Recruiting Notebook

Weekend Recruiting Notebook

Published

8 years ago

July 15, 2016

We’re going to run a recruiting notebook that runs all weekend long. Before I get into the notes, I wanted to repeat something that I tweeted earlier today.

As you know, Pittsburgh Sports Now.com is in the early stages of development and everyday, every week we’re working to get better. In order to do that, we need support and over the last couple of weeks we’ve received some much appreciated support from a few businesses that are major Pitt supporters.

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And as we’ve mentioned a few times earlier, we’re excited to partner up with Archie’s and Cupka’s both in the South Side (Pittsburgh). Mike Manning and Rich Cupka are two of the biggest Pitt-supporters you’ll find and we highly encourage you to stop by their places when you’re in Pittsburgh. Cupka’s and Archie’s will be hosting our Pitt football and basketball Watch Parties during the season. We’ll have more details on these Watch Parties as we get closer to the event (first one is September 17 at Cupka’s for the Pitt at Oklahoma State game).

UPDATE (6:21 PM)-

** Philadelphia 2017 cornerback Kenneth Bennett a Pitt target, picked up an offer this afternoon from Virginia Tech. This is Bennett’s 9th offer.

** I had a chance to talk with a major recruit in the Class of 2018. Jermaine Eskridge is a big, talented wide receiver from Tampa, Florida. According to 247 Sports, Eskridge (6-3, 200) is a 4-star receiver with a huge offer list that includes: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Ohio State and South Carolina.

“My summer is going great! I’m getting bigger, stronger and faster, working on my routes more and trying to be #1 in everything I do!,” said Eskridge.

I asked this talented wideout to describe himself to Pitt fans, most of whom have never seen him play.

“I’m a great wide receiver and I’m also a different type of WR. I can play in the inside and outside to destroy defensive backs and linebackers” said Eskridge. “I compare my game to Julio Jones because we play similar and also I have 3 different gears in me.”

Photo courtesy of Jermaine Eskridge

So what about Pitt? What are his thoughts and interest level?

“They’re recruiting me hard and I’m feeling very confident in Pitt because look at some great receivers they have produced! I love Tyler Boyd’s game and what he brought to the table. Pitt plays in a great conference and I love the offense they run.”

“Coach Harley and Coach Sherman are recruiting me and they love my game and what I can do for Pitt in the future. They say I’m the perfect WR to fit in,” said Eskridge.

“Pitt’s recruiting a lot of Florida kids and I love that because this state has the best talent. I will be visiting Pitt very soon and I appreciate all the love they’re showing me and all that’s left for me to say is #EskridgeToPitt????”

Wow, this is definitely a situation to keep following. A talent like Jermaine Eskridge is a class builder.

UPDATE (10:57 PM)-

** For the second time, Kevin Stallings has offered a scholarship to power forward Garrison Brooks. Originally, Stallings offers Brooks while he was at Vanderbilt and today he offered him a scholarship to play at Pitt.

Brooks (6-9, 215) is a power forward from Auburn, Alabama and has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt.

Intersting note about Brooks, his father is an assistant coach at Mississippi State with Ben Howland.

UPDATE (9:01 AM) – Saturday

** Had a chance to get a reaction from Garrison Brooks, a power forward from Alabama, about his reaction to the Pitt offer he received last night.

“Coach Stallings offered me basically over the phone yesterday morning but I got Coach Richardson to clarify that by text,” said Brooks. “Coach Stallings and I have a great relationship, I think he’s a great coach and a great man.” Stallings offered and was recruiting Brooks when he was head coach at Vanderbilt.

“In my opinion, my biggest strengths are being skilled, my rebounding and my toughness.”

Here’s some good news for Pitt- “I’ll be coming to visit Pitt in August,” said Brooks.