Pitt football's recruiting total for 2010 is now up to ten.
"Don Bosco Prep stars Bryan Murphy and Brandon Sacco committed to the Panthers early this afternoon, bringing the Panthers total to 10 commitments from the class of 2010."
Murphy, a DE from New Jersey, may have been the biggest pickup today. He was a highly-desired recruit, offered by Louisville, Michigan State, and many others.
Don't discount the other three, though:
"Sacco, an offensive lineman, chose Pitt over Big East rival Rutgers. Murphy, who was recruited as a defensive end, had offers from several schools, including Boston College, Colorado, Louisville, Maryland and Michigan State.
Weatherspoon had 57 receptions for 1,470 yards and 20 touchdowns while helping to lead Clairton to the WPIAL Class A championship and the PIAA title game. He is a member of the Tribune-Review Terrific 25.
Also, T.J. Peeler of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Va., committed to Pitt. Peeler, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back, had offers from West Virginia and North Carolina State. He missed three games with an injury last season, but rushed for 1,145 yards and 18 touchdowns on 129 carries with an 8.9 yard average."
8.9 yard average? Man, you almost want to give him (Peeler) the ball every time.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Draft Day Disappointments
Okay, so here's the deal.
I'm more sorry for Sam Young than I am DeJuan Blair. Okay, so maybe sorry's not the right word, but I can't think of a better one.
Sam worked hard for four years and really improved every year. He could have listened to people who told him he was good enough to leave a year early, but didn't. Could have believed the hype, but didn't. He stayed focused, determined to make himself better. Unfortunately, things didn't break his way - despite improving his shot significantly this year. Man, I would have hated to see where he would have landed had he left early...he may not even have been picked or been looking at a Mark Blount type situation.
Meanwhile, DeJuan Blair steamrolled through this past season...on a whirlwind journey that seemed to only pick up speed every day. He went from being told he'd be hard pressed to play in the NBA to being told he'd have a good chance at being a lottery pick. Shortly after the season, he declared he'd had enough and claimed he'd read up on the internet boards that he was a possible lottery choice (though I think he may have later said he was joking) and without even waiting, signed a rep immediately - ending his eligibility. It's like Jeff Goldblum said in the Jurassic Park movie - he was so occupied with wondering if he could that he didn't stop to think if he 'should.'
Look, I won't deny anyone the opportunity to go early if you think you're a guaranteed lock to be a first-round pick. But Blair didn't even wait - had he, he might have seen he was slipping on some of those draft boards he claimed he was monitoring. The argument was never that he shouldn't go - it was that he should wait and decide LATER if he should go.
I wish both the best of luck - I just think Blair may have been a bit hasty with this one.
I'm more sorry for Sam Young than I am DeJuan Blair. Okay, so maybe sorry's not the right word, but I can't think of a better one.
Sam worked hard for four years and really improved every year. He could have listened to people who told him he was good enough to leave a year early, but didn't. Could have believed the hype, but didn't. He stayed focused, determined to make himself better. Unfortunately, things didn't break his way - despite improving his shot significantly this year. Man, I would have hated to see where he would have landed had he left early...he may not even have been picked or been looking at a Mark Blount type situation.
Meanwhile, DeJuan Blair steamrolled through this past season...on a whirlwind journey that seemed to only pick up speed every day. He went from being told he'd be hard pressed to play in the NBA to being told he'd have a good chance at being a lottery pick. Shortly after the season, he declared he'd had enough and claimed he'd read up on the internet boards that he was a possible lottery choice (though I think he may have later said he was joking) and without even waiting, signed a rep immediately - ending his eligibility. It's like Jeff Goldblum said in the Jurassic Park movie - he was so occupied with wondering if he could that he didn't stop to think if he 'should.'
Look, I won't deny anyone the opportunity to go early if you think you're a guaranteed lock to be a first-round pick. But Blair didn't even wait - had he, he might have seen he was slipping on some of those draft boards he claimed he was monitoring. The argument was never that he shouldn't go - it was that he should wait and decide LATER if he should go.
