Pitt flipped a Rivals 2* recruit yesterday.  6’4″ 225 DE/LB Nate Temple had been committed to Middle Tennessee State University until he took in the Virginia Tech game and decided that Pitt was the place for him.  Needless to say, a big win in a big game does tend to help the recruiting experience.

For what its worth 247 has him at a three-star and also bumps his weight up to 230.

Temple is a South Carolina product, which is noteworthy.  Also noteworthy was that the staff got a look at him at a University of Georgia football camp.  The conventional wisdom down here (I live in Atlanta), is that the so called “second tier” of southern recruits is still pretty  talented, even after the SEC has skimmed all the cream off the top.   Programs like Central Florida and (yep i’m going to say it) West Virginia are good examples.  If you take a look at the last few Hoopie recruiting classes, the star-power is nothing to write home about.  And yet, there they are, ranked higher than Pitt at #13.  Note the preponderance of southern states in their commit list.

The recruiting sites have the usual run down on Temple.  I took a look at his highlight video and this looks like your standard Narduzzi / Partridge under-the-radar DE recruit:  Lanky and tall with the frame to add some weight.  Good strength, as evidenced by his ability to push D-linemen back.  Above average athleticism and get-off.   Definitely a bit raw, but high motor.  Looks like he’s got a decent swim move at the high-school level.  I have no idea how that will translate in college, but I do know that his arms look looooong, which is something you can’t coach.

Right, wrong or indifferent, It’s clear to me that the staff knows they probably aren’t going to land any four-star DE’s this year, and their strategy is to grab as many developable two-and-three-stars as possible, in hopes that a diamond emerges from the rough (Nate will be their 5th DE commit for 2019).  Given the current state of recruiting, it’s not a bad strategy.  We’ll see how it pays off a few years down the road.

Hail to Pitt and Welcome Nate!  May you outperform your star ranking and make us all proud.