From the desk of Jim Snyder
In case you missed my post earlier this week the Pitt summer camp will start on August 10th and the Pantherlair will be there keeping you up to date. It won’t be long now until coach Dave Wannstedt has his 85-man squad in pads.
Last weekend Rival Hoops scouts were at the ABCD camp in New Jersey. Quite frankly I lost track of how stories came across the “Ticker” but it was a lot. Maybe the B-Man could keep up but I was exhausted just trying. This week Rivals Hoops has been at the Peach Jam in Georgia. Next week they will be at the 16 under national championships in New Orleans. Next weekend Rivals Hoops will also be in Las Vegas for the Main Event and the adidas Super 64. The “Ticker” will keep on humming with hoops talk.
Rivals football scouts will be at 7 on7 passing camps in Texas and Alabama. They will also be at the Elite 11 Camp in California. Rivals.com reporters will stay busy this summer by sending articles to our subscribers.
Approximately 2,500 players will sign Letters of Intent in February. Rivals released their Top 250 this past week. In effect these prospects were judged to be in the top 10% in the country. Next week the ranking process will continue. I do not expect Rivals.com to pass out stars to 3-star players until about August 4th. They will redo their state rankings within the next two weeks and they will also rank the Top 250. Those players with two stars will be released about August 18th.
Early this year we told you the recruiting class of 2006 would be deep in the state of Pennsylvania. The last time we looked 66 Pennsylvania players had scholarship offers. We still think this number will climb to 80+ over time. Sometime ago one reporter told us there were a lot of Division 1 prospects this year but a shortage of studs. It turns outs there are 15 players with 4 or 5 star rankings. Only Texas, California and Florida had more. This is a very good showing for the Keystone State.
Earlier this year we also told you it was the year of the quarterbacks. Pennsylvania has a history of churning out some of the top quarterbacks in the country. Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly are but a few of the highly successful quarterbacks which Pennsylvania football has produced over the years. So far nine (9) Pennsylvania quarterbacks have scholarship offers. We think there will be a couple of more before we finish the Class of 2006. Four players have already given verbal commitments. Kevan Smith (Pitt), Pat Devlin (Miami), Jeremy Ricker (Maryland) and Zach Frazer (Notre Dame) have chosen an impressive list of schools. There will be many others signing Letters of Intent in February.
Keep checking the “Ticker”. In an earlier War Room we reported that Rivals.com produces over 600 pieces of content each day. The “Ticker” helps sort them out. Over the past 30 days 294 articles crossed the “Ticker” on players that Pitt has recruited. In the last 90 days 765 articles have crossed the “Ticker”. In addition there are team articles and game article that are not recruiting related and as a result they do not cross the Ticker. These are in addition to the stories that cross the Ticker.
We reported to you this week that Jeff Minemyer is scheduled to visit Pitt, West Virginia and Duke this month. Pitt has not offered him yet. It is our understanding that Pitt looks at him as a potential offensive tackle. If the Pitt staff does not offer soon I look for him to commit to West Virginia.
Pitt already has verbal commitments from Lakewood St Edward’s Joe Thomas (6’ 4” 290) and Kennedy Christian’s Eric Rodemoyer 6’ 3” 309). In addition Kevin Hughes (6’ 5” 285) will enroll at Pitt as a part-time student in the fall and join the team in January of 2006. Hughes is a gray-shirt. It appears the Pitt staff now also looks at Johnstown’s Scott Corson (6’ 5” 280) as an offensive lineman. Our sources tell us the Pitt staff would like to take one more offensive lineman. Pitt is looking at Jeff Minemyer and Trinity’s Andy Miller[/B] as possible offensive tackle candidates. Jeff Otah from Valley Forge is also a possibility.
