Twenty three players recently signed their letter of intents to play football for Pitt head football Coach Paul Chryst. Two defensive tackles were added to the class: 6-foot-3 inch, 310 pound Connor Dintino and 6-foot-4 inch 320 pound Mike Herndon.
DreamBackfield.com contacted Dintino to get an update on his activities prior to joining the Panthers.
Connor was a two-year, two-way starter for Choate Rosemary Hall. He played offensive tackle and split his time between defensive end and tackle on defense. Dintino, an All-New England Prep selection, compiled 40 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 3 blocked kicks in eight games. He was equally as successful as a wrestler. Connor achieved a top 5 finish at the Prep Wrestling Nationals to earn All-American status.
“Letter of Intent day was amazing. It was like a weight was taken off my shoulders,” stated Dintino. “Knowing where I was going to college and simply focusing on the rest of my senior year was big for me. I was happy to say the least.”
Connor had a tremendous time on his official visit. He stated that he’s already developing a strong bond with many of the players in his current recruiting class. “I had an awesome time on my visit,” he said. “We’re all jacked about building a foundation of winning at Pitt. You could feel an energy coming from everyone. We’re ready to bring it on the field.”
Dintino is known for having a stellar work ethic. After experiencing a dislocated shoulder that led to partial labrum tear, he has been diligently working his way back into top physical shape. “I had a decision to make. The doctors told me that if I were a regular guy, I probably could have skipped the surgery. Because I was playing football, they thought it would be better to have the surgery. They went in and cleaned things up.”
“I’ve used this injury to motivate me to get better,” he said. “I have primarily been working my legs, but I’m slowly getting stronger and stronger with my upper body. For a period of time, it was really frustrating. I couldn’t even do a push up. Each day I can feel my upper body strength coming back.”
“Right now I’m 310 pounds. Coach (Jon) Palmero told me he doesn’t care how much I weight when I arrive at Pitt. He’s more worried about what I do on the field,” he said. “I’m 15 pounds heavier than I was in the summer when I attended Pitt camp. The coaches thought I was smaller, around 260 pounds. They were stunned when I arrived and was much bigger.”
In 2007 the Pitt football program landed defensive lineman and standout wrestler Myles Caragein from Keystone Oaks High School in Pittsburgh, PA. Caragein developed into the anchor of Pitt’s defensive line for the remainder of his days at Pitt. There are many similarities when looking at Dintino.
When asked if his wrestling background has enhanced his performance in the trenches, he emphatically stated, “Absolutely it has helped. I have wrestled and taken Judo. It helps so much on the field. I used to lean forward too much until I got into wrestling. Wrestling and Judo helped develop my core muscles. It significantly has helped my balance.”
“I have improved my hand fighting in the trenches and my punch off the ball because of wrestling and Judo. The skills I have learned from both can translate onto the field,” he said.
Dintino mentioned he often was unable to find heavyweight wrestlers to compete with during the summer. He gravitated to Judo to improve his skills and find improved competition.
Connor enters his freshman season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. “I want to go to Pitt and compete. I’m from the state of Connecticut and a prep school and I think it’s easy to overlook someone like me. There may be low expectations,” he said. “I want to show them that I can hang with them and play. I want to prove myself.”
Pitt’s coaching staff has taken notice of another Choate Rosemary Hall defender. Early contact has been made with 2015 safety Will Harris (6-foot-2 inches, 200 pounds). Boston College and Connecticut have already extended scholarship offers. Pitt may not be far behind.