Football: Panthers sign 23 high school players to letters of intent

Pitt football officially signed its third recruiting class under head coach Paul Chryst on Wednesday. According to Rivals.com, the 23 members of the Panthers’ Class of 2014 ranks No. 44 in the nation and includes four four-star and 15 three-star recruits.

“I’m really excited about the 23 guys that we signed,” Chryst said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into this.”

Pitt’s class includes seven players from the western Pennsylvania area, two of which highlight the class: four-star offensive linemen Alex Bookser and Mike Grimm. Both were named to the state’s Big 33 Football Classic team, pitting the best high school players from Pennsylvania and Maryland against each other.

“Truly, I think we got the kind of guy who can be a heck of a player,” Chryst said of Bookser. “Getting his fax today was exciting.”

As for Grimm, Chryst said one of the team’s earliest commits is “fired up to be here.”

Bookser, of Mt. Lebanon, Pa., and Grimm, of Bethel Park, Pa., join an offensive line group that saw two local freshmen — Adam Bisnowaty and Dorian Johnson — receive significant playing time.

The Panthers also pulled in a pair of skill players ranked as four-star talents in running back Chris James and Adonis Jennings. 

“[James has] the ability to be a physical runner and also to open it up in the open field and run away from guys,” Chryst said. 

After the efforts of wide receiver Tyler Boyd and running back James Conner in their freshman seasons, the opportunity may present itself for players of James’ and Jennings’ caliber to immediately carve out roles on the field every Saturday.

“I think Adonis is a special player and has a chance to make an impact sooner than later,” Chryst said. “h[He] has very good size, extremely strong, powerful, and he was a part of a really good football team.”

In addition to Jennings, Pitt also netted local receivers Elijah Zeise (North Allegheny) and JaQuan Davidson (Elizabeth Forward). Wide receivers coach Bobby Engram hopes to see his new receivers put their best foot forward as soon as possible.

“The one thing that the guys in the receivers room know is it’s all about competition,” Engram said. “We’re a team, but we’ve got to be the best that we can be to make plays and help us win games.”

But Jennings, in particular, is possibly the player Engram and the rest of the Pitt staff may be most excited about.

“We expect big things from Adonis coming in,” Engram said. “I think he’ll complement another pretty good receiver we’ve got in [Tyler Boyd].”

Defensively, the Panthers added a number of two-star and three-star players, including Jalen Williams and Patrick Amara. 

“With [Jalen] and Patrick, we’ve got two rangier type of safeties,” Chryst said. “Both can run, both have good ball skills.” 

Defensive coordinator Matt House already has one safety he must replace this season with the departure of Jason Hendricks, while current starter Ray Vinopal enters his senior year this fall. For Amara and Williams, the early chance at playing time is there for the taking.

“Patrick’s a guy that’s a dynamic playmaker,” House said. “He’s got great ball skills, he’s a ferocious tackler.” 

According to Rivals, Chryst’s third class ranks in between his first and second. The third-year head coach’s Class of 2013 ranked No. 35, while his first ranked No. 47 in 2012.

“We’re excited about the group because of who they are, as much as the types of players they are,” Chryst said. “Today’s the day when you hope you get better as a team.”