Highly-touted Ohio quarterback Tra'Von Chapman commits to Pitt
By Tony DeFazio | Fri, 06/29/2012 - 13:18
Dual-threat quarterback Tra'Von Chapman of Theodore Roosevelt HS in Kent, Ohio--Pitt's top quarterback target in the class of 2013--has given the Panthers a verbal committment.
The 6-1, 205-pound Chapman had a terrific junior season for Roosevelt, racking up 2,212 yards and 26 touchdowns in the air as well as 735 yards and eight scores on the ground. He completed 64 percent of his passes en route to leading the Rough Riders to their first playoff game.
Chapman also had offers from Wisconsin, Arizona, Illinois, Cincinnati and others, but as finalists were Pitt, Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Arizona. The Panthers were considered the frontrunners since the spring.
Within hours of Chapman's committment, offensive tackle Carson Baker of Fairborn HS in Ohio also decided to attend Pitt.
The 6-5, 270-pound Baker received his first Division 1 offer from the Panthers and was quick to accept.
The Ohio pair gives the Panthers four new recruits in the past week, as Clairton receiver/defensive back Titus Howard and LaSalle High School punter Ryan Winslow.
Howard chose the Panthers over scholarship offers from Rutgers, UConn, Toledo and Akron, as well as several FCS bowl subdivision schools. Howard is lanky at 6-2, 170 pounds, but is extremely fast and athletic and projects as a cornerback in defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable's defense.
The Panthers are also recruiting Howard’s Clairton teammate, athlete Tyler Boyd, who has been one of the top running backs in Pennsylvania the past two seasons but is being recruited by most colleges as a wide receiver.
Winslow averaged 40 yards per punt as a junior for LaSalle. His father George punted in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.
