So, about yesterday - that was something else. If you are big Pitt fan, and one that really follows recruiting, I don't think you'll ever forget a 9 commit day. That will go down as one of the craziest days in Pitt recruiting history.
So Chris was all over everything yesterday. Here's a recap of who actually committed.
https://pittsburgh.rivals.com/news/recruiting-rundown-recapping-a-huge-weekend-for-pitt
I kind of want to look at who committed and what that does for each position. For reference, here is the scholarship board. We'll need to upgrade it to include Gragg, because the team is now at 85 scholarships. Pitt has 16 seniors. I think they'll sign 21. Attrition happens, it's part of the game. And in recent years, kids are always looking to play and not wait. I don't think attrition is unique to Pitt either. I think more kids transfer than before.
https://pittsburgh.forums.rivals.com/threads/the-2018-scholarship-board-updated-5-16-2018.131260/
But again, my working number is 21. Could it be higher? Yes. Could it be lower? Yes.
Quarterback - I think Pitt should be done here with the position after landing Davis Beville. So for the first time in a while, the 2019 season could have a normal looking depth chart at QB. Town as a senior, Pickett as a junior, Patti as a redshirt freshman, and now Beville taking a redshirt.
Running Back - Pitt has five scholarship backs heading into this season, and I'll believe they'll have five going into next season. They picked up Vincent Davis from Florida yesterday, and they will lose Hall and Ollison. He's a speedy back and I think they'll add a bigger back as well. So look for one more RB.
Wide Receiver - Pitt hasn't landed one yet, although I think they did great work on Darrell Harding Jr. So how many? They only have one senior. So I think they could just take one. Pitt brought in two last year, and three the year before so they have done work there to add players there. Ideally it's Harding, but there could be a second one out there they like too.
Tight End - The one recruit before the storm. Pitt landed Travis Koontz from Youngstown as a JC player. I think Pitt would like to add a high school tight end. Nikolas Ognenovic from yesterday's visit would be a candidate. But looking at the scholarship board, Pitt has four including Gragg. Pitt runs a lot of two tight end sets, so that number needs to be around 5-6. So a second tight end makes sense. Especially with rumblings that one player could move to the line eventually.
Offensive Line - Pitt doesn't have one and Pitt needs a lot of them. I'm saying no less than five in this class. We're under the understanding only one of those players will be a guard. But just as a reminder, Alex Bookser, Connor Dintino, Stefano Millin and Mike Herndon are seniors. They need to get the number back up with those departures.
Defensive End - Well I think Pitt opened and closed this position in one day. Pitt got three yesterday: DeAndre Jules, Bryce Nelms, and Brandon Mack. Mack seems like one of Pitt's better DE recruits in quite some time. But those three, on top of the four they landed last year (Baldonado, Mimes, Morgan and Palmer). The position has really been restocked, and looking at all seven - they all seem like they have a chance to be good players or at least a few of them.
Defensive Tackle - Pitt has 8 going into this season, and only one is a senior in Shane Roy. Pitt picked up Calijah Kancey this weekend. Could that be it? Sure. But Narduzzi and Partridge love them some defensive tackles. If one comes along they like, they might make room.
Linebacker - Brandon George wrapped up the day yesterday, and maybe linebacker recruiting overall. Pitt has him as a middle linebacker. Leslie Smith looks like he will play star linebacker. And Khadry Jackson's 6-2 frame suggests he might make for a money linebacker. But he could play star. Pitt has three senior linebackers for this season, and now they have 3 lined up. I think they could be done here.
Cornerback - Pitt doesn't have any yet, and they brought in four defensive backs last year: V'lique Carter, Erick Hallett, Judson Tallandier, Marquis Williams. I think two will be corners, and two will be safeties. Not sure who will play where. But what does that mean for this year's recruiting? I think Pitt will add two.
Safety - Pitt landed Brandon Hill. Plus I think two of the incoming freshmen will play safety. I still think Pitt will add another one.
So where's my count on what else they will add? 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 5 OL, 2 CB, 1 S. So my count is at 11, so I'm a little off of my number of 21. So I guess there's room for interpretation. A lot can happen between now and December and December to February.
