QB Commit Thomas MacVittie Excited to be Back in Pittsburgh for Official Visit.

2016 Quarterback commit Thomas MacVittie (Archbishop Moeller Cincinnati, Oh) hit the road for Pittsburgh this morning from Cincinnati, Ohio to make his official visit to the Panthers. The 6’5″ 220 lb MacVittie is the lone QB commit in this class and likely the most important commit. Recruiting misses at the position have plagued the Pitt football program in its recent history in terms of on field performance and depth at the position through attrition.

MacVittie represents all a college football program covets in a QB prospect. He has the size, speed, elusiveness and arm talent. He also possesses the big time HS program pedigree. Moeller was recognized by Max Preps as having the most difficult schedule in all of HS football for the 2015 season and is a perennial power in Ohio football.

While coming from a big time HS program has its advantages, it also presents challenges. Sometimes you have to wait your turn. Thomas did exactly this spending time playing WR as a junior on the varsity.

This time waiting wasn’t spent idle for him. He and his dad (Tom) made the 350 mile trip to work in the off season with renowned St. Louis based private QB coach Skip Stitzell. Stitzell has trained the likes of Blaine Gabbert, Christian Hackenberg and Gunnar Kiel. All highly rated HS QBs who landed at P5 programs.

The difference between MacVittie and the other QBs Stitzell has trained? MacVittie can flat out run. Running a 4.5/40 he has legit game breaking ability on QB designed runs and read option plays coach John Rodenberg and staff called for him at Moeller. When/if the protection breaks down, Thomas is at his best improvising. He climbs and slides in the pocket with his head up going through his progressions.

When watching film of Thomas MacVittie I immediately wanted to draw comparisons to other QBs. He’s almost a perfect blend of part Ben Roethlisberger and part Marcus Mariota. That “Big Ben” ability to improvise. The read option threat like Mariota equally skilled at tucking the ball and tearing off a sixty yard run or equally as skilled throwing it forty yards downfield to a streaking receiver.

I couldn’t help but notice the footwork when watching his highlights. Rolling to his left showing the ability to flip his hips around squaring his shoulders and delivering a strike outside the numbers. Rolling to his right on a sprint out, he flawlessly used a “dart throw” technique to a back in the flat.

When I said arm talent earlier I mean a high level ability to make all the necessary throws a QB must make. Outside the numbers skinny post route, up the seam to a TE with velocity, crossing route out of the slot with touch or a throw around a rushing defender dropping his arm to side arm delivery to a check down.

I had an opportunity to ask the talented QB some questions while he and his father and sister made their trip this morning.

MJ-“How excited are you to get back on campus for your official visit?”
TM-“Just as excited as the first time I visited. The feeling of being on my future college campus never gets old, especially jutting out of the tunnel and having the city right there.”

MJ-“Heading towards signing day what impact has coach Narduzzi had on your recruitment since the departure of coach Chaney?”
TM-“I’ve been completely committed to coach Narduzzi, the staff and the fans. The fans seems extremely loyal to me and to my family and that is what I return.”
TM-“Coach Narduzzi told me he wanted me at Pitt just as bad as coach Chaney. He’s completely confident in me.”

MJ-“The in home visit with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada. What are your first impressions?”
TM-“First impression is that he knows his stuff. He is incredibly smart and knows everything about everything. I loved hearing him talk about mechanics and plays and schemes and reads.”
TM-“And he’s tall”

MJ-“Coach Canada has developed QBs with varying skill sets throughout his career. Do you think he’ll incorporate some of the read option facets of your game to the future Pitt offense?”
TM-“Yes I do. He said last night he plans on it.”

MJ-“Based on your Hudl films throughout your HS career I see a big difference in the fluidity of your throwing mechanics. What impact did coach Stitzell have on your passing fundamentals?”
TM-“A huge impact. He tightened it down and made it quicker and as you can tell more fluid. No wasted motion.”

MJ-“After you returned from your early season knee injury the Moeller offense relied more on your passing ability. Putting up huge passing statistics (22 tds 1 int). Did it give you more confidence as a pocket passer going forward?”
TM-“Yes sir. A lot more.”

MJ-“You’ve been working with former University of Cincinnati QB Tony Pike this off season. How has he expanded on what coaches Rodenberg and Stitzell have taught you?”
TM-“Yes sir, tremendously. Tony Pike is a great coach. He lived through it all and that’s what he has on other coaches.”
MJ-“That’s awesome.”
TM-“He knows real game situations and he puts me through those just as he did in a game.”
MJ-“Fantastic to have that insight”

MJ-“How about your strength and conditioning work this winter with Rocky Boiman and Ted Lamborghini. Have you noticed gains?”
TM-“Gains every day!!”

MJ-“With National Letter of Intent day just three weeks away. How will it feel to send that fax in to Coach Narduzzi and staff after all your hard work in High School?”
TM-“A relief”

MJ-“Hail to Pitt!”
TM-“H2P”

Thomas MacVittie will come to the University of Pittsburgh with a unique skill set few QBs in the 2016 class can match. He’s maintained his commitment to Pitt through the turmoil of losing his primary recruiter, position coach and coordinator. That shows his loyalty, level of confidence in Pat Narduzzi finding a qualified successor in coach Matt Canada and his love for the University. I feel like after a redshirt year digging into the playbook and hitting strength and conditioning as hard as he is now. There is a very good possibility he’s the 2017 Pitt starting QB.