Revis making the right choices for Pitt

Life is a multiple-choice test for Darrelle Revis.

Every day, he has to ask himself, “Should… Life is a multiple-choice test for Darrelle Revis.

Every day, he has to ask himself, “Should I pursue: a) football, b) basketball or c) all of the above?”

While choice “c” is very tempting, right now the answer is “a” for the standout defensive back who enjoyed a stellar basketball career in high school.

After coming into his own last year, a season in which he started as a true freshman, Revis is projected to become a major force in the Pitt football lineup.

“We have extremely high expectations,” defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said of his defensive back. “Now he’s got experience under his belt and the knowledge that comes with it.” Revis understands his role.

“This year, I’m going to have to come out and play better,” he said. “I think there’s a big burden on me, and Josh [Lay], too.”

Lay, a fellow Aliquippa High School graduate, joins Revis in the secondary. A solid player in his own right, Lay was an All-Big East Second Team selection last season. He explained that Revis’ presence both loosens up and motivates him and the rest of the defensive backs to play even better.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” he admitted, adding, “he makes you more aggressive out there.” He added that extra motivation comes from the fact that the two are from the same hometown. He doesn’t want to let Revis, a year his junior, to get a leg up on him. He also explained that Coach Dave Wannstedt has been instrumental in both his and Revis’ growth.

“Coach has made us play more aggressively,” he said. “He lets us play.”

Rhoads said Revis’ aggressiveness has a tendency to disappear for a play here and there, something that the sophomore will have to change in order to excel in the college game. Revis admitted that he needs to keep working to eliminate this habit.

“It’s a different level up here,” he said. He explained that in high school, he knew which players were good and required attention every play and which ones were average enough that he could relax a little bit. But now, he realizes that he’s in a different world.

“You have to be a student of the game every play,” he said. Rhoads hasn’t let him forget it either, keeping a close watch on his standout to ensure Revis reaches his potential.

“He tells me day-in and day-out if I’m doing good or bad,” Revis said.

But behind all of the football, Revis can’t help but think “what if?” about his basketball career. An Associated Press First-Team player in Pennsylvania Class AA, Revis has struggled with whether or not to pursue basketball, as well.

“Basketball is my first love,” he said. “I just love the atmosphere.”

Revis said he had talked with head basketball coach Jamie Dixon about possibly playing last season for the Panthers but pulled away at the last minute.

“I think it was the best decision for me and for the Pittsburgh Panthers,” Revis said. “Right now, I’m just looking forward to the [football] season.”

And despite the fact that, according to Rhoads, he may be the best athlete on the football team, the daunting task of Division I practices year-round was a bit of a deterrent.

“I think it would be real tough,” Revis said, laughing. But he would not be the first incredibly gifted basketball player to star in two sports. Perhaps the most recent standout to do so was Charlie Ward.

In 1993, Ward, a quarterback, led the Florida State football team to the national championship, earning the Heisman Trophy in the process. But the standout football player also played for the Seminoles’ basketball team and ended up playing in the NBA.

Revis, however, may end up doing the opposite, should he choose to play.

“I talked to my uncle a lot about it,” he said. “Basically, he told me that, in the NBA, there are usually one or two point guards on the roster. But in the NFL, you’ll have eight or nine defensive backs on the team.”

Revis still has a few years left in school to contemplate whether or not he wants to go out for the basketball team. But currently, his focus is on football, and that’s where it will stay for at least one more season.