Pitt FB Recruiting
Belle Vernon’s Blake Zubovic Announces Final 5
Following a big week of commitments, Pitt found out today that they’re a finalist for one of the top offensive lineman in the state of Pennsylvania.
Belle Vernon’s Blake Zubovic announced today that he’s narrowed his long list of offers down to five schools (no order): Pitt, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Maryland.
Zubovic (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) also held offers from Boston College, Minnesota, NC State, Northwestern, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia and West Virginia.
While he was on vacation, I spoke to Zubovic about why those five schools made his cut.
MARYLAND: “You’re going to find this a common theme with all five of these schools but all five of these schools I really like the offensive line coach. With me going into a business degree, they have two big cities on either side of the campus. It’s really neat how right in the middle it’s a college town. They’re really putting a lot of money into their facilities. Plus, they just had one of their best recruiting classes in a long time. They seem to be a program on the way up. They play in the Big Ten and that’s good football.”
MICHIGAN STATE: “That’s the only team in my top five that I haven’t visited but with extended phone calls to both Coach Staten and Coach D’Antonio I really like what I hear, I really like what they’re about. I got to meet Staten in person twice now. The other part and although I haven’t visited there, I know they have a huge football culture there and they’ve been one of the best football schools in the Big Ten the last decade. They’re been competing for Big Ten championships.”
VIRGINIA TECH: “I just visited there Saturday and I really liked the campus and the coaches. The campus is beautiful, the facilities are great. I also like their style of play, up-tempo and I think I’d fit in very well with that because although I’m a big guy, I can move in a no-huddle, quick option game.”
PENN STATE: “I like Coach Limegrover. He’s one of my top two favorite coaches so far. He’s a really great guy and he knows what he’s doing. It’s a big-time football town, 107,00 fans, a ton of support. Plus, it’s closer to home which is a plus. I also like Coach Franklin as well.”
PITT: “That’s my hometown school. I’ve been a fan there for as long as I can remember. I had a Tony Dorsett jersey when I was three years old. That’s my school, I’m a WPIAL guy. I take a lot of pride in Pitt. I really like Coach Narduzzi and Coach Peterson, they’ve really welcomed me and have been great. I can see myself playing under both of them.”
Zubovic has noticed the commitments Pitt has picked up recently and has been getting recruited heavily by one of the local ones.
“Yes, I’ve been hearing the most from Jake. I text him all the time and he’s been trying to get me there every since he committed to Pitt. The other person that’s texting me a lot is their quarterback commit Nick Patti,” said Zubovic.
Now that Zubovic is down to five teams, he has a timeline to make a decision.
“I plan on making a decision by the end of June, that’s the plan right now.”
