Pitt has recently landed back to back commitments from Youngstown (OH) Austintown Fitch running back Darrin Hall (5-foot-11 inches, 200 pounds) and Columbus (OH) Westerville South offensive lineman Rob Dowdy (6-foot-5 inches, 300 pounds). With the pair of blue-chippers added to the class of 2015, head coach Paul Chryst and staff will primarily focus their recruiting efforts on the defensive side of the ball.
Doral (FL) Reagan High School linebacker/defensive end Shawn Curtis (6-foot-3 inches, 246 pounds) is a name to remember.
“Pitt started recruiting me last year. I heard from them about mid-way through the year. The offered me a scholarship three weeks after first contact,” said Curtis. “My main contact with Pitt has been (defensive line coach) Inoke Breckterfield.”
Curtis recorded over 130 tackles his junior year from his hybrid linebacker/defensive end position. “I play both outside linebacker and defensive end for my high school. My position is like a hybrid. I line up in a two-point stance on some plays then drop back into the linebacker position for others,” he said. “It all depends on what the offense is showing us.”
At nearly 250 pounds, Curtis is capable of running a 4.6 forty-yard dash and bench pressing 300 pounds. He’s already recorded 7 sacks in two games this season. Pitt, Duke, Mississippi State, Illinois, Bowling Green, Florida International, Army, Massachusetts, UAB and Marshall.
When asked about his strengths as a linebacker, he stated, “I’m very intense and I move well for my size. I can really get to the ball fast. I’m a disruptive player.”
“Pitt is definitely one of my top schools. I really would like to take an official visit there,” he said. “Pitt, Illinois, Mississippi State and Duke are probably the top four schools I’m looking at.”
“I have heard a lot of good things about Pitt. Coach Breckterfield has told me about their relationship with the Steelers. I really like that,” he said. “I was told the program has a great atmosphere and I know the team is young and getting better.”
Harry G. Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru