Small 2018 Class

[PhPanther1]

I figure this class maxes out at 20. 11 seniors, lets say O'Neil and Whitehead go pro. Can you really get more than 7 others to leave or fail out?

Really quiet on the RB and WR recruiting front. I expect WR and CB to be filled by some Floridians and the RB to either come from OH or another Floridian.

QB - Patti
RB - 1RB
WR - 1WR, 2WR
TE - Symonds, Banks
OT - Brown, Zubovic
OG - Kradel
DE - Morgan, Palmer, 3DE
DT - Danielson, Green
LB - Davis, Deveaux
S - Raines, Hooker
CB - Tallandier, 2CB

 

[upitt33]

There is no way they can take 20 recruits. 18 will be a bit of a stretch.

 

[PhPanther1]

There is no way they can take 20 recruits. 18 will be a bit of a stretch.

You're at 13 with thr seniors and O'Neill and Whitehead going pro. Does Bookser stick with the team? The current Junior class is pretty big, i can see 5 not coming back if not getting PT and pretty much graduated. I'd name names, but people get pissed when you do that. Then 1 sophomore and 1 freshman leaving, that gets you to 20.

 

[H2P-2007]

I know Kradel could end up at OL, but I thought we wanted to try him at DT first

 

[upitt33]

You're at 13 with thr seniors and O'Neill and Whitehead going pro. Does Bookser stick with the team? The current Junior class is pretty big, i can see 5 not coming back if not getting PT and pretty much graduated. I'd name names, but people get pissed when you do that. Then 1 sophomore and 1 freshman leaving, that gets you to 20.

I can't remember when 7 players voluntarily left a team especially since this coach recruited them. We are not talking about Pitt basketball here.

 

[oldpanther]

I can't remember when 7 players voluntarily left a team especially since this coach recruited them. We are not talking about Pitt basketball here.

During the of Spring football practice at Johnstown in 1973 there were numerous departures. Many more than 7, granted, those that escaped or departed in the middle of the night were not Majors recruits.

 

[oldpanther]

I know Kradel could end up at OL, but I thought we wanted to try him at DT first

That is also my understanding.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Are they even at 85 right now? Some will enroll early I suppose and they will find a way to get into the 18-20 range, if not more. People were saying the same thing last year (small class) and they took 24.

 

[Jpripper88]

There is no way they can take 20 recruits. 18 will be a bit of a stretch.

I'd love to take the over 18. All day everyday. In fact, I would give you 3 to 1 odds and make the bet every single year, without even looking at the roster or the coach(es).

 

[PhPanther1]

I can't remember when 7 players voluntarily left a team especially since this coach recruited them. We are not talking about Pitt basketball here.

Last year:
Poker
Grimm
Paulina
Ibrahim
Challingsworth
Reese
Baker

Would tou be suprised if 7 of these guys left? Some may graduate early, just ready for life's work, or other reason.

Arujo-Lopes
Motley
Briggs
Idowu
Roy
J Williams
Herndon
Folston
Bookser (if he is even back this year)
McKee
M Henderson
Any current Freshman

 

[DiehardPanther]

There are always players who Transfer or Graduate and move on with their life's work. Always. They will bring in 18 or more players. Book it.

 

[Swervin27]

Last year:
Poker
Grimm
Paulina
Ibrahim
Challingsworth
Reese
Baker

Would tou be suprised if 7 of these guys left? Some may graduate early, just ready for life's work, or other reason.

Arujo-Lopes
Motley
Briggs
Idowu
Roy
J Williams
Herndon
Folston
Bookser (if he is even back this year)
McKee
M Henderson
Any current Freshman

Briggs is currently first string at boundary. I'd be surprised if McKee leaves, he is a good shot at competing for reps at star. I think floating, Lopes and motley get reps on two deep this year.

If bookser is dismissed from this team for a DUI, I am driving down to south side side upmc complex and punching narduzzi and every single pitt football coach in the face as hard as I possibly can. Then I'll go to mcardles pub on 16th st and drink Flaming Dr Pepper shots until I go blind. Not to cool off or anything, Moreso because it's on the way home.

 

[Chescat]

Briggs is currently first string at boundary. I'd be surprised if McKee leaves, he is a good shot at competing for reps at star. I think floating, Lopes and motley get reps on two deep this year.

If bookser is dismissed from this team for a DUI, I am driving down to south side side upmc complex and punching narduzzi and every single pitt football coach in the face as hard as I possibly can. Then I'll go to mcardles pub on 16th st and drink Flaming Dr Pepper shots until I go blind. Not to cool off or anything, Moreso because it's on the way home.