Over the past week or so QB Dexter Davidson from Coconut Beach, FL, Ricky Gary from Pahokee, FL and Eric Latimore from Middleton, DE have all told the Pantherlair they would be coming to Pittsburgh for the Notre Dame game. We think this may be a growing trend over the next six weeks. It accomplishes several things. Schools cannot pay for “official” visits until school is in session. The Notre Dame game will qualify and allow Pitt to pay for the trip. It also buys the Pitt staff a little time to see where they stand with other players. There is no doubt about it the Notre Dame game is the most attractive on the Pitt home schedule this year. If you want to show off to potential recruits this is the time to do it. In addition to out of state players you can expect Pitt to offer tickets to the local players that have already committed and probably a few more that they are still recruiting but do not yet have offers. These are unofficial visits.
Herb Pope played well at the ABCD tournament last week. If he keeps it up he will rise in the rankings. If he makes it to Pitt he could give the basketball program a big boost. My understanding is the Rivals scouts are more impressed each time they see the big guy play.
Today we have an article on Mychal Skinner from Kiski Area. Coaches are saying they want to watch video of his first couple of games. It would be helpful if the Cavaliers got off to a fast start under their new coach. It would also help if Skinner got off to a fast start in the classroom. He has a little ground to make up academically. If he gets off to a fast start this fall he would make a nice pick up for somebody. Pitt looks at him as a safety at this point.
Remember the annual subscriptions are the best value for your money. You get the annual recruiting yearbook, which comes out in October. You also have access to the AMP service, which will grow in the coming years. High-speed Internet access grew by 35% last year in the United States. It is the wave of the future and you get to see it today on Rivals.com. You also save money. It is your best deal. Call 1-866-2Rivals (1-866-274-8257) for more details.
Jim Snyder can be contacted at jrsnyder04@comcast.net.
The War Room is targeted towards our premium customers. We ask that all information reported in the War Room MUST stay right here! That’s the way this deal works. When this information is repeated outside of the Between Fifth and Forbes forum it only cheapens the price of yours and every other die-hard who have purchased premium services. The War Room is one of our more popular features...thank you all for keeping the information on this board.
In case you missed my post earlier this week the Pitt summer camp will start on August 10th and the Pantherlair will be there keeping you up to date. It won’t be long now until coach Dave Wannstedt has his 85-man squad in pads.
Last weekend Rival Hoops scouts were at the ABCD camp in New Jersey. Quite frankly I lost track of how stories came across the “Ticker” but it was a lot. Maybe the B-Man could keep up but I was exhausted just trying. This week Rivals Hoops has been at the Peach Jam in Georgia. Next week they will be at the 16 under national championships in New Orleans. Next weekend Rivals Hoops will also be in Las Vegas for the Main Event and the adidas Super 64. The “Ticker” will keep on humming with hoops talk.
Rivals football scouts will be at 7 on7 passing camps in Texas and Alabama. They will also be at the Elite 11 Camp in California. Rivals.com reporters will stay busy this summer by sending articles to our subscribers.
Approximately 2,500 players will sign Letters of Intent in February. Rivals released their Top 250 this past week. In effect these prospects were judged to be in the top 10% in the country. Next week the ranking process will continue. I do not expect Rivals.com to pass out stars to 3-star players until about August 4th. They will redo their state rankings within the next two weeks and they will also rank the Top 250. Those players with two stars will be released about August 18th.
Early this year we told you the recruiting class of 2006 would be deep in the state of Pennsylvania. The last time we looked 66 Pennsylvania players had scholarship offers. We still think this number will climb to 80+ over time. Sometime ago one reporter told us there were a lot of Division 1 prospects this year but a shortage of studs. It turns outs there are 15 players with 4 or 5 star rankings. Only Texas, California and Florida had more. This is a very good showing for the Keystone State.
