February 16, 2008

Mike Farrell
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

No Big East team cracked the national top 25 Rivals.com team recruiting rankings but that doesn't mean there weren't some top signees. Pitt finished with the top recruiting class in the conference and boasts the only two five-stars in Jonathan Baldwin and Lucas Nix.

The Panthers lead the way when it comes to members of the Big East Signing Day Dream Team (high school players only) and this class could help push Dave Wannstedt's team near the top of the Big East.

QB Zack Stoudt
HIGH SCHOOL: Dublin (Ohio) Coffman
COLLEGE: Louisville
BUZZ: The quarterback situation at Louisville is wide open.

RB Cameron Saddler
HIGH SCHOOL: Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway
COLLEGE: Pitt
BUZZ: The perfect change-of-pace back to compliment LeSean McCoy

RB Isaiah Pead
HIGH SCHOOL: Columbus (Ohio) Eastmoor
COLLEGE: Cincinnati
BUZZ: A freshman will make an impact at running back for the Bearcats and Pead is the guy.

WR Jonathan Baldwin
HIGH SCHOOL: Aliquippa, Pa.
COLLEGE: Pitt
BUZZ: Too big and talented to keep off the field early.

WR Marcus Sales
HIGH SCHOOL: Syracuse (N.Y.) Christian Brothers
COLLEGE: Syracuse
BUZZ: Local product fills a need for Orange as big wideout.

TE Stephon Ball
HIGH SCHOOL: Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier
COLLEGE: Louisville
BUZZ: Comes in with a JUCO tight end, but Louisville loses two seniors.

OL Lucas Nix
HIGH SCHOOL: Jefferson Hills (Pa.) Thomas Jefferson
COLLEGE: Pitt
BUZZ: Good enough to make the two-deep as a freshman.

OL Art Forst
HIGH SCHOOL: Manasquan, N.J.
COLLEGE: Rutgers
BUZZ: Rutgers loses both tackles and Forst is huge.

OL Josh Jenkins
HIGH SCHOOL: Vienna (W.V.) Parkersburg
COLLEGE: West Virginia
BUZZ: Local product likely promised early playing time in Morgantown and is good enough.

OL Mario Benavides
HIGH SCHOOL: Los Fresnos, Texas
COLLEGE: Louisville
BUZZ: Early enrollee gets head start to crack two deep.

OL Erik Kuraczea
HIGH SCHOOL: Ansonia, Conn.
COLLEGE: UConn
BUZZ: Strong enough for college and could impact on the inside.

ATH Averin Collier
HIGH SCHOOL: Churchville (N.Y.) Churchville-Chili
COLLEGE: Syracuse
BUZZ: Has a great chance to impact the Orange right away at running back.

Big East Signing Day Dream Team: Defense

DE Dan Vaughan
HIGH SCHOOL: Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic
COLLEGE: Syracuse
BUZZ: Might be undersized, but is one of the hardest workers you'll find.

DE Greg Scruggs
HIGH SCHOOL: Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier
COLLEGE: Louisville
BUZZ: Scruggs is raw but at a position of need for the Cardinals.

DT Scott Vallone
HIGH SCHOOL: Central Islip (N.Y.) St. Anthony's
COLLEGE: Rutgers
BUZZ: Needs to add bulk, but plays much bigger than his size and has great motor.

DT Christopher Palmer
HIGH SCHOOL: Philadelphia (Pa.) St. John Neumann
COLLEGE: West Virginia
BUZZ: Has the size and strength to work his way onto two-deep for West Virginia.

LB Shayne Hale
HIGH SCHOOL: Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway
COLLEGE: Pitt
BUZZ: Will push for Scott McKillop's job early.

LB Eric LeGrand
HIGH SCHOOL: Colonia, N.J.
COLLEGE: Rutgers
BUZZ: Made 101 of 102 lifting sessions as a senior.

LB Jatavious Miller
HIGH SCHOOL: Pahokee, Fla.
COLLEGE: West Virginia
BUZZ: Typical West Virginia 'backer ? undersized but fast and hard hitting.

CB Jarred Holley
HIGH SCHOOL: Easton, Pa.
COLLEGE: Pitt
BUZZ: Pitt is young at corner, but Holley is good enough to push for time.

CB Dwayne Gratz
HIGH SCHOOL: Piscataway, N.J.
COLLEGE: UConn
BUZZ: One of the best press coverage corners in the Northeast should play.

S Dorian Graham
HIGH SCHOOL: Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
COLLEGE: Syracuse
BUZZ: Speedster from big program might be forced to play early.

S Patrick Lambert
HIGH SCHOOL: St. Cloud (Fla.) Osceola
COLLEGE: Cincinnati
BUZZ: Bearcats needs help right away at safety and Lambert can provide it.

ATH George Baker
HIGH SCHOOL: Miami (Fla.) Archbishop Carroll
COLLEGE: South Florida
BUZZ: A bit light, but is a terrific cover cornerback.