I would agree except for Briggs. He may be first on the depth chart after spring ball, but
IMO, that won't hold up in the fall. I feel once the newcomers and the younger DB's get their
feet wet, they'll surpass Briggs. As far as 2018, I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone. I'm
assuming he'll have his degree by then (maybe sooner).

Whatever occurs, I'd expect 18+ new recruits for 2018.

 

[Swervin27]

I would agree except for Briggs. He may be first on the depth chart after spring ball, but
IMO, that won't hold up in the fall. I feel once the newcomers and the younger DB's get their
feet wet, they'll surpass Briggs. As far as 2018, I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone. I'm
assuming he'll have his degree by then (maybe sooner).

Whatever occurs, I'd expect 18+ new recruits for 2018.

I'd like to see Campbell win the spot. I think Miller is back at CB but if he is safety still, one of those two. We are young but talented (on paper) at safety.

Hopefully we are getting past the days of 7-8 player attrition annually. With a coaching change, it's necessary but duzzer has been here long enough that 8 players leaving is a sign of bad things.

 

[h2p_5150]

Last year:
Poker
Grimm
Paulina
Ibrahim
Challingsworth
Reese
Baker

Would tou be suprised if 7 of these guys left? Some may graduate early, just ready for life's work, or other reason.

Arujo-Lopes
Motley
Briggs
Idowu
Roy
J Williams
Herndon
Folston
Bookser (if he is even back this year)
McKee
M Henderson
Any current Freshman

I count six on that list that Duzz should encourage to move on unless they show a pulse this season. Add in 11 seniors and guys getting hurt or leaving early and I think we could have 20 This class.

 

[upitt33]

Last year:
Poker
Grimm
Paulina
Ibrahim
Challingsworth
Reese
Baker

Would tou be suprised if 7 of these guys left? Some may graduate early, just ready for life's work, or other reason.

Arujo-Lopes
Motley
Briggs
Idowu
Roy
J Williams
Herndon
Folston
Bookser (if he is even back this year)
McKee
M Henderson
Any current Freshman

Duzz didn't recruit most of the kids that left which is the second part that you omitted. We will see but highly doubt more than 18.

 

[Jpripper88]

I'd like to see Campbell win the spot. I think Miller is back at CB but if he is safety still, one of those two. We are young but talented (on paper) at safety.

Hopefully we are getting past the days of 7-8 player attrition annually. With a coaching change, it's necessary but duzzer has been here long enough that 8 players leaving is a sign of bad things.

If 7+ players are leaving every year, that is a great thing for the program IMO. It means talent is being infused yearly and we aren't counting on non productive upper classmen, just because they have been around the longest. It means the coaches have constant confidence in their new talent and their ability to coach the talent to the highest levels of effectiveness.

 

[Swervin27]

If 7+ players are leaving every year, that is a great thing for the program IMO. It means talent is being infused yearly and we aren't counting on non productive upper classmen, just because they have been around the longest. It means the coaches have constant confidence in their new talent and their ability to coach the talent to the highest levels of effectiveness.

No it doesn't. It means that they screwed up on 7+ offers and that infused talent you speak so highly of is the same players that are being run off 3 years later.

 

[Jpripper88]

No it doesn't. It means that they screwed up on 7+ offers and that infused talent you speak so highly of is the same players that are being run off 3 years later.

Every program "screwed up on 7+ offers" every year if you judge it based on whether they left school or never contributed in a starting role. Literally every class and every program.

 

[Swervin27]

Every program "screwed up on 7+ offers" every year if you judge it based on whether they left school or never contributed in a starting role. Literally every class and every program.

Ok. My point is we are going to recruit players that aren't going to be productive players in their first or even redshirt freshmen years. Some will, our top 5 or 6 top rated players should. If we push out every redshirt sophomore player who isn't in two deep, we are going to have to start walk on linebackers and plug in CBs that are giving up 500 passing yards a game like we had this year.

 

[Jpripper88]

Ok. My point is we are going to recruit players that aren't going to be productive players in their first or even redshirt freshmen years. Some will, our top 5 or 6 top rated players should. If we push out every redshirt sophomore player who isn't in two deep, we are going to have to start walk on linebackers and plug in CBs that are giving up 500 passing yards a game like we had this year.

But no one said that. Most of the guys who will go (in a good program) are guys who are going into their 4th and 5th years, not guys going into their 3rd year. Some 3rd year guys will go, at times, because of depth chart/contribution and others will go because of grades or discipline. Bottom line is: losing 7+ players a year, in addition to guys exhausting eligibility, is pretty much the common occurrence for top programs.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Ok. My point is we are going to recruit players that aren't going to be productive players in their first or even redshirt freshmen years. Some will, our top 5 or 6 top rated players should. If we push out every redshirt sophomore player who isn't in two deep, we are going to have to start walk on linebackers and plug in CBs that are giving up 500 passing yards a game like we had this year.

If two thirds of your class end up being "productive players" you are absolutely killing it on the recruiting trail. I doubt there are many teams in the country that can support those numbers. If Pitt hits just over half they are doing very well.

Most people considers PC's 2013 class a good one. There were 27 players in that class. Ten never did anything, and another 3-4 are certainly debatable.

It's not hard to move 6-8 players along each year, even if you're recruiting at a high level. In fact, it's probably easier if you're recruiting well.

 

[Swervin27]

If two thirds of your class end up being "productive players" you are absolutely killing it on the recruiting trail. I doubt there are many teams in the country that can support those numbers. If Pitt hits just over half they are doing very well.

Most people considers PC's 2013 class a good one. There were 27 players in that class. Ten never did anything, and another 3-4 are certainly debatable.

It's not hard to move 6-8 players along each year, even if you're recruiting at a high level. In fact, it's probably easier if you're recruiting well.

2/3rds? I think 50% success rate is good. here is my point, attrition HAS to happen, no doubt. I just think some fans, JRip and Uptown especially, jump the gun on some kids, that's all. No one is saying we are going to go 100%, it's impossible. By pure logic alone, 30+ scholarship players wont play, just will not. some of those will be redshirt but you cant play 85 players, probably 45 tops are making real production reps..

I just think a lot of fans think, well this kid is a sophomore, he's not starting, get him out of here.. We have to have some of these late bloomer types on this roster to succeed later in their careers.. redshirt, and by jr year, compete for a backup spot or even be surprise starter. It HAS to happen. we cant recruit like osu or bama, where we can get 4 star ellite type players at all positions.. I'd love to say we can but we cant. we need to have our backups and a few starters be that player that comes on later, that needs 2-3 years to get to the level needed.

of course there are players that just didn't make it, there are players that will fail out or get in trouble or realize that they are not P5 caliber players. we know that, everyone knows that. just some people want to label everyone who isn't a starter by their 2nd year into that category and I believe that is a mistake..

 

[PhPanther1]

You need to recruit backup type players and special teamers. The problem is when the guys that develop into that are your highly touted 4* players....most times they don't want to be that guy and leave. Also a problem is when by necessity you have to turn a guy you recruited to be a backup/special teamer into a starter.....see Mike Caprara types of players. Pitt won't ever recruit like bama and osu....so it needs it's stars to work out and the rest to fall into place.

 

[Cathedral Lawn Frisbee]

Oh good, for a second I thought this was about short CBs

 

[Jpripper88]

2/3rds? I think 50% success rate is good. here is my point, attrition HAS to happen, no doubt. I just think some fans, JRip and Uptown especially, jump the gun on some kids, that's all. No one is saying we are going to go 100%, it's impossible. By pure logic alone, 30+ scholarship players wont play, just will not. some of those will be redshirt but you cant play 85 players, probably 45 tops are making real production reps..

I just think a lot of fans think, well this kid is a sophomore, he's not starting, get him out of here.. We have to have some of these late bloomer types on this roster to succeed later in their careers.. redshirt, and by jr year, compete for a backup spot or even be surprise starter. It HAS to happen. we cant recruit like osu or bama, where we can get 4 star ellite type players at all positions.. I'd love to say we can but we cant. we need to have our backups and a few starters be that player that comes on later, that needs 2-3 years to get to the level needed.

of course there are players that just didn't make it, there are players that will fail out or get in trouble or realize that they are not P5 caliber players. we know that, everyone knows that. just some people want to label everyone who isn't a starter by their 2nd year into that category and I believe that is a mistake..

But that wasn't the argument or discussion. You said that if 8 players are leaving it is a sign of bad things, when, in fact, it is pretty normal for a healthy program.

 

[Swervin27]

But that wasn't the argument or discussion. You said that if 8 players are leaving it is a sign of bad things, when, in fact, it is pretty normal for a healthy program.

8 a year seems high but I have no numbers to compare it to.. it seems normal for pitt because we've had a lot of coaching turnover but now that we are getting stability here, going into year 3, etc..

hey, I am not up to date with what is going on with comparable programs with a coach with tenure. is it similar at wvu? Unc? honestly, I don't know.. the list of usual names given as these 8, had a few players that I think is WAY to early to give up on..

A fun topic we have yearly and no matter how much we debate, it always seems to work out.. it is up to the staff to determine who isn't going to make it and who can be a worthwhile investment..

 

[pittmeister]

If a player has graduated and has contributed very little on he field, he is a prime candidate to move on. Otherwise, I'm not in favor of pushing kids out the door...