Earlier this year we also told you it was the year of the quarterbacks. Pennsylvania has a history of churning out some of the top quarterbacks in the country. Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly are but a few of the highly successful quarterbacks which Pennsylvania football has produced over the years. So far nine (9) Pennsylvania quarterbacks have scholarship offers. We think there will be a couple of more before we finish the Class of 2006. Four players have already given verbal commitments. Kevan Smith (Pitt), Pat Devlin (Miami), Jeremy Ricker (Maryland) and Zach Frazer (Notre Dame) have chosen an impressive list of schools. There will be many others signing Letters of Intent in February.
Keep checking the “Ticker”. In an earlier War Room we reported that Rivals.com produces over 600 pieces of content each day. The “Ticker” helps sort them out. Over the past 30 days 294 articles crossed the “Ticker” on players that Pitt has recruited. In the last 90 days 765 articles have crossed the “Ticker”. In addition there are team articles and game article that are not recruiting related and as a result they do not cross the Ticker. These are in addition to the stories that cross the Ticker.
We reported to you this week that Jeff Minemyer is scheduled to visit Pitt, West Virginia and Duke this month. Pitt has not offered him yet. It is our understanding that Pitt looks at him as a potential offensive tackle. If the Pitt staff does not offer soon I look for him to commit to West Virginia.
Pitt already has verbal commitments from Lakewood St Edward’s Joe Thomas (6’ 4” 290) and Kennedy Christian’s Eric Rodemoyer 6’ 3” 309). In addition Kevin Hughes (6’ 5” 285) will enroll at Pitt as a part-time student in the fall and join the team in January of 2006. Hughes is a gray-shirt. It appears the Pitt staff now also looks at Johnstown’s Scott Corson (6’ 5” 280) as an offensive lineman. Our sources tell us the Pitt staff would like to take one more offensive lineman. Pitt is looking at Jeff Minemyer and Trinity’s Andy Miller[/B] as possible offensive tackle candidates. Jeff Otah from Valley Forge is also a possibility.
Over the past week or so QB Dexter Davidson from Coconut Beach, FL, Ricky Gary from Pahokee, FL and Eric Latimore from Middleton, DE have all told the Pantherlair they would be coming to Pittsburgh for the Notre Dame game. We think this may be a growing trend over the next six weeks. It accomplishes several things. Schools cannot pay for “official” visits until school is in session. The Notre Dame game will qualify and allow Pitt to pay for the trip. It also buys the Pitt staff a little time to see where they stand with other players. There is no doubt about it the Notre Dame game is the most attractive on the Pitt home schedule this year. If you want to show off to potential recruits this is the time to do it. In addition to out of state players you can expect Pitt to offer tickets to the local players that have already committed and probably a few more that they are still recruiting but do not yet have offers. These are unofficial visits.
Herb Pope played well at the ABCD tournament last week. If he keeps it up he will rise in the rankings. If he makes it to Pitt he could give the basketball program a big boost. My understanding is the Rivals scouts are more impressed each time they see the big guy play.
Today we have an article on Mychal Skinner from Kiski Area. Coaches are saying they want to watch video of his first couple of games. It would be helpful if the Cavaliers got off to a fast start under their new coach. It would also help if Skinner got off to a fast start in the classroom. He has a little ground to make up academically. If he gets off to a fast start this fall he would make a nice pick up for somebody. Pitt looks at him as a safety at this point.
Remember the annual subscriptions are the best value for your money. You get the annual recruiting yearbook, which comes out in October. You also have access to the AMP service, which will grow in the coming years. High-speed Internet access grew by 35% last year in the United States. It is the wave of the future and you get to see it today on Rivals.com. You also save money. It is your best deal. Call 1-866-2Rivals (1-866-274-8257) for more details.
Jim Snyder can be contacted at jrsnyder04@comcast.net.
The War Room is targeted towards our premium customers. We ask that all information reported in the War Room MUST stay right here! That’s the way this deal works. When this information is repeated outside of the Between Fifth and Forbes forum it only cheapens the price of yours and every other die-hard who have purchased premium services. The War Room is one of our more popular features...thank you all for keeping the information on this board.
