Perspective on Pitt commitment Dane Jackson

 DJackson

Coraopolis (PA) Quaker Valley athlete Dane Jackson recently committed to the University of Pittsburgh football program.  A dynamic quarterback for the Quakers, he will be playing cornerback for the Panthers.

To gain better perspective on Jackson, DreamBackfield.com spoke with Quaker Valley Head Football Coach John Tortorea.

“I grew up in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh with a lot of old Italians.  It’s a complement that older people would understand but it’s the highest compliment you can give someone.  Dane Jackson is a true gentleman,” stated Tortorea.  “It’s an old world, old fashion term, but you couldn’t ask for a better gentleman.”

“When it comes to being a teammate, a classmate, a friend or a son, Dane is a first class individual.  He’s humble and quiet.  Sometimes I think he’s too quiet.  He leads by example.  His teammates look up to him.”

Coach Tortorea added, “He’s the type of kid that cleans the gym without me asking him.  There’s never anything too big or too small for him.  Whatever he can do to improve someone’s quality of life, he’ll do it.  Like I said, he’s a true gentleman.  His mother has done a great job bringing him up.”

Jackson (6-foot, 170 pounds) was a dual-threat quarterback for Quaker Valley last season.  He threw for 975 yards scoring 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,111 yards scoring 10 touchdowns. Dane had received scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Albany, Indiana State and Duquesne prior to committing to the Panthers.

“Dane is the best kept secret in the WPIAL,” said Tortorea.  “The kid almost single handedly beat Aliquippa by himself last year and they had a lot of top level talent.  He matched them play for play.”

“I have coached for over 20 years and Dane is the most dynamic kid I have ever seen with the ball in his hands,” he said.  “I’m aware a lot of coaches say things like that.  I meant it.  Dane has a tremendous amount of natural ability.  Some kids are raw athletes, Dane is polished.  He has a tremendously high football IQ.”

“Dane can play any position you throw at him and he’s ‘team first’.  If you asked him today to play defensive tackle at Pitt, he would start packing on weight.  He can adapt to anything you throw at him.”

Jackson is capable of running a 4.46 forty-yard dash.  After a pair of extensive workouts, Pitt head football coach Paul Chryst and staff decided cornerback would be his optimal position on the next level.  Several MAC schools were recruiting Jackson as a quarterback.

“He’s going to be a great cornerback for Pitt.  Dane’s going to play cornerback for us as well,” he said “We plan on playing a lot of man coverage due to his athleticism.  He won’t have a hard time switching to a full time cornerback for Pitt.  He’s very bright and a quick learner.”

“We essentially play the same defense as Pitt.  Their system is probably a bit more complex.  It shouldn’t be too big a transition for Dane.  He’s only going to get better with more reps at the position.”

“I hope Pitt considers getting him involved in the return game.  He has great hands and he’s beyond dangerous in the open field.  When Dane has the ball and breaks something open, it looks like everyone around him is going at half speed.”

Coach Tortorea made it a point to highlight the efforts of Pitt’s linebackers coach Chris Haering.  “Coach Hearing is a big reason Dane decided on Pitt.  It’s rare to find that level of clarity and honesty in a coach throughout the recruiting process,” he said.  “He simply did an amazing job recruiting Dane.  I hope I have another player I can get involved with him the future.”

“Dane is certainty a Paul Chryst type of player and I expect nothing but the best from him in the future.”

Dane Jackson can be found on Twitter at @Splashy_2

DreamBackfield.com’s Harry G. Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru