Pitt FB Recruiting
“Pitt Panther Prowl”
Starting this Thursday business will really start picking up for the Pitt football coaching staff. The “Dead Period” will be over and they’ll be able to personally visit potential recruits.
This is also a big weekend because it’s the first of three consecutive official visit weekends for Pitt. Let’s start with that and who’s making a visit.
Visiting this weekend: Thomas MacVittie, Ruben Flowers, Rashad Wheeler, Bryce Hargrove, Chase Pine, Therran Coleman, Maurice Ffrench, Robert Washington, Elias Reynolds and Tyrone Hill.
Obviously, the two to watch are Washington and Reynolds. Of the two, Reynolds is a player I know for certain Pitt would love to have committed. I’m told from a very credible source that linebacker and defensive tackle are two priority positions as Pitt heads down the final three weeks of this recruiting period.
*A question that’s been asked a lot lately is, how many more defense backs can Pitt take? I was told this from a “little panther.”
Pitt is recruiting players that will start at cornerback and they’ll see how they develop. Just because they start at corner, doesn’t mean it they’ll stay there forever. Some could move to safety, some to outside linebacker, some to nickel backs. By moving these players around, it will increase the overall speed of Pitt’s defense.
**Starting Thursday, Pitt coaches will be all over visiting potential recruits. Last night I started making calls and here’s what I’ve found out.
—Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will visit QB Thomas MacVittie on Thursday.
—Defensive line coach Thomas Sims will be in Chicago visiting Amir Watts.
—Defensive coordinator Josh Conklin will be in Florida visiting Henry Miller and Zack Williams.
(I’ll be working on this angle all day so check back for updates.)
***Bit of disappointing news, highly regarded 2016 defensive tackle Keyshon Camp tells me that “I’m locked in with USC.” He won’t be taking any official visits . Camp was considering making an official visit to Pitt in January but he now says that won’t happen.
***McKeesport start Khaleke Hudson tells me that on Thursday UCLA will be visiting him and on Friday it will be Penn State. Hudson and Damar Hamlin are Pitt’s two biggest remaining targets.
**Check back for more updates**+
UPDATE (2:55)-
**Pitt 2017 commit Paris Ford will be playing for a different school next season. Mike White of the Pgh Post-Gazette was first to report that Ford will transfer to Steel Valley for his senior season. Ford would be paired with DeWayne Murray, giving Steel Valley a scary team next year.
One more note concerning Ford, although he’s committed to Pitt, he received an offer from Iowa State.
**Check back for more updates***
UPDATE (6:43)-
**An important visitor this weekend for Pitt is linebacker Elias Reynolds. Pitt would love to get a commitment from him before he leaves but I’m told that won’t happen. Source tells me that Reynolds will make all his visits before making a decision.
