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Saturday, 11 February 2012 10:45

Written by Bob Smizik

If Pitt is ever to become a power in the ACC, let along in the country, it needs to upgrade its recruiting; it needs to dominate this region. Chris Dokish has the details on how Pitt can secure a top 20 recruiting class.

By Chris Dokish, Panthers's Prey

How Pitt can have a top 20 recruiting class?

For the sake of argument, let's say that the Panthers will average 22 players in a class.  This is how I feel that it would work ideally, and then how it would look this year with the panthers taking 25 players.

1.  Dominate western PA-  The Panthers do better than anybody else in the Pittsburgh area for two very obvious reasons.  One, they recruit more in their own area than anybody, and two, most kids anywhere prefer to stay close to home.  But even though they will always be the most proficient, there is still a lot of room to grow, especially with the elite prospects.  Penn State will always get some kids from the area but Ohio State has stolen some of the better prospects over the last few years, and with Urban Meyer they are an even bigger threat.  Those two are the biggest threats on a consistent basis.  West Virginia has never gotten an elite recruit out of the area and Michigan and Notre Dame, two pests from the past, have not been recruiting in the area as hard lately.

While this area should have the most prospects, recent history shows that there hasn't been as many players taken from this area as one who think.  In fact, since Dave Wannstedt became coach, the program adds 5-10 WPIAL prospects in a class.

For the 2013 class, Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster, North Allegheny guard Patrick Kugler, Belle Vernon tackle Dorian Johnson, and Clairton safety Tyler Boyd would be four elite players that the program simply can't afford to lose.

Read the rest of the story.

Comments (21)

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written by luvyablue, February 11, 2012 - 08:55 AM

*t doesn't matter who Pitt recruits. Since the ACC is 1-9 in their last ten BCS bowl games (0-2 this past season), Pitt will fit right in. Even the Big East wasn't this bad. No wonder Bob is preaching Death To The BCS - the ACC needs that to happen

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written by lordbyron, February 11, 2012 - 08:59 AM

As usual, an excellent piece from Dokish.

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written by Joe D, February 11, 2012 - 09:07 AM

*t's my understanding, Chryst hasn't met with the #1 propect in wpial.... Foster.. yet Urban knows everyone in the school and Foster went to OSU junior day!!!

It took Chryst 10 days to make a simple phone call to recruits after named HC. He had a 48 hr window before an 8 day no contact period to make the calls and made none...

Then he said at the pressor...
1. It's not that difficult fellas..
2. All we need to do is "Just Offer"... we don't have to sell. Just give the prospect info to make a decision.

I was a Chryst supporter over Cristobal.
Those who didn't want Chyrst was because he didn't like to recruit... he was an x and o person.
Well, Chryst actions and words proved he is clueless as what it takes to recruit!!!

We will see... but Pitt can have the best coach in college football... if they don't have the players, Pitt will never sniff at a top 25 ranking. Articles have been written recently on how recruiting ranking goes hand in hand with final ranking.

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written by TheUnblogger, February 11, 2012 - 09:41 AM

Meyer will get most of the 4 stars, Columbus is only 3-4 hours away from this area. It's the only game in town there. Trouble with WPA is that there aren't as many star here. Chryst would have to get all of them.

Then you have WVU in the Big 12, now that's an upgrade.

PSU will struggle but they still are a Big 10 school with a huge stadium packed with fans.

Looks like the Bermuda triangle for Pitt

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written by TheUnblogger, February 11, 2012 - 09:47 AM

Forgot to say the article was exceptional. I hope it comes true

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written by csf, February 11, 2012 - 09:53 AM

Dokish is obviously a big Pitt fan who does his research and some insider info, and presents a good argument about Pitt's recruiting territory. But I find the naming of the future class to be a bit pretentious.

He has not talked to any of these players, don't know what kind of senior years they will have, or even know what the Pitt staff thinks of them. Heck, I thought Pitt should have gotten Terrell Pryor, Steve Breaston, Derek Moye, TJ Denham and Ryan Munday ... but they do not recruit in a vacuum, do they?

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written by Max, February 11, 2012 - 09:58 AM

This ongoing discussion about Wallace is framed with the idea that because of their salary cap situation the Steelers will not be able to afford to sign him. I would ask the question like this: If the Steelers had plenty of cap room should they sign him to a hugh contract?
My answer would be "no". I think he is good but not great. He has average hands, average ability to get open, average running ability after making the catch, and below average blocking skills. He has fantastic speed but never seems to make big plays in big games.
I would prefer that the Steelers keep Wallace but not for a huge price.



Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons are not `average.

