2017 Football Recruiting Recap

Pat Narduzzi has put together a very solid 2017 recruiting class. There were plenty of misses, which happens with any team in college football, but also some pleasant signing day surprises. Here I will rank all the incoming players brought in during the #SteelCity17 Campaign.

1. Paris Ford – S (ATH) – Steel Valley HS – PA

Ford was arguably the top WPIAL recruit, and ESPN considered him the #2 prospect in all of Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia area RB DeAndre Swift (Georgia Commit). Ford was recognized as an Under Armour All-American, and had an incredible game down in Florida against the top High School competition in the country. Ford will be an immediate contributor for the Panthers and I expect him to be the opening day starter when Pitt lines up against Youngstown State. Ford is a do it all player with excellent ball skills, and can play a “Center Field” style, sideline to sideline safety. His ability to roam the entire field will allow fellow Safety Jordan Whitehead to play up on the line of scrimmage in run support, capitalizing on his athleticism.

2. Max Browne – QB – USC – WA

Browne is now in line to become the Panthers 3rd consecutive starting QB to transfer into the program – after Tom Savage (Rutgers/Arizona), and Nathan Peterman (Tennessee). Browne started 3 games for the Trojans this year before ebbing replaced by Freshman sensation Sam Darnold, who would lead the Trojans to a thrilling Rose Bowl victory over Penn State. Browne is a natural leader, being elected team captain by his teammates at USC. He is a former 5 star recruit and top ranked Pocket Passer by ESPN. I expect Browne to learn the offense quickly from whomever takes the reigns as Offensive Coordinator. He has excellent pocket presence, and has good to very good accuracy and am strength. I expect Browne to lead the Panthers to an 8-10 win season.

3. AJ Davis – RB – Lakeland HS – FL

It was hard to rank Davis and Todd Sibley simply because I don’t know which player will make their debut first. They are both super talented backs and will continue to uphold Pitt’s standard of RB excellence. Davis would be considered the Lightning to Sibley’s Thunder. This two headed monster backfield will cause a lot of headaches to future. Davis is a read and react type back, with the ability to jump cut and create highlight real plays against some top HS talent down in the Sunshine State. He can block too which could make him a 3 down back in the future depending on how Coach Duzz wants to spread playing time in the backfield.

4. Todd Sibley – RB – Archbishop Hoban HS – OH

Sibley is the second top 20 RB Pitt brought into this class (#16 – Davis is #14). He committed a long time ago and Coach Narduzzi praised him as a top recruiter for Pitt. Sibley has a running style similar to that of DeAngelo Williams. He isn’t too big listed at 5’10 214 lbs, but he runs with authority and can be a bruiser when he wants to be. He has thick legs which makes him hard to bring down. But don’t be fooled when I call him Thunder, this man can still provide a burst of speed to get by 1st and 2nd level defenders. Sibley projects as an excellent short yardage to go and goal line back. However, don’t be surprised if he takes a majority of Pitt’s total carries in the future.

5. Kamonte “Kam” Carter – DT – East Mississippi CC – MD

Kam Carter is a former Penn State defensive lineman and 4 star recruit. He was dismissed from the team for unspecified “team infractions”. He did his due diligence and Pitt was absolutely comfortable bringing this young man onto their team, because they saw a significant change in him. Carter is a talented interior rusher with size. Listed nowhere from 6’4 300, to 6’5 315. Carter certainly has the size to be a factor in the ACC. What sets him apart from everyone else is his ability to play either a bull rush DT, to a quicker Nose Tackle. That sort of athleticism is hard to find, and Carter could find his way onto the field quickly in Pitt’s DT rotation. He has 3 years of eligibility left, and I expect Narduzzi to use him in plenty of sub packages and utilizing his versatility as a player.

6. Jaylen Twyman – DT – Howard D. Woodson HS – DC

Twyman was the Silent Assassin that Narduzzi hinted at a few weeks back. Although he announced his commitment on signing day, most analysts had a good feeling he was coming to Pitt (Although still no clue who “Pooh” is…). Twyman is another big dog brought in to eventually help the interior DL. At 6’2 310 he was a bull rusher extraordinaire at the HS level. When he hits a college weight room expect him to lean out at first and then bulk to become a monster at the college level. He is a good block shedder and this will play well against the run when his time comes.

7. Carter Warren – OT – Passaic Co. Tech – NJ

Warren was one of two Offensive Tackles Pitt brought into its 2017 class. The NJ native has a rare mix of size and athleticism for a HS player. A 4 star tackle according to ESPN, I project Warren to be the left tackle of the future. He is huge 6’6 320, he is mean, and he can block. He is a bit raw, but with a redshirt year and one of the best OL coaches in football in John Peterson, I expect Warren to thrive down the road as a Power-5 tackle.

8. Jerry Drake – OT – Palm Beach Gardens HS – FL

Drake is another big dude (6’5 – 315) that Pitt brought in to help the offensive line. Coach Duzz is a firm believer that games are won in the trenches and this class showed it. It is possible Drake is a bit heavier than is listed but there’s nothing wrong with that. Another guy that will thrive in a college conditioning setting like Twyman, Drake can use his already natural strength to become a bruiser at RT for the Panthers in the future.

9. Charles Reeves – TE – Steubenville HS – OH

Reeves is one of my personal favorites from this class. He didn’t get a lot of love from the big boys around him like Ohio State and Michigan, but Pitt will LOVE that they picked up on the Buckeyes in-state miss. Reeves right now is a bit more of a WR than a TE, in the sense that he must improve his blocking a bit to succeed in the ACC. He is a big guy which will cause some problems when opposing defensive coordinators are game planning for PItt. He along with transfer Chris Clark could become a dual threat TE combo. Reeves doesn’t have the best straight line speed, but he has enough speed to pair with his height (6’5 235) to beat a lot of linebackers and safeties at the next level.

10. Michael Smith – WR – Vero Beach HS – FL

Smith is arguably the most underrated recruit in this class. He has ab excellent blend of size, speed, and athleticism. He is 6’1 200 lbs and will be a deep threat in the years to come. He has an excellent, quick first step, with separation speed, and a body to out-muscle defenders and jump to high point the ball. He got lost in the shuffle of top Florida WR’s but make no mistake, this guy can ball. Late i the recruiting process, schools like Notre Dame, Indiana, and Georgia Tech all realized what Pitt did and tried to get Smith at the last minute. Thankfully, the Panthers won out.

11. Cam Bright – OLB – Park Crossing HS – AL

Another hidden gem from a southern state with lots of talent is Cam Bright a LB from Alabama. Clearly somebody is missing something with this kid because when i watch him play, I see a prototypical Money LB in Pat Narduzzi’s system. This kid can fly, easily one of the faster LB’s in the class. With time to lift and get bigger, I see this kid as an excellent edge rusher too. He can cover, and is a sure tackler. I see big things in his future.

12. Kenny Pickett – QB – Ocean Township HS – NJ

Pickett is a true Dual Threat QB. Some QB’s who get that label, receive it because they really only can run and throw it a bit. Pickett is a pass first THEN run dual threat. His accuracy really sets him apart for me, more specifically accuracy outside of the pocket. His film is a bunch of broken down plays by a clearly average OL, that Pickett was able to make a lot out of nothing. He has touch, a feel for the pocket, and legs when things don’t go well. He would be higher on this list, however, I expect a QB battle in the future between he and last year’s top QB prospect Thomas MacVittie.

13. Darian Street – WR – Liberty HS – PA

You probably recognize the last name Street, because Darian is a legacy of former Pitt receiver Devin Street. Devin was a great Pitt WR who is now in the NFL last playing for the Cowboys and the Colts. Panther fans will be happy to know that Darian is cut from the same cloth. Both have size at 6’2 and both came in slightly underweight (Darian is about 170 pounds according to EPSN). Darian is an excellent route runner, much like his brother, and will use that as his way of creating separation. When he matures and hits the weights, Darian Street will be the next great Pitt WR legacy.

