Then he ends up using one of his 5 official visits on Pitt, who have none of the pedigree, brand name recognition, weather, recent success, etc. of these schools, and actually flips to us. By the way, USC's class full of 4* players has zero DT's in it. He was it, so it wasn't like he de-committed due to just being another 5*/4* recruit at the position.

Seriously, how in the hell did we get him interested in even looking at Pitt in the first place - anyone know beyond just "Narduzzi must be that good"? Ton of great talking college coaches with bigger inroads to Florida than Pitt.

I agree that this is an amazing set of circumstances. At the LOI event, they mentioned that after Keyshon de-committed from USC (which wasn't explained), Pitt learned of it somehow and quickly changed some travel plans of a Pitt coach already in Florida and the coach was able to quickly pay a visit. Reportedly Keyshon's father said "Am I glad to see you" when the Pitt coach showed up...

They got Keyshon to visit and he liked everything he saw and heard. (I'm old and my memory can be fuzzy, but I think this is what I heard.)

When you consider where he lives, and look at Keyshon's video - and his size and speed - it really is quite fortuitous that he landed at Pitt. He has "outstanding player" written all over him.

Go Pitt.

 

[TD_6082]

Nope. When I was a kid, Pitt out recruited all of those schools. Pitt belongs.

That's the Pitt I grew up with too. It's also exactly what we need to try to get back to doing. If freaking Oxford Mississippi can become an 'in' school with top recruits, Pitt can most certainly get back to that level.

 

[We_All_We_Got]

Don't underestimate the success that Aaron Donald is having in the NFL when it comes to recruiting DLs to Pitt.

Yes, I know that Narduzzi didn't coach Donald. But he's still an ambassador of the program and an example of being able to achieve your NFL goals by coming to Pitt.

Absolutely. Donald's success came under 3 different head coaches. Pitt CAN get you to the NFL without Duzz. With Duzz, the chances are even better.

 

[KiwiJeff]

Nope. When I was a kid, Pitt out recruited all of those schools. Pitt belongs.

How old are you?

 

[Pittx9]

I just wanna know why Rivals only has the kid a 3-star. He was a 4 star just about everywhere else and his offers would also say otherwise.

Pitt should be consistently in the mix with these schools for recruits, but they really haven't been in a long time. HS kids really don't care that much about a team's overall history, they're more interested in what the program has done lately (just talking P5 schools here). They see the teams on ESPN every Saturday night and the teams winning championships and playing in NY6 bowls. Yeah, Pitt could get to that but our past coaches never even tackled that aspect.

Don't underestimate the importance of Pat Narduzzi in the recruiting process, as opposed to just the Pitt program. He's turning into the Don Juan of recruiting. The kind of guy that will walk into a living room, and probably before he even coached a game was telling kids... We're gonna win national championships, you gonna be a part of it or not? The Duzz just bleeds confidence.

 

[ncyajleel]

Sadly, I am old enough to remember when Pitt DID belong with the others. Late 70's and early 80's, Pitt was as good and better than the others you mentioned.

Go look at the Pitt rosters from those years, amazing!

he isnt selling the program short at all. USC, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Pitt

Which one of these doesnt belong with the other?

The correct answer is......Narduzzi likely was recruiting this kid for the past 2+ seasons....thus getting his foot in the door.

 

[ncyajleel]

1981 NFL Draft, First Round:

1 NOR George Rogers RB South Carolina
2 NYG Lawrence Taylor LB North Carolina
3 NYJ Freeman McNeil RBUCLA
4 SEA Kenny Easley DB UCLA
5 STL E.J. Junior LB Alabama
6 GNB Rich Campbell QB California
7 TAM Hugh Green LB Pittsburgh
8 SFO Ronnie Lott DB USC
9 RAM Mel Owens LB Michigan
10 CIN David Verser WR Kansas
11 CHI Keith Van Horne T USC
12 BAL Randy McMillan RB Pittsburgh
13 MIA David Overstreet RB Oklahoma
14 KAN Willie Scott TE South Carolina
15 DEN Dennis Smith DB USC
16 DET Mark Nichols WR San Jose St.
17 PIT Keith Gary DE Oklahoma
18 BAL Donnell Thompson DE North Carolina
19 NWE Brian Holloway T Stanford
20 WAS Mark May G Pittsburgh
21 OAK Ted Watts DB Texas Tech
22 CLE Hanford Dixon DB Southern Miss
23 OAK Curt Marsh G Washington
24 SDG James Brooks RB Auburn
25 ATL Bobby Butler DB Florida St.
26 DAL Howard Richards G Missouri
27 PHI Leonard Mitchell T Houston
28 BUF Booker Moore RB Penn St.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Coach said Conklin was down there when they heard and went to see him and got him to visit.

 

[ncyajleel]

Rest of 1981 Draft

2nd Round - Rickey Jackson LB
3rd Round - Greg Meisner NT
3rd Round - Carlton Williamson DB
3rd Round - Russ Grimm G
5th Round - Bill Neill NT
5th Round - Benji Pryor TE
5th Round - Lynn Thomas DB
5th Round - Jerry Boyarski NT
11th Round - Rick Trocano QB

 

[ncyajleel]

Then in 1983 Pitt had THREE MORE drafted in the first round, including Dan Mario, Tim Lewis, and Jimbo Covert. A total of NINE players drafted in 1983!