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written by PHBhater, February 11, 2012 - 10:06 AM

This ongoing discussion about Wallace is framed with the idea that because of their salary cap situation the Steelers will not be able to afford to sign him. I would ask the question like this: If the Steelers had plenty of cap room should they sign him to a hugh contract?
My answer would be "no". I think he is good but not great. He has average hands, average ability to get open, average running ability after making the catch, and below average blocking skills. He has fantastic speed but never seems to make big plays in big games.
I would prefer that the Steelers keep Wallace but not for a huge price.



Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons are not `average.

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written by david s, February 11, 2012 - 10:33 AM

.

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written by Max, February 11, 2012 - 10:47 AM

This ongoing discussion about Wallace is framed with the idea that because of their salary cap situation the Steelers will not be able to afford to sign him. I would ask the question like this: If the Steelers had plenty of cap room should they sign him to a hugh contract?
My answer would be "no". I think he is good but not great. He has average hands, average ability to get open, average running ability after making the catch, and below average blocking skills. He has fantastic speed but never seems to make big plays in big games.
I would prefer that the Steelers keep Wallace but not for a huge price.



Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons are not `average.

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written by rkspangler, February 11, 2012 - 10:55 AM

I don't get why people for whom one of Bob's posts may not be of interest then feel it necessary to deliberately reply with off-topic drivel. Is it supposed to be funny or something?

If you don't like the post, just skip it.

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written by csf, February 11, 2012 - 10:56 AM

apparently Bob, yourblog should be about the Steelers and Pirates .... 24/7/365

But maybe it should be about people who doesn't have much to do than to respond to your blog topic ... OR EVEN WORSE ... people who do absolutely nothing more than to sit around and poke fun of the blog topic and the comments .. I could think of nothing more pathetic.

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written by Freddy, February 11, 2012 - 10:56 AM

Several members of the national media mentioned at the time of his hiring that Chryst did NOT have a passion for recruiting. I like most everything else about the guy's background, but that recruiting comment is a huge red flag. That and Chryst's desire to say with the NE Patriots through the Super Bowl. What was with that?

The new guy at Ohio State, on the other hand, recently mentioned that he didn't was anyone on his coaching staff that wasn't a great recruiter. Urban Meyer even went as far as to say a passion for recruiting was more important than the coach's ability with the Xs and Os.

When Meyer was hired, I read that Ohio State's 2012 class of recruits was rated near the bottom of the Top 25. In less than two months on the job, Meyer was able to land a Top 5 class. During those two months, Chryst was spending at least half of his time preparing the Pats for the Super Bowl.

Doesn't sound like the WPIAL pipeline of top talent to Columbus isn't going to end anytime soon.

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written by csf, February 11, 2012 - 10:59 AM

C'mon be fair ... Ohio State and Urban Myers vs Pitt and Paul Chryst .... and note that this comment is coming from a Pitt fan

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written by PittofDreams, February 11, 2012 - 11:06 AM

An interesting piece. However, my one criticism is that Dokish places too much emphasis on landing Robert Foster as the baromter by which we're somehow to judge the future success for Chryst and his staff.

According to Dokish, "if the staff can't keep him, it could be a bad sign."

Foster (remindful of a young Michael Irvin) has emerged as one of premier talents in the entire country... a more promising talent than even Rushel Shell as their nationally televised showdown on ESPN showed where it was Foster and not Shell stealing the show.

Landing Foster at Pitt is going to be at best a long shot. Seeing hin instead opt for Columbus, or LA or Miami will be a tough break, but not necessarily a bad sign.

A 6 and 6 season this fall would be a bad sign.

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written by out-n-ltfield29, February 11, 2012 - 11:08 AM

Freddy,

Paul Chryst was not with the Patriots. Your post may be the most ill-informed, ridiculous example of someone who knows absolutely nothing, that I have ever seen.

Wow.

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written by 66bison, February 11, 2012 - 11:08 AM

Chryst was not with the Pats. He came from Wisconsin. PSU coach O'brien is coming from the Pats.

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written by SportsFan3, February 11, 2012 - 11:13 AM

I went to Pitt and love Pitt. But I can't say that if I were a top recruit for football or my future son was that I would want them going to Pitt. It can't be the greatest experience to play college football at Heinz Field, because it certainly isn't watching it!

I like reading his stuff, but this basically says to me that the key to a 20 recruiting class is not letting more than 19 other schools beat you in recruiting. I would say the keys are get a good coach that stays for the long haul, fill the seats, and win some big games.

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written by Max, February 11, 2012 - 11:27 AM

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Good to see you are on your toes today.

Take good care of that brown-noser spangler.

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written by Max, February 11, 2012 - 11:49 AM

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..... I could think of nothing more pathetic.

You're right, people who fret over what others comment are pathetic.

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written by aglebagel, February 11, 2012 - 01:08 PM

Then you have WVU in the Big 12, now that's an upgrade.

True, but one thing I think Pitt actually has going for it is that Holgorson (sp?) doesn't seem to want any PA guys.

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