I wish both the best of luck - I just think Blair may have been a bit hasty with this one.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Grizzly Bear Goes to Rome
Just a small heads up to catch DeJuan Blair on The Jim Rome Show tomorrow afternoon. Time has not been announced as far as I know.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Pitt Lands DE
Pitt landed a solid player in defensive end T.J. Clemmings for the 2010 class.
I tend to not so much look at ratings of players as I do the list of colleges who's interested in them. Maybe it's just me, but I believe that the colleges and recruiting coaches happen to know more than recruiting services. Anyway. If you go by that, this guy is a real good get - he was offered scholarships by Florida, Tennessee, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Miami among others.
Perhaps most telling is his potential - he's only played one year of high school football and seemed to be desired by every college in the country.
Let's hope this is the beginning of a pick up in recruiting.
I tend to not so much look at ratings of players as I do the list of colleges who's interested in them. Maybe it's just me, but I believe that the colleges and recruiting coaches happen to know more than recruiting services. Anyway. If you go by that, this guy is a real good get - he was offered scholarships by Florida, Tennessee, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Miami among others.
Perhaps most telling is his potential - he's only played one year of high school football and seemed to be desired by every college in the country.
Let's hope this is the beginning of a pick up in recruiting.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Gibbs In, Taylor Out
Pitt sophomore Ashton Gibbs has been added to the U.S. under-19 basketball team, while incoming freshman Dante Taylor didn't make it.
It seemed like it would be the other way around, but perhaps they needed guard help instead.
Congrats to Ashton, who Pitt will be counting on in a big way in the Fall.
It seemed like it would be the other way around, but perhaps they needed guard help instead.
Congrats to Ashton, who Pitt will be counting on in a big way in the Fall.
Dixon to USC Officially Dead
Well, as if the Dixon to USC rumors weren't inherently foolish enough, those who said there was a chance he could leave can now officially stop clamoring for it to happen.
Former college and NBA coach Kevin O'Neill was officially hired as the Trojans' new head coach.
The number of reasons I didn't think Dixon would take the job is seemingly endless. The biggest factors being:
1. USC could likely be headed for major violations with the recruitment of O.J. Mayo
2. Dixon's taking the job would result in a large distraction of his USA under-19 team
3. The Dixon family has said they love Pittsburgh and he's been here for a while now
Further, USC just isn't that great of a job in my opinion. They have to compete with UCLA, not to mention, USC football. They haven't any continued success in a while and Pitt has a run of success nearly unrivaled over the past ten years (annoying 'can't get to the Final Four' thing notwithstanding). Plus, Pitt is starting to land the type of recruits to continue that run (i.e. Blair, Taylor, Epps).
To me, the number of jobs better than Pitt right now is getting smaller and smaller.
I will say this, however. I think it looks somewhat bad on Dixon's part to not come outright and say he's not interested in the job.
Former college and NBA coach Kevin O'Neill was officially hired as the Trojans' new head coach.
The number of reasons I didn't think Dixon would take the job is seemingly endless. The biggest factors being:
1. USC could likely be headed for major violations with the recruitment of O.J. Mayo
2. Dixon's taking the job would result in a large distraction of his USA under-19 team
3. The Dixon family has said they love Pittsburgh and he's been here for a while now
Further, USC just isn't that great of a job in my opinion. They have to compete with UCLA, not to mention, USC football. They haven't any continued success in a while and Pitt has a run of success nearly unrivaled over the past ten years (annoying 'can't get to the Final Four' thing notwithstanding). Plus, Pitt is starting to land the type of recruits to continue that run (i.e. Blair, Taylor, Epps).
To me, the number of jobs better than Pitt right now is getting smaller and smaller.
I will say this, however. I think it looks somewhat bad on Dixon's part to not come outright and say he's not interested in the job.
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