From the desk of Jim Snyder
A little football recruiting
July is often a slow period for the Pitt football coaches. Many of them are out of the “office” taking vacation time. Once the fall camp starts on August 11th there is seldom a day off until after Letter-of-Intent Day in early February. A couple of readers report seeing Pitt coaches on area golf courses. I read one report where Michigan State coach John L. Smith was vacationing in Africa. That is really getting away to recharge the batteries.
There was a report that Ohio State picked up a commitment earlier this week from Rob Schoenhoft but it turned out that it might have been a little premature. He is the top rated quarterback in Ohio. The Buckeyes have made Rob their quarterback target.
West Virginia picked up a commitment from Frank Carduff (6’ 4” 272) from Shenandoah Valley High School in Central PA. I can’t see where Pitt was heavily involved. He had also had offers from UConn and Delaware. This small school sent Greg Harrison to Penn State in the Class of 2004.
Maryland received a commitment this week from Zach Marshall (6’ 7” 280) from Mason, Ohio near Cincinnati. He got lost on the way to the Pitt summer camp. The location of the UPMC complex seemed to bother him. Not sure I like a player from Ohio jumping over Pitt to get to an ACC school (Maryland). Pitt had offered. Scratch one lineman from their list.
We talked this week to defensive tackle Ryan Routhier (6’ 4” 265) of Lebanon, Ohio. He is receiving plenty of mail from Pitt but they do not seem to be pursuing him heavily at this point. Purdue has shown more interest and he will attend a Purdue camp this weekend. Ryan is still looking for his first offer.
We also spoke to Kenny Lewis and Ed Collington from Penn Hills this week. Both are very good high school players but with the limited number of scholarships at Pitt this year it is unlike these two will get offer from the Panthers.
Pitt only has nine (9) seniors that will have their eligibility expire this year. A couple of high school coaches told us this week Pitt is telling them they only expect to hand out 14 scholarships this year. We still think it could be 15-16 range but in any event it will be much smaller than has been the case the past several years.
The Pitt staff already has commitments from running backs Irvan Brown (6’0” 190) and LaRod Stephens (5’ 6 160). If they fill their needs in other areas they still might take a big running back. (someone Shane Brook’s size or larger). Brown and Stephens would be running backs first but are good enough athletes to play elsewhere if the position got crowded. Getting another running back would not be a high priority but if a good big back were available and they had filed their other needs they still might take one.
Wide receiver Kelvin Chandler from Dillard High School in Ft Lauderdale has been in Pittsburgh for about three weeks and is working out. Pitt needs help at wide receiver this fall. He could be part of the answer.
The Big 33 game will be played in Hershey this weekend and will be carried on Fox Sports Pittsburgh. Three players that signed with Pitt in February are scheduled to play. Steffan Brinson (6’0” 190) from Woodland Hills, Scott McKillop (6’ 2” 230) and Darrelle Revis (6’ 0” 182) are all supposed to play. We will try and do interviews with all of the next week. It is very good news that Darrelle has become eligible. He would have been ranked higher but for concerns about his academic standing.
A little hoops talk
This past month or so basketball prospects have been playing in all-star camps sponsored by the shoe companies or AAU tournaments. Rival reporters have been there covering them. This weekend the AAU teams will be playing in Las Vegas. After these tournaments are over I expect the recruiting experts at Rivals will update the rankings of these prospects.
There is an evaluation period, which starts today (July 22nd) and runs through July 29th. This makes this week critical to college basketball coaches. It will be followed by a Quiet Period that last about five weeks.
College coaches are in attendance at these games. As a general rule they are not allowed to talk to the players. Pitt coaches and others will be there looking like walking billboards. The trick is to have your logo on as many pieces of clothing as possible in hopes the recruit will notice you watching him.
Basketball players cannot make an official visit unless school is in session. This means September will start a parade of official visits leading up to the early signing period in November.
Pitt has been looking at Tyrell Biggs (6’ 7”), Ryan Wright (6’ 9”), Danny Green (6’ 5”), John Garcia (6’ 8”), Ricky Torres (6’ 4”), Jamal Boykin (6’ 6” 210), Ben McCauley (6’ 9”), Antonio Pena (6’ 8), Adrian Thomas (6’ 6”), Lavance Fields (5’ 10”). Jeff Adrien (6’ 6”) and Chris Bethel (6’ 5”). I am sure I have missed a few others. These players will move into sharper focus in the next few weeks.
A “birdie” reports John Garcia may have moved up on Coach Dixon’s wish list.
The Panthers already have a verbal commitment from Michael Davis (6’ 9”) of Xaverian High school. Pitt will take four players and possibly six this year depending on where they feel they stand with Chris Taft and Carl Krauser. I suspect they would like to have four prospects wrapped up in the early signing period and then wait to see what happens with Carl and Chris.
The ebb and flow of basketball recruiting can change very quickly (much faster than football). Most schools only have 3 or 4 scholarships to offer. Once they fill a position they move on quickly. A player’s No. 3 choice can be come his No. 1 choice in a matter of a few days.