14. Carson Van Lynn – DE – Thomas Worthington HS – OH

Van Lynn is probably higher on this list than most would expect. I have him here because I believe in his ability to thrive on either side of the football. He is 6’6 240, but with a lot of raw strength, the kind of strength to possibly be a DE, DT, or even move to offense and use his length to become a solid OL prospect. I love his motor and his dedication to work. I see a bright future for him.

15. Damarri Mathis – CB – Lakeland HS – FL

Teammates in High School with AJ Davis, Mathis is another prospect that Pat Narduzzi is bringing all the way from Florida to the great white North (due respect Canada). The Pitt secondary was worse than garbage last year, Paul Zeise likened it to a dumpster fire on more than one occasion. However with this class Narduzzi wanted pure athletes that he can teach technique and the system to. Long gone are the days of Paul Chryst’s CBs. A new generation fo longer and faster DBs is coming to the Steel City, Mathis has the potential to be a part of the CB classes that change Pitt to a truly great defense.

16. Dontavius Butler – WR – American Heritage HS – FL

This is where I go on a run with the Floridian athletes. Butler is a big guy at 6’2 – 200. He will become a big time red zone threat in the future. His speed isn’t fantastic, but that doesn’t matter when you can create your own separation at the point of attack. He can high point footballs better than anyone else in Pitt’s class, and he can be a weapon on 3rd down and in the Ketchup zone at Heinz Field on Satrudays.

17. Deslin Alexandre – DE – Deerfield Beach HS – FL

The next Florida prospect is NC State flip Deslin Alexandre. A few sources have already reported he has gained up to 15 pounds since moving to Pitt in January as an early enrollee. If this is true Alexandre is already on the fast track to making a difference for Pitt. Assuming he is now 6’4 255 (up from 240), he is quickly becoming what Pitt imagined he’d be. The only knock on him coming out of HS was his wiry frame for a rush end. If he can get up to the 260—270 range while maintaining his level of athleticism, look out folks. Greg Romeus is a good comparison for him if he does gain the weight.

18. Albert Tucker – (DEF) ATH – St. Thomas Aquinas – FL

Ending my run on Florida born players is Albert Tucker. St. Thomas Aquinas has been churning out athletes for a long time now, and Tucker is no exception. He has the speed to be a safety, and the toughness to be a linebacker. To me, this sounds exactly what Narduzzi wants in his STAR LB position. The star is basically a third safety or the coverage linebacker in the Panthers system, and since I’ve heard tucker can already run a 4.7-4.8 40 if not faster, that closing speed is exactly what that position has been missing. I expect him to redshirt and earn his playing time down the road with lots of unproven talent already at the LB spots, but watch for him down the road.

19. Jason Pinnock – CB – Windsor HS – CT

Pinnock hasn’t gottena whole lot of love from recruiting services, which scared me a bit at first. But then I realized that these guys also had James Conner as a 2 Star defensive end at one point. He is long and lean just like the prototypical corner that featured in Michigan State’s system under Pat Narduzzi. He is a bit raw, but Pitt won’t care. I’ve been told he is a quick learner, and has a lot of energy. We need excitement and charisma on a Pitt defense that was worse that lackluster at times last season. Pinnock will be a breathe of fresh air for Pitt fans.

20. Owen Drexel – OC – Montclair HS – NJ

I love Owen Drexel. Usually the whole Football IQ thing is reserved for the lesser athletic, lesser players. I think scouting services think that way of Owen, but I sure don’t. If I’m a football coach, I want Owen on my team. He is a bulldog because he’s tough and nasty when he needs to be. But he’s also a natural born leader, who I think with time can become an incredibly valuable piece in Pitt’s offense. The center is the one who diagnoses blitzes and coverages along with the QB. Drexel has the mental makeup to do this, and the technique to match up against bigger Interior DL in the ACC. He is a sleeper pickup that could become one of Pitt’s biggest assets.

