Local Colleges
2002 Top Recruits List
Pittsburgh's 2002 Oral Commitments

The following is a summary of the University of Pittsburgh's 2002 oral commitments obtained by the Pittsburgh Sports Report through the publication date of its February 2002 issue. The final commitment list will be available at the Pittsburgh Sports Report web site ( www.pghsports.com ) following National Letter of Intent Day Feb. 5, 2002 .

o   David Abdul, PK, Massillon, Ohio/Washington High School, 5-11, 180. . . Rated as the nation's fifth best kicking prospect by Rivals.com. . . Holds school records with four field goals in a game, 14 in a season, and longest FG with a kick of 56 yards. . . hit 35 of 37 extra points, and was four of six from beyond 50 yards. . . Excellent leg strength with most of his kickoffs deep in the end zone.

o   Andy Alleman, DE, Massillon, Ohio/Washington High School, 6-4, 235. . . Great frame with speed and quickness. . . Runs a sub 4.7. . . Sideline-to-sideline player. . . Played for one of the most highly regarded programs in the country against top competition. . . Recruited as outside linebacker or defensive end…Selected Pitt over Michigan State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Boston College, and Maryland.

o   Vernon Botts, DE, Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas HS, 6-4, 240. . . Runs the 40 in 4.6, combining size and speed very well. Projects as a defensive end or linebacker with Pitt. Franco Harris attended Rancocas Valley.

o   Sam Bryant, DB, Reading, Pa./Reading High School, 6-0, 200. . . Two-way player in HS. . . Ran for 821 yards on 81 carries, an average of 10.1 yards per carry, with 19 TDs. . . Prefers defense and will play there this fall. . . Fierce hitter with 66 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. . . Selected first-team all conference on both sides of the ball.

o   Steve Buches, TE, Pittsburgh/Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 6-4, 220. . . Buches was one of the top western Pa. prospects and gave the Pitt coaches a oral commitment in January. . . One of the top receiving tight ends in then east, Buches caught 29 passes as a senior, averaging 17 yards per catch and scoring seven touchdowns. . . Runs a 4.6 forty, has good, soft hands and outstanding body control. . . At 6-4, Buches has the frame to get to 240 pounds 2nd team All-State Tight End…turned down Maryland, Boston College, Duke, and Northwestern.

o   Jason Capizzi, OL, Pittsburgh/Pine Richland HS, 6-9, 295. . . Capizzi is another member of last year's class. . . Did not enroll until this semester, however, and will be a true freshman this fall. . . The idea was to allow him to add to his huge frame, which he did, going from 265 pounds last season to 295. . . Athletic and mobile, he played tackle at Pine-Richland but could move to guard at Pitt.

o   Reggie Carter, DB, Naples, Fla./Naples High School, 6-0, 190. . . Great athlete and track star. . . 4.5 forty time and has run the 100 meters in 10.8. . . 44 feet, 6 inches in the triple jump. . . Excellent cover corner with five interceptions as a senior. . . Strong in the open field. . . Size and speed look promising. . . Chose Pitt over Iowa, South Florida and Central Florida.

o   Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Richfield, Minn./Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pa./Academy of Holy Angels, 6-4, 215. . . Pitt's top recruit last season, the blue-chipper from Minnesota did not qualify academically. . . Fitzgerald gave a verbal commitment to Pitt over Ohio State, Nebraska, and Iowa, among many others, last winter, but that became void when he failed to qualify

o   Eric Fritz, DT, Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS, 6-5, 295. . . Top prospect in Ohio…ranked the 32 nd -best prospect in the Midwest by Superprep. . . Can play on both sides of the ball, but will begin as a DT in college. . . Bench presses 385 and has a 505 squat before his senior year. . . Very quick and has exceptional balance and superb technique.

o   Billy Gaines, WR, Ijamsville, Md./Urbana HS, 5-7, 165. . . Could turn out to be the sleeper in the class. . . Gaines is a small but fast receiver who made a name for himself at the Pennsylvania Nike Camp at Penn State last summer. . . He ran a blistering 4.22 and 4.25 in the 40, had a camp-best vertical leap of 36.9 inches, and was named the camp's most valuable player. . . Returned five punts for touchdowns as a senior. . . Selected All-State in Maryland the last two seasons…41 catches for 666 yards and 13 TDs as a senior. . . West Virginia and Virginia also offered.

