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Allderdice defensive end Clarke to commit to Pitt

By Colin Dunlap ][ 11:08 a.m. Wednesday

The University of Pittsburgh football program will received its 10th verbal commitment from the high school Class of 2009 today, when Allderdice defensive end Will Clarke plans to commit to coach Dave Wannstedt’s Panthers.
According to Allderdice coach Don Schmidt, Clarke, 6 feet 6, 245-pounds, will choose Pitt after also considering scholarship offers from West Virginia and several Mid-American Conference schools.
Also a tight end at Allderidice, Clarke is seen as a tremendously raw recruit with the potential improve exponentially. He helped lead the Dragons to the City League title game last season.
Clarke comes from great athletic bloodlines --- he is the son of Bill Clarke, who started on the fabled 1976 Fifth Avenue High School basketball team before going on to play at Duquesne.

ANALYSIS -- There has been a significant buzz around Will Clarke for a few months now, but it particularly spiked after he went to Pitt camp last month and performed off-the-charts. This is a kid who I saw twice last year, once coming at Heinz Field in the City League title game and, I have to say from the moment you sit down in the press box, during pregame warm-ups, you cannot take your eyes off him. Coupled with his tremendous size, Clarke's movements are very fluid. To me, I have a feeling he'll be the next Greg Romeus. Plus, it is a big-time recruiting "get" for coach Wannstedt to be able to keep the City League's best player home to play for the Panthers.

UPDATE 8:19 p.m. -- Finally got the confirmation. Just a little while ago, Will Clarke picked up the phone and called the Pitt football office. It is a done deal, he has committed to coach Dave Wannstedt.

 

Posted Aug 13 2008, 11:07 AM by Colin Dunlap
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Comments

pierogisnat wrote re: Allderdice defensive end Clarke to commit to Pitt
on Wed, Aug 13 2008 12:27 PM

Hey Colin, I like the blog, keep up the good work my man.  

I'm a new Pitt season ticket holder, and absolutely love this and the other recruits we've gotten so far this season.  It seems like the 'Stache is finally getting the hang of this college thing (the recruiting part at least).

I do have a question for you - are there any other "big name" recruits that Pitt is in the running for?

And a smaller question - I'm a Central Catholic alum, and was wondering if there are any current CC Vikings on Pitt's radar for the next couple years?  I've heard Tino Sunseri looks good at camp, and, knowing how they play and practice at CC, I'd have to imagine it's a school Wanny would look at for local recruits...

Thanks buddy

Colin Dunlap wrote re: Allderdice defensive end Clarke to commit to Pitt
on Wed, Aug 13 2008 12:48 PM

Thanks for the kind words, they are much appreciated.

Now to your points.

- This is a tremendous "get" for Pitt. Clarke is raw, but he just has the look of someone who will be a star.

- As far as other "big names" the biggest one left, locally, is probably Brock DeCicco, the tight end/defensive end from Thomas Jefferson. As you know, his brother, Dom, is a safety at Pitt. From what I hear, it is probably down to Pitt and Wisconsin at this point.

There is also Dan Mason, the linebacker at Penn Hills. He is an absolute stud. From what I understand, he is in no rush to make a decision, but Pitt is definitely right there with everyone else.

- In terms of Central kids, I would look for Pitt to have a very good shot at getting DJ Meyers, a corner/running back for the Vikings.

- I was at Pitt practice for awhile yesterday...Tino continues to impress. The kid is a flat-out winner and works his tail off. Some say he is a little short, and, yeah he might be. But that said, no one will ever outwork him and when a big play needs made, he has a track record of making that big play. It is my prediction that he'll definitely help Pitt down the road.

pierogisnat wrote re: Allderdice defensive end Clarke to commit to Pitt
on Wed, Aug 13 2008 1:44 PM

Thanks for the response Colin - one more question for you though,if you have the time...

I haven't had a chance to really look at a listing of the nation's top recruits, so if this seems dumb, forgive me, but are the Panthers in the running for any of the very elite players in the country, not just locally?

I realize we need to get a solid base from PA and the surrounding states, but if we ever want to get back to the powerhouse days of Dorsett and Marino, we're going to need more then just city league and AAAA kids...

Colin Dunlap wrote re: Allderdice defensive end Clarke to commit to Pitt
on Wed, Aug 13 2008 1:51 PM

Jack Lippert, the defensive end they got from Central Dauphin would be considered one of the best.

In terms of kids in the Class of 2009, of the Top 25 kids, I don't think they are really in the running for any of them. But, don't fret, those kids are likely going to schools like USC, Ohio State, Florida, etc....it isn't like they are choosing other Big East schools.

In my view, coach Wannstedt is doing a very, very good job of recruiting, quite possibly the best in the conference.

Pitt Blather — The Rantings Continue Permalink » Recruiting: What’s Known and What’s Speculated wrote Pitt Blather — The Rantings Continue Permalink » Recruiting: What’s Known and What’s Speculated
on Wed, Aug 13 2008 8:53 PM

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