21. Kyle Nunn – S – Findlay HS – OH

These next two guys probably don’t deserve to be this far down the list, but my only concern is where they will play at the next level. Kyle Nunn is an excellent football player. He played safety in HS but ultimately I don’t know where he ends up. Narduzzi said at the recruiting banquet that he could see Nunn becoming a 250 pound stand up defensive end. I’m not sure about that one, but a possible move to a Mike LB or even the Star LB position. But that is cloudy take and until then I will reserve judgement on Nunn.

22. Gabe Houy – OL – Upper St Clair – PA

Another WPIAL guy, Huoy is a very good OL prospect. He played tackle in High School but with the last two classes, the tackle position is becoming really crowded. A possible move I see for him is to Right Guard much like the move Bookser made and had some success. If he buys in, a man of his size from a storied program like USC will be dangerous moving forward.

23. Tyler Sear – TE – Neshannock – PA

Looks like I’m making my WPIAL run now. Next up is Tyler Sear. If I had one word to describe him, I’d say screw that and give you two because that’s what I think Sear would do: Bad Ass. This is a mean son of a B****. He doesn’t care who you are, he is gonna step up and ruin your day. He has excellent run blocking characteristics and they will play well against overly aggressive DE in the ACC. For him to truly break through he will need to work on his route running and his hands. Nothing major, just slight adjustments and time, and Pitt has a good looking stable of TE’s.

24. Grant Carrigan – TE – Pine Richland – PA

Closing out the run of WPIAL talent is Grant Carrigan. Grant is a massive dude, pretty sure he is about 6’8 even though I’ve seen him listed anywhere from 6’5-6’7. Grant is a Pitt legacy, his dad played basketball for the Panthers some time back. Grant is a very interesting prospect because much like Houy or Nunn, I don’t know where he ends up. He is a TE for now and a 6’8 target is very nice for QB’s to find in the red zone. But could he pull a Brian O’Neill and make the move to OT? If he can add weight to his frame that’s a very realistic possibility for the WV native and Pine Richland alumnus. And since Pitt is looking for a playmaker at DE, why not give him a shot there? He played it with success in HS, just needs work on pad level. He has a huge ceiling, he is just very raw at the moment.

25. Kirk Christodoulou – K – Australia

There’s a 50% chance I spelled his last name wrong and a 100% chance nobody will be able to pronounce his last name until his junior season. But welcome the newest Aussie to the world of college football. He is an early enrollee so he has already been in the city working with the Panthers. He is a ProKick Australia alumnus, and they have produced numerous college award winning punters as well as NFL specialists now for the better part of the decade. He has numerous videos of him booming 50 yard punts with 4 plus second hang time. This is incredibly valuable for a young team with a struggling defense, because it will force teams to go on long drives if he can pin them back. There will be an adjustment to the American game early, but in a few years I expect big things from Down Under.

26. Cal Adomitis – LS – Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS – PA

Moving up the road from Central Catholic to Pitt, Cal Adomitis will follow in Pat Quirin’s footsteps as a Viking to a Panther. I don’t know a ton about long snapping, other than the fact that it’s pretty hard to do, but I do know Cal is pretty damn good at it. He has good com and routinely gets off quick snaps. He is ready for the college level.

That covers the class of ’17 as of now, but is it possible to see a few more names added to the list? Well in short, yes. Zion DeBose announces his commitment tomorrow (Friday) and is choosing between Pitt, Virginia Tech, Illinois, and Missouri – VT is considered the favorite by 24/7 sports. Another name is Robert Foster, former 5 star WR from Central Valley in Monaca. He hasn’t played much at Alabama, and I expect he could be looking for a change in scenery. He will be a valuable commodity, so don’t think this is a lay up for Pitt.

Overall, I love this class, I see some immediate impact players and some needed depth at positions of need. Of course we would have loved to keep Lamont Wade, Josh Lugg, David Adams, Donovan Jeter, and Kurt Hinish in Pittsburgh, but nobody ever gets all the talent in their area. Paris Ford is going to be a star, and the new two headed monster at RB will have Pitt in a great position for the next 4 years.