Cruz De-commits from Pitt

TE Mike Cruz has rescinded his verbal to Pitt and has re-opened his recruiting processes. It sounds like Cruz wanted to come to Pitt but his mother was not sold on Pitt. She said that she didn't think the city life would be good for her son.

PA top 25

Here are the top 25 players in PA for the class of 2008. The percentage is how much of a shot I think Pitt has at landing this player. These are just my guesses.


1. Terrelle Pryor ATH 6'6 220 15%
2. Shane Hale LB 6'4 240 25%
3. Andrew Sweat 6'3 225 0%
4. AJ Alexander 5'10 180 ATH 25%
5. Lucas Nix 6'5 280 OT/DT 90%
6. Jonathan Baldwin 6'6 220 TE 35%
7. Jared Holley 5'9 170 10%
8. Christian Wilson 6'2 220 LB 25%
9. Vaughn Carraway 6'3 185 WR No offer
10. Hubie Graham 6'4 225 TE 25%
11. Chris Burns 5'11 190 RB/DB Committed to Pitt
12. Mark Wedderburn 6'6 230 TE 10%
13. Antuan Reed 5'10 170 CB Committed to Pitt
14. Cam Saddler 5'6 160 ATH 55%
15. M. Stankiewitch 6'4 290 OL Committed to PSU
16. Mike Cruz 6'4 245 TE Committed to Pitt
17. Chris Henderson 6'3 265 DT no offer
18. Mike Yanich 6'3 230 LB 75%
19. David Posluzny 6'1 205 S Committed to Notre Dame
20. Quentin Williams 6'4 230 DE 50%
21. Tyler Sands 6'5 285 OT No offer
22. Leon Green 5'10 190 S No offer
23. Adrian Robinson 6'2 210 LB No offer
24. Kaleb Ramsey 6'4 245 DE No offer
25. Chris Palmer 6'2 275 DT No offer

I obviously think there chances of getting Nix are very good. I don't see him going anywhere but Pitt. I also think Pitt will have a good shot at Saddler and Baldwin. I think Baldwin would be a great fit for Pitt.

Also Keith Benjaminn is into legal problems. It doesnt seem to be that serious.

Blue-Gold game notes

These are just some things I noticed while watching the game today.

• Elijah Fields had a nice interception and he took it back all the way. He was all over the field today and I don't see how he cant start or at least get a lot of playing time at safety.

• Kevan Smith never really looked comfortable and I just don't see him as the starter this year. Stull really didn't look great either but he was definitely better than Smith.

• Gus Mustakas looked good. He had a sack and forced a fumble on the same play. Also had another sack. Had a few tackles in the backfield and looks like he is going to be a solid DL.

• Shane Murray looked great. He was all over the field. Used his speed and quickness for back side pursuit.

• Looks like Lowell Robinson has officially moved to CB.

• Kevin Collier really looked good. He got good blocks and sliced through the defense all game. Broke off some big runs as did Stephens-howlings. I also liked Shane Brooks. Came out of the backfield to make a few catches and made some guys miss for extra yardage. Looks like RB is going to be loaded when McCoy arrives.

• T.J. Porter also look impressive. He had a few nice catches and he ran some good routes. Looks like he can be a star in the upcoming years.

• It was good to see Dorin Dickerson out theere making plays. He had a nice interception and had a few tackles.

Local players in Rivals top 100

Today Rivals.com came out with there top 100 recruits for 2008.

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=880&Year=2008&ra_key=1735

The local players in that list are super star QB Terrell pryor, Gateway Linebacker Shayne Hayle, Aliquippa Tight End Jonathan Baldwin, and Thomas Jefferson Offensive Lineman Lucas Nix. All have offers from top schools in the East part of the country. None have made there choice as to where they will be going for school but its is know that Terrell Pryor is leaning heavily towards going to OSU. Lucas Nix will probably follow his older brother, Nate to Pittsburgh. The only other players I see Pitt getting in this group are Shayne Hayle and Jonathan Baldwin however, it is unlikely either will be heading to Pittsburgh.

Reciever has a lot of depth

The Panthers are bringing back All-Big East receiver Derek Kinder, second year starter Oderick Turner, Cedric McGee, Marcel Pestano,and T.J. Porter. The latter two have mad such an impression in spring practice that Wannstedt said either could start for the team at WR.

"That's definitely a good feeling to know that you've got five guys capable of going in and playing," Aubrey Hill said.

Kinder is more of a possession guy and rarely beats anyone deep. Turner is a tall receiver with long arms and can really stretch the defense with his speed and height. Both however lack athleticness something both Pestano and Porter have.

"I think I can be the guy, but I'm not the only one with ability," Pestano said. "We've all got talent. We've all got different qualities."

It is great to see Porter starting to live up to his hype. He came into the fall last year as a highly touted WR out of high school and never really clicked with the coaching staff. He left the team for a few days last year and never felt comfortable so far from his home in Florida. Porter has changed a lot in a year and he is even willing to admit he feels more comfortable with his place on the team and mature now than a year ago.

"It's just growing up," Porter said. "When I first got here, I was still a kid, just a little mama's boy, used to my mom doing everything for me. I'm out in the real world. I realize that now. I can't wait for my mom to do everything for me."

The competition for playing time at receiver should be great to watch in the fall. Even if neither of these guys beat out Kinder or Turner for the starting positions, it will at the very least push them to be that much better.

Safeties leaving a good impression

Last year Pitt ranked 107th in defensive rushing yards a game. A lot of that had to do with a small line and slow LB's. Some of it also had to do with the fact that we never really had good hitting safeties who could come up to the line and make a solid hit. It looks like that is changing this year at least in Spring camp and it is a god sign that we have some safeties who can hit

"I think things are going pretty good for us right now,'' fifth-year senior strong safety Mike Phillips said. "Everybody's getting on the same page in the secondary and on the overall defense, too.

That can only help the run defense. It will help take some pressure off the corners and the young LB's. Eric Thatcher a Junior free safety will probably hold the one starting safety position while Mike Phillips and Elijah Fields should battle for the last safety spot. Phillips has said that he is 100% healthy after breaking his ankle 2 years ago and is finally looking like himself again.

"Last year, I was saying in my head that I was back at 100 percent, but I really wasn't,'' Phillips said. "I really never got over that hump, but I feel real good right now. And I think it should be even better when the season starts.''

Fields is more athletic and is a gifted athlete but he has missed a lot of spring practice due to his suspension. It looks like Phillips is the front runner here but the battle probably wont start until in the fall.

Michael Beasely staying at KSU

Top 5 player Michael Beasely will remain with KSU. Many thought that he would ask to get out of his LOI when Bob Huggins left for WVU but after KSU promoted there assistant coach, Frank Martin, to coach Beasely has said that he will remain at KSU. Martin coached Beasely's AAU team and they have a close relationship.