I've put together a preview of tomorrow's college football national signing day. So far Pitt has 15 commits for the 2012 class and those include:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/pittsburgh/football/recruiting/commitments/2012
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=9&c=8&yr=2012
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/school/_/id/221/pittsburgh
You can check out those links to look at the who's already committed. The only guy that's openly on the fence is Adam Pankey. I'll talk about him later in this post. I expect everyone else to stay put. I can't see Pitt getting anyone to flip tomorrow so don't expect to see any big names, but Bostad and Rudolph consistently found gems while at Wisconsin. Both lines need to be addressed tomorrow and I see several offensive lineman inking Pitt tomorrow. None of these guys will impress you with their stars or reports, but Pitt has the best offensive line coach in the nation. He gets big bodies that project well and turn them into solid players. Just look at what he did with two and three star recruits for the Badgers.
This is where it gets exciting..
Let's start with Deaysean Rippy, an outside linebacker from Sto-Rox. He's listed his final three as Pitt, WVU and Arizona. Rippy also took a visit to Colorado where his older brother plays. A report came out about an hour ago stating that his high school coach expects him to sign with Pitt tomorrow. I tweeted to him about it and he replied saying that he hasn't made a decision yet. This is just a case of Rippy trying to get his spotlight tomorrow and you can't blame him. I do expect him to sign with Pitt though. This would be an important get for Pitt as the linebacking corp is thin and young. Todd Thomas and Ejuan Price were impressive this year and adding Rippy to the mix makes the future bright.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/papreps/football/recruiting/player-Deaysean-Rippy-115327
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/86490/deaysean-rippy
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=4587758
Bam Bradley, a safety from Ohio, is another guy I highly anticipate will sign with Pitt tomorrow. Bam has taken visits to Pitt, Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford and Arizona. Safety is another area of need for the Panthers with Holley coming into his senior year. Expect to see Bradley join the family tomorrow.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Bam-Bradley-103866
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/119839/bam-bradley
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=4898092
V'Angelo Bentley is next on my list and he's another defensive back from Ohio. He has visited Pitt, Toledo, Kansas and Illinois. From what I've seen he has sub 4.5 speed and good coverage instincts. I see him becoming a Pitt Panther as well
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-V'Angelo-Bentley-121487
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/123367/vangelo-bentley
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=4786316
Here's an interesting one. Adam Pankey. Pankey, a massive offensive tackle from Ohio, committed months ago but after the coaching shake up he recently took a visit to WVU. Several writers feel that he's going to flip on his soft verbal and join the Dark Side. I tend to disagree. I can understand taking an official elsewhere to get a feel for another program and to assure yourself you made the right decision. Especially after a coaching change, but bringing in Bob Bostad how could you not want to play for the guy? The free trip and wild party down in Morgantown was most likely impressive but when it comes to football and you're an offensive lineman.. you get the idea. Pankey should stay put.
Let's stick with the offensive line because that may be the most important position going into tomorrow. Bostad isn't necessarily going after the highly touted recruits. He wants some big bodied country boys. When him and Chryst were introduced they talked about "knocking the heads off the opponents". These next lineman should be able to provide that.
Josh Stepoli (6'7'' 275)
Heavily recruited by the former coaching staff and Bostad seems to have picked up where they left off. He has taken only one visit and that was to East Carolina, but he has been up in Pittsburgh for an unofficial. Stepoli moves people and projects nicely with that size.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Josh-Stepoli-120455
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/122067/josh-stepoli
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=5282399
Ryan Anderson (6'4'' 312)
Another Ohio prospect that recently picked up a Pitt offer. Anderson needs to improve his mobility, but he's a big boy that gets his job done. This would be a decent get for Pitt who desperately needs big bodies for this offense.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Ryan-Anderson-117943
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/119846/ryan-anderson
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=5090525
Tyler Alt (6'3'' 275)
A Pittsburgh boy (GCC) that's been under the radar but expect to see him commit tomorrow. Bostad likes what he's seen on film and there's no need for a local kid to take an official. He didn't receive and offer yet and might not but we need all the lineman we can get.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/bwi/football/recruiting/player-Tyler-Alt-105070
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4591552
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/125790/tyler-alt
Now onto other position players..
Wayne Capers from Chartiers Valley has been a kid that I've followed time and time again and kept waiting for him to declare himself a Panther. I think tomorrow is that day still, but it's making sense to me now. He played quarterback in high school and is listed as a receiver. Clearly he had some convincing to do, but Chryst supposedly offered him tonight. He's a gifted athlete but I haven't seen his route running or catching ability. The speed is there, but again like most of these guys.. we'll have to wait and see.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/bwi/football/recruiting/player-Wayne-Capers-105412
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/112474/wayne-capers
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=4591537
Onto the defensive line where Terrell Jackson out of Ohio is expected to sign with Pitt tomorrow. His final four include Pitt, Michigan State, Iowa and Illinois. He's visited each one of those schools except Michigan State. This is another kid that has stuck around through the coaching change. Jackson would be a nice get for a limited defensive line.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Terrell-Jackson-125913;_ylt=AiuyYPzBp8qhSeNhR_uDtXlIPZB4
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/133378/terrell-jackson
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=5181352
This could be the steal of the class. Anthony Standifer, a cornerback form Illinois, will not announce his college decision tomorrow because he will be taking an official to Pitt this weekend. That's big news because the other two schools he is considering are Boise State and Notre Dame, both of which he has recently visited. I've seen many writers that think Standifer will join this class especially because he's waiting to take his official and not announce tomorrow. Rivals has Pitt as 'High' interest and everyone else as low. Interesting..
http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=5460417
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Anthony-Standifer-123823
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/115848/anthony-standifer
That's all I have for you guys at the moment. If you have any questions get a hold of me. I hope you all enjoy Signing Day and I wish your programs the best of luck.
Hail to Pitt
