Recruiting under Narduzzi

[steel_curtain]

-Anyone else starting to see the change?

-Pitt might take 9 Florida players this year if we close the last 2 or 3. We pulled more talent out of Florida then our home state. Under a 2 year watch we might have more recruits from Florida than we do from Pennsylvania. Ohio is hanging around as a strong 3rd option. I find this trend to be very interesting. Obviously it has been beaten to death we need a huge dose of Speed and athleticism. Going hard in the Sunshine State, I like it.

 

[PhPanther1]

You told us:
Jeter, Garbutt and Munford were Pitt locks.
Hansard, Singleton and Proctor all were Pitt leans and Narduzzi could get them.

WTF happened?

 

[Team_Pitt_Fan]

3 star class blah

 

[GT74]

3 star class blah

If all you care about is stars, then Pitt isn't going to satisfy you at this point. You need to root for Bama, OSU, ND, Mich, etc, who will get many of the 4 and 5* guys. Pitt can win with these guys and Narduzzi will, considering that Mich St was in the same boat and, for example, consistently beat Mich, who was getting those guys you want. More wins may equal more blue chips, but it will always be tough going against the above mentioned schools.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

You told us:
Jeter, Garbutt and Munford were Pitt locks.
Hansard, Singleton and Proctor all were Pitt leans and Narduzzi could get them.

WTF happened?

Pay no attn to him. He's the same guy who talked about Justice Kithcart as if he was the 2nd coming of Pearl Washington.

 

[Pitt-fan-in-Charlotte]

Reality is it's always gonna be difficult recruiting against the elite schools with a half empty stadium

 

[Piranha]

Reality is it's always gonna be difficult recruiting against the elite schools with a half empty stadium

Bingo - This staff has done a very good

 

[MajorMajors]

This class and last year's class, with the transfers, is clearly upgrading the overall level of talent on the team. We will see the impact by mid-season. Pitt's going to be a tough team to beat.

Coach Duzz is solving problems and making Pitt better.

Go Pitt.

 

[PantherO]

The last 2 classes have been the most balanced that I can remember. This is a good thing.

 

[SteelCityChamps]

Love the emphasis on Florida.

 

[Pitt4Life34]

Pay no attn to him. He's the same guy who talked about Justice Kithcart as if he was the 2nd coming of Pearl Washington.

Funny

 

[raleighpanther]

One thing that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is Narduzzi's success with very high end transfers.
Peterman never really got the loved he deserved by most Pitt fans, but without him, Pitt would've had far less success than it did in PN's two years. Remember how bad Voytik was at the beginning of 2015 before Nate replaced him? And Nate was the ONLY other option. His contribution these last two years was vital. He made what he did look easy, and so people under-appreciated what he did and his ability. NFL scouts are now noticing in a big way.
BTW, Nate was a top 10 QB coming out of HS.

And Hendrix was the 6th ranked DE coming out of HS, and looked like he was going to be a beast this year before getting hurt. Hope he stays healthy in 2017..

Our starting TE for this upcoming year was the #1 recruited TE in the 2015 class. He went to UCLA, didn't like the fit, and transferred back east to Pitt. As a 20 year-old redshirt soph, the talent should be a lot more developed than it was coming out of HS.

Now, we get Max Browne, the #1 QB from a few years ago coming as a grad transfer, same as Peterman.

So, our starting QB and TE in 2017, and our starting DE, will be from this transfer group. All are expected to be big-time contributors.

No guarantees on any of them, but that goes for every single HS recruit as well. But these guys are ready to go, ala Peterman.

And these recruits don't show up in recruiting rankings.

 

[MajorMajors]

One thing that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is Narduzzi's success with very high end transfers.
Peterman never really got the loved he deserved by most Pitt fans, but without him, Pitt would've had far less success than it did in PN's two years. Remember how bad Voytik was at the beginning of 2015 before Nate replaced him? And Nate was the ONLY other option. His contribution these last two years was vital. He made what he did look easy, and so people under-appreciated what he did and his ability. NFL scouts are now noticing in a big way.
BTW, Nate was a top 10 QB coming out of HS.

And Hendrix was the 6th ranked DE coming out of HS, and looked like he was going to be a beast this year before getting hurt. Hope he stays healthy in 2017..

Our starting TE for this upcoming year was the #1 recruited TE in the 2015 class. He went to UCLA, didn't like the fit, and transferred back east to Pitt. As a 20 year-old redshirt soph, the talent should be a lot more developed than it was coming out of HS.

Now, we get Max Browne, the #1 QB from a few years ago coming as a grad transfer, same as Peterman.

