Whitehead
- Thread starter The Sisco Kid
- Start date
It's like Duzzi said after the ND game, I'd hate to think of where we'd be without him on D.
I've said it all along, well since Conner started playing as a freshman. Shell was higher rated, but give me Conner every day of the week, even knowing he'd miss most of this season. You can't deny recruiting is huge, but the star ratings are not always all they're cracked up to be. And I quote, "You see that around the country, some closer than others"
AbsolutelyI've said it all along, well since Conner started playing as a freshman. Shell was higher rated, but give me Conner every day of the week, even knowing he'd miss most of this season. You can't deny recruiting is huge, but the star ratings are not always all they're cracked up to be. And I quote, "You see that around the country, some closer than others"
Stayed with Pitt all of last years as other Recruits went elsewhere sitting the bench and reflecting on not playing and some not dressing or going to away Game, Smart Recruits go to Pitt other go where they can cheer from Sidelines with many Drunks in the Stands!!!
Hmnnnn...those Aliquippa, Central Valley, and Hopewell Coaches were right when they told me about Whitehead playing Offense on a few plays would be great for Pitt........I love proving critics of malaise wrong and dumb, but why take credit, that is on them and their parents? LOL!
Great to see Coach Pat & Staff figure it out and knowing how to coach and use him properly!
Pitt Is IT!
Well, maybe not what they're cracked up to be but they still mean something. Yes, guys like Conner and Donald were not highly rated but they were exceptions. Ratings certainly aren't perfect. But consider that the best teams in the country - teams like Ohio State, Bama, etc - sign mostly 4- and 5-star kids. Stars definitely mean something. Given a choice of recruiting a class full of 3-star kids or a class of 4- and 5-star kids, I'd take the latter.I've said it all along, well since Conner started playing as a freshman. Shell was higher rated, but give me Conner every day of the week, even knowing he'd miss most of this season. You can't deny recruiting is huge, but the star ratings are not always all they're cracked up to be. And I quote, "You see that around the country, some closer than others"
Agree. But to blindly take all the top recruits does not mean success. You still have to scout these kids and see if the rankings are legit or not. Believe me or not, when I heard how highly ranked Hackenberg was as a recruit I watched some highlights, looked up stats, etc. I really didn't see all the hoopla about the kid. Thought I was proven wrong his freshman year, but is it possible he is just a decent QB, not great, that had a QB guru as head coach? Also there are a ton of bust 5 stars year in and year out. But can't argue with your point that yes, a class of mostly 4 and 5 stars is usually a good indicator of things.
Yep, agree that coaches have to perform their due diligence on all recruits, including 5-stars. I only wish that Pitt had more of them to scrutinize!
I don't think you need to recruit a class full of 4 stars, and 5 stars are so few and far between, hard to even think about them. The only one I can remember since 2002 is Jon Baldwin. Larry was a 4.
Pitt is simply not going to be in contention for 99% of 5 star players and there are so few of them.
I took a look back at Rivals rankings real quick, and since 2002 it is clear that on defense you need to find speed and some 4 star talent at LB/DB to have a great defense. Blades, Revis, Lay, Session,and McKillop were all 3 stars who became NFL Players and top notch college players. No idea what Gerald Hayes or Lewis Moore were ranked, or even Shantae Spencer who made NFL.
The defensive line is where it seems you can really take 2/3 star players and develop them into solid/very good college players, even NFL players.....The list is long, Clermond (2), Donald (3), Rashad Duncan (2), Greg Romeous (2), Jabal Sheard (3), Mick Williams (3), Mustakas (2), B Lindsey (3), Tyrone Ezell (3), T Jarett (3), Chas Alexi (Walkon) yet 4 stars like Bokar never did a thing, or Clemmings, Pinkston become OT's.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few others.
I think you have to have a good mix because you are not going to get all 4 stars....... if you get a couple 4 star LBs and DBs every couple years, your coaching staff will develop lineman and you'll have a pretty darn good defense. Pick your spots, recognize athletic talent, develop them.
Pitt is simply not going to be in contention for 99% of 5 star players and there are so few of them.
I took a look back at Rivals rankings real quick, and since 2002 it is clear that on defense you need to find speed and some 4 star talent at LB/DB to have a great defense. Blades, Revis, Lay, Session,and McKillop were all 3 stars who became NFL Players and top notch college players. No idea what Gerald Hayes or Lewis Moore were ranked, or even Shantae Spencer who made NFL.
The defensive line is where it seems you can really take 2/3 star players and develop them into solid/very good college players, even NFL players.....The list is long, Clermond (2), Donald (3), Rashad Duncan (2), Greg Romeous (2), Jabal Sheard (3), Mick Williams (3), Mustakas (2), B Lindsey (3), Tyrone Ezell (3), T Jarett (3), Chas Alexi (Walkon) yet 4 stars like Bokar never did a thing, or Clemmings, Pinkston become OT's.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few others.
I think you have to have a good mix because you are not going to get all 4 stars....... if you get a couple 4 star LBs and DBs every couple years, your coaching staff will develop lineman and you'll have a pretty darn good defense. Pick your spots, recognize athletic talent, develop them.
Yea you're right shere. Let Ped Sate, OSU, WVU and ND get all the 4- and 5-stars. Let's just focus on 2- and 3-stars. We'll show em!
Agree 100% That is what I was trying to show that there are a lot of very good prospects that are 2 and 3 stars that can come become very good college football players if coached properly and moved to the right positions.
Clemming bust as a DE, NFL'er as an OT. Mick Williams listed as a FB, became a DT beast.
Finding overlooked or late blooming talent - Greg Romeus, Gus Mustakas, many more.
Clemming bust as a DE, NFL'er as an OT. Mick Williams listed as a FB, became a DT beast.
Finding overlooked or late blooming talent - Greg Romeus, Gus Mustakas, many more.
Of course there are plenty of 2 and 3 stars who can become good fb players. But remember that there are many, many more 2 and 3 stars than there are 4 and 5 stars. Are you implying that Pitt should focus more on 2 and 3 star recruits than 4 and 5 stars? If not, what are you implying? That stars are meaningless? If so you are dead wrong.
Why don't you read what I wrote above...of course I'm not saying that. But you know as well as I do that Pitt is not going to have recruiting classes of 15 4Star players. Like you said there are fewer of those players (very few 5 star), so while pursuing those 4/5 star players that you feel you have a realistic chance of getting, you also must continue to look for 2/3 star players who you feel fit your system and you can make good college football players out of. Does that make more sense. I never said only recruit 2 or 3 star players. Read my post a few spots back.