 

[NTOP]

1981 NFL Draft, First Round:

1 NOR George Rogers RB South Carolina
2 NYG Lawrence Taylor LB North Carolina
3 NYJ Freeman McNeil RBUCLA
4 SEA Kenny Easley DB UCLA
5 STL E.J. Junior LB Alabama
6 GNB Rich Campbell QB California
7 TAM Hugh Green LB Pittsburgh
8 SFO Ronnie Lott DB USC
9 RAM Mel Owens LB Michigan
10 CIN David Verser WR Kansas
11 CHI Keith Van Horne T USC
12 BAL Randy McMillan RB Pittsburgh
13 MIA David Overstreet RB Oklahoma
14 KAN Willie Scott TE South Carolina
15 DEN Dennis Smith DB USC
16 DET Mark Nichols WR San Jose St.
17 PIT Keith Gary DE Oklahoma
18 BAL Donnell Thompson DE North Carolina
19 NWE Brian Holloway T Stanford
20 WAS Mark May G Pittsburgh
21 OAK Ted Watts DB Texas Tech
22 CLE Hanford Dixon DB Southern Miss
23 OAK Curt Marsh G Washington
24 SDG James Brooks RB Auburn
25 ATL Bobby Butler DB Florida St.
26 DAL Howard Richards G Missouri
27 PHI Leonard Mitchell T Houston
28 BUF Booker Moore RB Penn St.

Some interesting names on that list...a few busts, of course. Hanford Dixon played a long time for the Browns. My daughter roomed with his daughter at BGSU.....really a nice kid.
That last pick won't get to Canton anytime soon.

 

[TD_6082]

How old are you?

Lol. From Day 1 of Johnny ball through the next 15 years, Pitt really was known a school that could recruit with anyone, regardless of who was coaching.

 

[pittdan77]

How old are you?

46. Remember walking up Cardiac Hill with my Dad any time we could score free tickets (we didn't have much). When you look back at some of those rosters from the 70's and 80's at the names of the players and coaches, you get a much better perspective on what Pitt really was to eastern football. Go back and look at some of those rosters from the 80's. There was a Pitt/PSU game in the mid-80's that pretty much had two dream O-Lines going head to head. Crazy talent.

 

[ncyajleel]

I thought I would look up the Pitt players drafted in that 70's and 80's time. I started in Johnny Majors era, but kept going because the names were so interesting to me, some I had completely forgotten. I added the first one in 1974 just because the name struck me as interesting.


1974 Dave Wannstedt

1975 Gary Burley

1977 Tony Dorsett (2nd overall pick, HOF), Jim Corbett, Al Romano

1978 Randy Holloway (1st Round), Matt Cavanaugh, Bob Jury, Elliot Walker, Tony Green, Randy Reutershan, J.C. Wilson, Willie Taylor, Tom Brzoza

1979 Gordon Jones, Walt Brown, Jeff Delany, Al Chesley, David Logan

1980 Jo Heath, Bob Gruber

1981 Hugh Green (7th overall pick), Randy McMillan (12th overall pick), Mark May (21st overall pick), Rickey Jackson (HOF), Greg Meisner, Carlton Williamson, Russ Grimm (HOF), Bill Neill, Benjie Pryor, Lynn Thomas, Jerry Boyarsky, Rick Trocano

1982 Emil Boures, Sal Sunseri, Sam Clancy

1983 Jimbo Covert (6th overall pick), Tim Lewis (11th overall pick), Dan Mario (27th overall pick, HOF), Bryan Thomas, Dave Puzzuoli, Ron Sams, Rich Kraynak, Rob Fada, Julius Dawkins

1984 Bill Maas (4th overall pick), Jim Sweeney, Joe McCall, Tom Flynn, Dwight Collins, Al Wenglikowski

1985 Bill Fralic (2nd overall pick), Chris Doleman (4th overall pick, HOF), Troy Benson, Marlon McIntyre, Bill Wallace

1986 Bob Buczkowski (1st Round Pick), Bill Callahan

1987 Tony Woods (1st Round Pick), Randy Dixon, Lorenzo Freeman, Tom Brown

1988 Craig Heyward (1st Round Pick), Quintin Jones, John Carter, Ezekial Gadson, Gary Richard, Billy Owens, Ed Miller

1989 Burt Grossman (8th Overall Pick), Tom Ricketts (1st Round Pick), Mark Stepnoski, Vernon Kirk, Cornell Holloway, Jerry Olsavsky

1990 Marc Spindler, Dean Caliguire, Alonzo Hampton, Tom Sims, Chris Goetz, Carnel Smith, Roman Matusz

 

[PittRev]

I was told that Keyshon had a positive relationship with Pitt's coaches during recruitment before he committed to USC. When he decommitted he called a Pitt coach and said he was interested because of a prior positive relationship. The coach was there in less than 12 hours and the rest is history. He was Pitt from that moment on, really not even close except Missouri due to a positive relationship with him.

Bottom line: relationships matter!