So, our starting QB and TE in 2017, and our starting DE, will be from this transfer group. All are expected to be big-time contributors.

No guarantees on any of them, but that goes for every single HS recruit as well. But these guys are ready to go, ala Peterman.

And these recruits don't show up in recruiting rankings.

Excellent post. Coach Duzz has shown he is quite resourceful. He's definitely elevating the talent level...

Go Pitt.

 

[sherepower]

If all you care about is stars, then Pitt isn't going to satisfy you at this point. You need to root for Bama, OSU, ND, Mich, etc, who will get many of the 4 and 5* guys. Pitt can win with these guys and Narduzzi will, considering that Mich St was in the same boat and, for example, consistently beat Mich, who was getting those guys you want. More wins may equal more blue chips, but it will always be tough going against the above mentioned schools.

To be fair. Michigan st had the number 17th ranked class in coach D's second class.

I do like the fact we are putting a big emphasis in Florida. Especially, with kids who have a nice offer sheet.

 

[Pittismyteam]

Not to get sidetracked but any info on Hendrix and his injury

One thing that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is Narduzzi's success with very high end transfers.
Peterman never really got the loved he deserved by most Pitt fans, but without him, Pitt would've had far less success than it did in PN's two years. Remember how bad Voytik was at the beginning of 2015 before Nate replaced him? And Nate was the ONLY other option. His contribution these last two years was vital. He made what he did look easy, and so people under-appreciated what he did and his ability. NFL scouts are now noticing in a big way.
BTW, Nate was a top 10 QB coming out of HS.

And Hendrix was the 6th ranked DE coming out of HS, and looked like he was going to be a beast this year before getting hurt. Hope he stays healthy in 2017..

Our starting TE for this upcoming year was the #1 recruited TE in the 2015 class. He went to UCLA, didn't like the fit, and transferred back east to Pitt. As a 20 year-old redshirt soph, the talent should be a lot more developed than it was coming out of HS.

Now, we get Max Browne, the #1 QB from a few years ago coming as a grad transfer, same as Peterman.

So, our starting QB and TE in 2017, and our starting DE, will be from this transfer group. All are expected to be big-time contributors.

No guarantees on any of them, but that goes for every single HS recruit as well. But these guys are ready to go, ala Peterman.

And these recruits don't show up in recruiting rankings.

 

[sherepower]

One thing that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is Narduzzi's success with very high end transfers.
Peterman never really got the loved he deserved by most Pitt fans, but without him, Pitt would've had far less success than it did in PN's two years. Remember how bad Voytik was at the beginning of 2015 before Nate replaced him? And Nate was the ONLY other option. His contribution these last two years was vital. He made what he did look easy, and so people under-appreciated what he did and his ability. NFL scouts are now noticing in a big way.
BTW, Nate was a top 10 QB coming out of HS.

And Hendrix was the 6th ranked DE coming out of HS, and looked like he was going to be a beast this year before getting hurt. Hope he stays healthy in 2017..

Our starting TE for this upcoming year was the #1 recruited TE in the 2015 class. He went to UCLA, didn't like the fit, and transferred back east to Pitt. As a 20 year-old redshirt soph, the talent should be a lot more developed than it was coming out of HS.

Now, we get Max Browne, the #1 QB from a few years ago coming as a grad transfer, same as Peterman.

So, our starting QB and TE in 2017, and our starting DE, will be from this transfer group. All are expected to be big-time contributors.

No guarantees on any of them, but that goes for every single HS recruit as well. But these guys are ready to go, ala Peterman.

And these recruits don't show up in recruiting rankings.

Thats acually a very good point.

 

[Swervin27]

duzzi needs to end this high attrition rate of 50% of our recruiting classes being out of the program a few years later.. so far so good, early yet of course but looking at his first class, only 2 gone, out of 15.. Looking over that list, I don't suspect to see many more leave after spring ball either, not too many misses in that class. compare that to the '14 class, 11 out of 23 are gone..

That's how you build real depth, get your kids to stick around, develop and become good backups and role players while your few "elite" types come in quickly and produce..

 

[GT74]

To be fair. Michigan st had the number 17th ranked class in coach D's second class.

I do like the fact we are putting a big emphasis in Florida. Especially, with kids who have a nice offer sheet.

You may be right with that number shere, and I respect your opinions and posts, but Mich St has seldom compared to Mich's recruiting classes, yet beat them regularly. This year was an aberration for the Spartans, they'll likely be back.

 

[TheOldDirtyPanther]

I'm excited just like this time of year last year. Not sure what others are looking for. We have a weird set of folks here.