o   Luke Getsy, QB, Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley HS, 6-3, 200. . . Getsy is a classic, drop-back passer and a good athlete. Although West Allegheny's Tyler Palko is the higher-profile recruit, there are some who feel Getsy is a better fit for Pitt's offense. Getsy has the frame to add pounds, which he'll need to do before he makes an impact at the next level. . . According to Steel Valley defensive coordinator Russ Firestone, Getsy has more football savvy than former Ironmen QB and Detroit Lions' QB Charlie Batch did at this stage in his career, though he does not possess as strong an arm. . . Boston College and Virginia were also interested.

o   Josh Lay, DB, Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa HS/Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pa., 6-1, 190. . . Originally part of last season's recruiting class, Lay did not qualify. . . Lay played receiver, quarterback, and cornerback at VF, and dominated at times. . . Valley Forge coach Mike Muscella said Lay was faster and more physical than anyone he saw this season. . . Lay is enrolled at Pitt and will participate in spring practice.

o   Curtis Lewis, FB, Clifton, Va./Centreville HS, 5-11, 275. . . Nicknamed "The Diesel," Lewis is a bruising fullback, posting weight-room numbers of 415 on the bench and squatting more than 500 pounds. Agile with extremely quick feet, Lewis was a dependable runner as a senior, carrying 136 times for 698 yards. Despite the 100-plus carries, Lewis was not the featured running back and has plenty of experience as a lead blocker. Chose Pitt over North Carolina State and Boston College.

o   Tyler Palko, QB, Pittsburgh/West Allegheny HS, 6-2, 205. . . Palko was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country last fall, and his signing with the Panthers was a huge lift for their recruiting efforts. Palko has tremendous physical skills, but it is his mental approach to the game that may be his best asset. Coaches from around the WPIAL have praised his abilities and leadership. . . With only two scholarship quarterbacks on Pitt's roster, both Palko and Getsy will at least get the opportunity to earn playing time immediately. . . Received nearly 30 offers.

o   Charles Sallet, LB, Seffner, Fla./Armwood HS, 6-0, 215. . . School record holder with more than 50 quarterback hurries and tied a school record with 33 career sacks. . . Runs the 40 in 4.6 and posted an 11.1 in the 100 meter dash. . . Fast first three steps, outstanding burst. . . Selected Pitt over West Virginia and East Carolina.

o   Zack Schlundt, OT, Punta Gorda, Fla./Port Charlotte HS, 6-4, 285. . . A big kid who can move. . . Great feet, tremendous upper body strength (350 bench), superb (5.1) speed and the ability to open the holes for a running game and pass block for one of the top passing games in the state. . . Will play guard at Pitt.

o   John Simonitis, OG, Dallas, Pa./Dallas HS, 6-5, 290. . . Young both in terms of age (16) and experience (three high school seasons). . . Selected to the Northeast Pennsylvania Football Conference All-Star first team at defensive tackle as a junior. . . Projects as a guard with the Panthers. . . Named the top lineman at both the Pitt and WVU camps last summer

o   Neal Tracey, OL-DL, North Scituate, R.I./Ponaganset HS, 6-3, 295. . . Came on late in his senior season and was beginning to receive national interest before committing to Pitt. . . Another sleeper. . . Two-way star as a senior who will play center or guard at Pitt.

o   Larry Tumblin, DE, Oberlin, Ohio/Oberlin HS, 6-4, 240. . . Squats more than 600 pounds. . . Excellent quickness off the ball. . . Is at his best against the run, often creating havoc in the backfield. . . Also played inside linebacker.

o   Brian Bennett, LB, Delran, N.J./Holy Cross HS, 6-1, 210. . . Played strong safety as a junior before moving to ILB in a 5-2 last season. . . Excellent tackler and can make plays from all over the field. . . Averaged 15 tackles per games as senior and recorded eight sacks. . . Blocked a punt and returned it 45 yards for a TD in the championship game his junior year. . . High school coach Tom Maderia coached for Don Nehlen at West Virginia for three seasons from 1986-1988 and says Bennett will see success in the Big East.

o   Brandon Miree, RB, Detroit/Winton Woods HS, 6-1, 220. . . Transferred from Alabama and sat out the 2001 season. He will have junior eligibility for the Panthers. . . Played in every game in 2000 for the Crimson Tide, finishing with 445 yards on 94 carries and six TDs and a 4.5 yards per carry average. . . Broke his leg last spring, fell on the depth chart and transferred to Pitt.