Wannstedt signs another top class

Pitt head football coach Dave Wannstedt knows how to improve upon two disappointing seasons… Pitt head football coach Dave Wannstedt knows how to improve upon two disappointing seasons – keep signing good players.

Wannstedt and the Pitt coaching staff did just that yesterday, college football’s National Letter of Intent Day, signing 24 top prep players who Wannstedt believes will eventually turn the program around.

“The key is to get a good foundation of talented players that are accountable and have a desire to be the best. That’s what we’re building here,” Wannstedt said at Pitt’s South Side practice facility yesterday. “As we bring in the players, I can’t wait until we start winning eight, nine, 10 games a year.”

One of the top prospects who signed with Pitt is 5-11, 204-pound game-changing running back LeSean McCoy who committed to Pitt yesterday after leaving a recruiting trail with many twists and turns.

Originally from Harrisburg, McCoy was once the top-ranked running back in the country in 2005 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

McCoy then signed with Miami out of high school but chose instead to enroll in Milford Academy, a prep school in New Berlin, N.Y. One of his Milford teammates, receiver Aundre Wright, also signed with Pitt yesterday.

Initially, rumors had McCoy heading to Penn State before taking an official visit to Pitt during the weekend of the Pitt-Georgetown basketball game. During the visit, he committed to the Panthers.

“With relentless recruiting, we stayed with him, he’s healthy and has matured so much in one year,” Wannstedt said of McCoy. “We need to get McCoy the ball. He understands what’s in front of him. He’s looking forward to coming in here and competing.”

McCoy, former high school teammate of current Pitt defensive back Aaron Berry, is ranked a “five-star” prospect according to Scout.com., a national recruiting service.

Scout also ranks Pitt-bound quarterback Pat Bostick and offensive lineman Chris Jacobson “five-star” players. Jacobson played last month in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which showcases the year’s top prospects. McCoy was also named to the same roster in 2005, but did not play because of the injury.

Overall, Pitt signed 16 players from Pa., 12 of whom were named all state during their prep careers. Scout ranks Pitt’s class No. 9 in the country.

2007 Pitt Football Recruiting Class

QB – Pat Bostick – 6-3, 220, Lancaster, Pa. RB – LeSean McCoy – 5-11, 204, New Berlin, N.Y. RB – Greg Williams – 6-2, 205, Naples, Fla. RB – Shariff Harris – 6-2, 195, Bayonne, N.J. WR – Maurice Williams – 6-0, 184, Erie, Pa. WR – Aundre Wright – 5-11, 180, New Berlin, N.Y. WR – Dom DeCicco – 6-2, 196, Jefferson Hills, Pa. TE – Jordan Gibbs – 6-7, 290, Millersville, Pa. TE – Kyle Hubbard, 6-3, 220, Lakewood, Ohio OL – John Fieger – 6-5, 274, Pennsburg, Pa. OL – Chris Jacobson – 6-3, 284, Pittsburgh, Pa. OL – Dan Matha – 6-6, 311, Erie, Pa. OL – Greg Gaskins – 6-4, 280, York, Pa.

DE – Miles Caragein – 6-1, 258, Pittsburgh, Pa. DE – Jabaal Sheard – 6-4, 240, Hollywood, Fla. DE – Tony Tucker – 6-2, 225, Washington, D.C. LB – Max Gruder – 6-2, 227, Charlotte, N.C. LB – Brandon Lindsey – 6-2, 220, Aliquippa, Pa. LB – Tristan Roberts – 6-0, 184, Perkasie, Pa. DT – Tommie Duhart – 6-4, 285, Coffeyville, Kan. DB – Anthony “Buddy” Jackson – 6-1, 167, Weston, Fla. DB – Sherod Murdock – 5-11, 165, Tampa, Fla.

Offensive lineman Wayne Jones from Johnstown, Pa., was offered a “gray-shirt,” meaning he will enroll at Pitt next winter and will count towards next year’s class. DE Justin Hargrove was offered the same situation because of a serious injury last year and now counts to this year’s class.