So Chris was all over everything yesterday. Here's a recap of who actually committed.
https://pittsburgh.rivals.com/news/recruiting-rundown-recapping-a-huge-weekend-for-pitt
I kind of want to look at who committed and what that does for each position. For reference, here is the scholarship board. We'll need to upgrade it to include Gragg, because the team is now at 85 scholarships. Pitt has 16 seniors. I think they'll sign 21. Attrition happens, it's part of the game. And in recent years, kids are always looking to play and not wait. I don't think attrition is unique to Pitt either. I think more kids transfer than before.
https://pittsburgh.forums.rivals.com/threads/the-2018-scholarship-board-updated-5-16-2018.131260/
But again, my working number is 21. Could it be higher? Yes. Could it be lower? Yes.
Quarterback - I think Pitt should be done here with the position after landing Davis Beville. So for the first time in a while, the 2019 season could have a normal looking depth chart at QB. Town as a senior, Pickett as a junior, Patti as a redshirt freshman, and now Beville taking a redshirt.
Running Back - Pitt has five scholarship backs heading into this season, and I'll believe they'll have five going into next season. They picked up Vincent Davis from Florida yesterday, and they will lose Hall and Ollison. He's a speedy back and I think they'll add a bigger back as well. So look for one more RB.
Wide Receiver - Pitt hasn't landed one yet, although I think they did great work on Darrell Harding Jr. So how many? They only have one senior. So I think they could just take one. Pitt brought in two last year, and three the year before so they have done work there to add players there. Ideally it's Harding, but there could be a second one out there they like too.
Tight End - The one recruit before the storm. Pitt landed Travis Koontz from Youngstown as a JC player. I think Pitt would like to add a high school tight end. Nikolas Ognenovic from yesterday's visit would be a candidate. But looking at the scholarship board, Pitt has four including Gragg. Pitt runs a lot of two tight end sets, so that number needs to be around 5-6. So a second tight end makes sense. Especially with rumblings that one player could move to the line eventually.
Offensive Line - Pitt doesn't have one and Pitt needs a lot of them. I'm saying no less than five in this class. We're under the understanding only one of those players will be a guard. But just as a reminder, Alex Bookser, Connor Dintino, Stefano Millin and Mike Herndon are seniors. They need to get the number back up with those departures.
Defensive End - Well I think Pitt opened and closed this position in one day. Pitt got three yesterday: DeAndre Jules, Bryce Nelms, and Brandon Mack. Mack seems like one of Pitt's better DE recruits in quite some time. But those three, on top of the four they landed last year (Baldonado, Mimes, Morgan and Palmer). The position has really been restocked, and looking at all seven - they all seem like they have a chance to be good players or at least a few of them.
Defensive Tackle - Pitt has 8 going into this season, and only one is a senior in Shane Roy. Pitt picked up Calijah Kancey this weekend. Could that be it? Sure. But Narduzzi and Partridge love them some defensive tackles. If one comes along they like, they might make room.
Linebacker - Brandon George wrapped up the day yesterday, and maybe linebacker recruiting overall. Pitt has him as a middle linebacker. Leslie Smith looks like he will play star linebacker. And Khadry Jackson's 6-2 frame suggests he might make for a money linebacker. But he could play star. Pitt has three senior linebackers for this season, and now they have 3 lined up. I think they could be done here.
Cornerback - Pitt doesn't have any yet, and they brought in four defensive backs last year: V'lique Carter, Erick Hallett, Judson Tallandier, Marquis Williams. I think two will be corners, and two will be safeties. Not sure who will play where. But what does that mean for this year's recruiting? I think Pitt will add two.
Safety - Pitt landed Brandon Hill. Plus I think two of the incoming freshmen will play safety. I still think Pitt will add another one.
So where's my count on what else they will add? 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 5 OL, 2 CB, 1 S. So my count is at 11, so I'm a little off of my number of 21. So I guess there's room for interpretation. A lot can happen between now and December and December to February.
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