 

[thebadby2]

You may be right with that number shere, and I respect your opinions and posts, but Mich St has seldom compared to Mich's recruiting classes, yet beat them regularly. This year was an aberration for the Spartans, they'll likely be back.

Michigan had a three ring coaching clown show for about 8 years there. MSU and Dantonio were able to capitalize on that. There's a new sheriff in Ann Arbor and I'm pretty sure the fun's over for MSU for the foreseeable future. And I say this as a MSU supporter.

Due strictly to the mess at Michigan, MSU was able to take the recruiting high ground in the state of Michigan from U of M. That is officially over.

 

[Nittany1997]

Need top 20 recruiting classes.

 

[VAPITTALUM]

Need top 20 recruiting classes.

And an enrollment of 100k to really boost the institution's standing amongst its peers.

 

[woodpecker1]

3 star class blah

Booo

 

[Little J]

Ah the glass half full or the glass half empty.

Need to build better depth or 8-4 will be as good as it gets. It starts with a run of solid classes which is the way Pitt is headed.

 

[raleighpanther]

Admittedly, I tend to be an optimist this time of year. But there is something special in the type of kids that PN is bringing in. If we land a couple of currently uncommitted kids tomorrow, this class will be top 25. The Florida emphasis is great, because there are kids there who would stars in PA, who don't even get to start until their senior years, and who fly under the radar.

 

[thebadby2]

Admittedly, I tend to be an optimist this time of year. But there is something special in the type of kids that PN is bringing in. If we land a couple of currently uncommitted kids tomorrow, this class will be top 25. The Florida emphasis is great, because there are kids there who would stars in PA, who don't even get to start until their senior years, and who fly under the radar.

Same thing was said about Chryst's classes as well. Only time will tell. For every Aaron Donald there are 10 Hez Trahans.

Certainly Duzzi's classes have had better offer sheets overall, and that's a good sign.

 

[MajorMajors]

I don't see a comparison to PC's classes. PC had very definite reaches in his classes - kids with few and usually low level offers. We hoped that PC had the good eye, but, even given the late bloomer Jester Weah, the percentages were against him.

Much less reaching by Coach Duzzi, in addition to more high-level players...

Go Pitt

 

[H2Pittisit]

Admittedly, I tend to be an optimist this time of year. But there is something special in the type of kids that PN is bringing in. If we land a couple of currently uncommitted kids tomorrow, this class will be top 25. The Florida emphasis is great, because there are kids there who would stars in PA, who don't even get to start until their senior years, and who fly under the radar.

Don't you think if this were true we wouldn't be landing these kids late and they would have a lot more offers? Some of you guys act like Pitt's the only team that goes into Florida looking for sleepers

 

[thebadby2]

I don't see a comparison to PC's classes. PC had very definite reaches in his classes - kids with few and usually low level offers. We hoped that PC had the good eye, but, even given the late bloomer Jester Weah, the percentages were against him.

Much less reaching by Coach Duzzi, in addition to more high-level players...

Go Pitt

The comparison is more about the tone of this board with those PC classes--"great class, PC and staff identified the hidden gems and now will coach them up to brilliance", "he found the sleepers", "he and staff recruit only high character kids", etc. Same things are being said now. The truth is nobody will now what we have until these kids are on the field in a couple of years.

Well, most of PC's "sleepers" never woke up. The best players PC brought in were typically the highest rated ones, with a couple of exceptions, most notably James Conner.

As i said, the offer sheets of Duzzi's classes on the whole have been better than PCs, but there is plenty of uncertainty about how these classes will pan out. There is reason for cautious optimism, not blind faith.

 

[CorsosRevenge]

Half the recruits in this country are looking at Pitt wondering if the f**king coach is gonna be there in four years. Why? Because traditionally, they haven't. When that perception changes, you'll see recruiting uptick beyond 25-40.

 

[VAPITTALUM]

Half the recruits in this country are looking at Pitt wondering if the f**king coach is gonna be there in four years. Why? Because traditionally, they haven't. When that perception changes, you'll see recruiting uptick beyond 25-40.

Absolutely! Stability, and consistently building momentum in the right direction, rather than taking multiple steps back every couple of years is imperative in the business of CFB. Now, if PITT were an LSU, Alabama, etc. PITT could simply bring in another known coach at $5-7M/year and not skip a beat. PITT needs to do everything in its power to keep the core of this coaching staff in place for years to come. I think Narduzzi loves Pittsburgh, along with many of his assistants, and he is now being supported by the administration in ways that keep him competitive (e.g the private jet for recruiting visits).

 

[TheOldDirtyPanther]

I am excited!