A little football recruiting
July is often a slow period for the Pitt football coaches. Many of them are out of the “office” taking vacation time. Once the fall camp starts on August 11th there is seldom a day off until after Letter-of-Intent Day in early February. A couple of readers report seeing Pitt coaches on area golf courses. I read one report where Michigan State coach John L. Smith was vacationing in Africa. That is really getting away to recharge the batteries.
There was a report that Ohio State picked up a commitment earlier this week from Rob Schoenhoft but it turned out that it might have been a little premature. He is the top rated quarterback in Ohio. The Buckeyes have made Rob their quarterback target.
West Virginia picked up a commitment from Frank Carduff (6’ 4” 272) from Shenandoah Valley High School in Central PA. I can’t see where Pitt was heavily involved. He had also had offers from UConn and Delaware. This small school sent Greg Harrison to Penn State in the Class of 2004.
Maryland received a commitment this week from Zach Marshall (6’ 7” 280) from Mason, Ohio near Cincinnati. He got lost on the way to the Pitt summer camp. The location of the UPMC complex seemed to bother him. Not sure I like a player from Ohio jumping over Pitt to get to an ACC school (Maryland). Pitt had offered. Scratch one lineman from their list.
We talked this week to defensive tackle Ryan Routhier (6’ 4” 265) of Lebanon, Ohio. He is receiving plenty of mail from Pitt but they do not seem to be pursuing him heavily at this point. Purdue has shown more interest and he will attend a Purdue camp this weekend. Ryan is still looking for his first offer.
We also spoke to Kenny Lewis and Ed Collington from Penn Hills this week. Both are very good high school players but with the limited number of scholarships at Pitt this year it is unlike these two will get offer from the Panthers.
Pitt only has nine (9) seniors that will have their eligibility expire this year. A couple of high school coaches told us this week Pitt is telling them they only expect to hand out 14 scholarships this year. We still think it could be 15-16 range but in any event it will be much smaller than has been the case the past several years.
The Pitt staff already has commitments from running backs Irvan Brown (6’0” 190) and LaRod Stephens (5’ 6 160). If they fill their needs in other areas they still might take a big running back. (someone Shane Brook’s size or larger). Brown and Stephens would be running backs first but are good enough athletes to play elsewhere if the position got crowded. Getting another running back would not be a high priority but if a good big back were available and they had filed their other needs they still might take one.
Wide receiver Kelvin Chandler from Dillard High School in Ft Lauderdale has been in Pittsburgh for about three weeks and is working out. Pitt needs help at wide receiver this fall. He could be part of the answer.
The Big 33 game will be played in Hershey this weekend and will be carried on Fox Sports Pittsburgh. Three players that signed with Pitt in February are scheduled to play. Steffan Brinson (6’0” 190) from Woodland Hills, Scott McKillop (6’ 2” 230) and Darrelle Revis (6’ 0” 182) are all supposed to play. We will try and do interviews with all of the next week. It is very good news that Darrelle has become eligible. He would have been ranked higher but for concerns about his academic standing.
A little hoops talk
This past month or so basketball prospects have been playing in all-star camps sponsored by the shoe companies or AAU tournaments. Rival reporters have been there covering them. This weekend the AAU teams will be playing in Las Vegas. After these tournaments are over I expect the recruiting experts at Rivals will update the rankings of these prospects.
There is an evaluation period, which starts today (July 22nd) and runs through July 29th. This makes this week critical to college basketball coaches. It will be followed by a Quiet Period that last about five weeks.
College coaches are in attendance at these games. As a general rule they are not allowed to talk to the players. Pitt coaches and others will be there looking like walking billboards. The trick is to have your logo on as many pieces of clothing as possible in hopes the recruit will notice you watching him.
Basketball players cannot make an official visit unless school is in session. This means September will start a parade of official visits leading up to the early signing period in November.
Pitt has been looking at Tyrell Biggs (6’ 7”), Ryan Wright (6’ 9”), Danny Green (6’ 5”), John Garcia (6’ 8”), Ricky Torres (6’ 4”), Jamal Boykin (6’ 6” 210), Ben McCauley (6’ 9”), Antonio Pena (6’ 8), Adrian Thomas (6’ 6”), Lavance Fields (5’ 10”). Jeff Adrien (6’ 6”) and Chris Bethel (6’ 5”). I am sure I have missed a few others. These players will move into sharper focus in the next few weeks.
A “birdie” reports John Garcia may have moved up on Coach Dixon’s wish list.
The Panthers already have a verbal commitment from Michael Davis (6’ 9”) of Xaverian High school. Pitt will take four players and possibly six this year depending on where they feel they stand with Chris Taft and Carl Krauser. I suspect they would like to have four prospects wrapped up in the early signing period and then wait to see what happens with Carl and Chris.
The ebb and flow of basketball recruiting can change very quickly (much faster than football). Most schools only have 3 or 4 scholarships to offer. Once they fill a position they move on quickly. A player’s No. 3 choice can be come his No. 1 choice in a matter of a few days.
