Pitt secured yet another verbal from Virginia today, near-four-star running back Malik Newton.  That’s four commits from Virginia this year for Beatty, and more than 20% off the 2021 recruiting class.

Newton is a coveted 5.7 – three star, which is just a tenth of a point less than a four-star ranking.  He joins OL Terrence Enos and DE Nahki Johnson as one of the three 5.7+’s in Pitt’s 2021 class.  He’s the 8th ranked prospect in Virginia and the 18th ranked running back in the country.  Not a bad pickup for an offense that loves to pass the ball (although you have to admit Pitt didn’t exactly have any bell-cow types in the running back room last year).

Newton

Lets have a look at his offer sheet.

P5 (13 offers):

  1. Clemson – Well Brent Venables is listed as his lead recruiter but considering the Tigers have already landed two four-star running backs…
  2. Louisville – Ten hour drive from Louisville from Tidewater, across West Virginia no less.  Plus you end up in…Louisville.
  3. Maryland – Our anti-Terps negative recruiter Reed Kohberger doing strong work up there.
  4. Nebraska – Cornshuckers.
  5. North Carolina – Clearly Newton values an education.
  6. Penn State – Sux
  7. Purdue – I can’t think of one good reason why anyone would want to go to Purdue.
  8. South Carolina – The only good thing about the Gamecocks is that they have Richard Hefner as a fan, and they aren’t run by Phil Fulmer.
  9. Tennessee – Good ‘ol Rockytop.  Rockytop, Tennessee.
  10. Virginia – Wa-hoo-wah, we stole one of your gah’s.
  11. Virginia Tech – Gobble gobble.  Gobble gobble.  Gobble gobble gobble gobble.
  12. West Virginia – “So Malik, we can offer you an offense that’s not run in the pros, a town with zero culture (unless you like fishing and plug tobacco), a sub-par education and endemic racism?  What do you say?”
  13. Pitt – Hail 2.

Non-P5 (three offers):

  1. Charlotte – I’m telling you they are nothing more than an advance scouting outfit for Pat Narduzzi.
  2. Liberty – Wouldn’t be a Pitt commit without a Liberty offer in there somewhere.
  3. Old Dominion – Actually not a bad look. 

Speaking of looks.  Here’s young Mr. Newton’s highlight reel:

I see good vision, nice burst, downhill physical running style, soft hands (if you get a few mins in you’ll see him grab a couple of swing passes), good balance, tough to bring down in the open field.  Runs a little bit violent.  Andre Powell and this guy are a match made in heaven.

Welcome to Pittsburgh Malik.  May you excel in the weight room and may you master the blitz pickup quickly.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

Michaelangelo holds a degree in Travel Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a former staff writer for InPittsburgh Newsweekly, and currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a Pitt fan since 1997 after he witnessed Pitt upset #22 Miami on Thursday night at Pitt Stadium.

59 thoughts on “Pay Chris Beatty Whatever the Heck he Wants”

  1. Good stuff. Need Naquan Brown to commit next out of Hampton Roads

    Newton was crazy productive but I actually like him as much or more on defense.

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  2. That is a whole lot of highlights. Looks like he has a pretty solid O-line, runs untouched quite a few times.
    Looks like deceptive speed or those defensive backs are pretty slow. Breaks some tackles too.

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  3. Reminds me of Sibley. Same body type.

    I read where Clemson might have wanted Malik Newton on defense… Interesting, if true.

    Newton fits the mold of recent Pitt RB recruits. Size and some speed versus quickness and moves. Though Newton did hint at change of direction ability on a couple of his highlights. Fingers crossed.

    Go Pitt.

    Go Pitt.

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  4. Now all we need is some road-grader offensive linemen (and a good OL coach). Maybe there are some left over after Whiskey gets done thrashing through the wheat and corn fields.

    DiNucci went to James Madison.

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    1. Ah yes. He did didn’t he. Well thanks for the call out

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      1. Maybe one day Enos will contribute but big boy looks charmin soft look at those bitch tits

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    1. I mean his upper body is not solid I think that’s obvious. Dude looks like grimace. It’s not personal. He’d just be a better tackle prospect at 275 not 320.

      Pitt having to play slobs on the OL has held them back for decades. We need more Brian O’Neil, less Justin Morgan.

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  6. Enos picked Pitt over this year’s National Champs. They had a decent O-line this year.

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    1. Maybe that was a commitable offer.

      But LSU also has offers out to about 15 higher ranked uncommitted tackles

      If LSU determined he was good enough to play, that’s a good sign. For whatever reason, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Notre Dame and Penn St passed.

      I actually feel a little better about the other kid because at least Michigan St offered.

      FWIW they both are ok prospects. Enos is a mean run blocker but he’s also 100 lbs heavier than his opposition. Honorable is better athlete and more advanced pass blocker but isn’t violent in the run game.

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    1. Look at hospitalization rates. Climbing in ACC and sec country. Flat to down everywhere else. PA is down. I think some of you are too hard on your governor. Texas is flat. Fingers crossed.

      Tex

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      1. I hear you. Deaths down largely because of NY’s success.
        But also because some treatments, plasma, remdesivir etc. are getting better.
        We need every victory we can get.

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  8. Clemson wanted him on D. What position would he play? Safety?

    Solid offers. A 5.7
    A position of need. Can never have enough backs. Virginia is becoming the new Florida.

    Now if only 40 percent of pitt recruits could fit this kids profile

    Tex

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    1. Too slow for safety, a little short for linebacker but there have been 5-11 230 lb guys that can play. Course he’d have to add a few pounds

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It was mentioned that Clemson wanted him for their defense. Not sure at what position they wanted him for perhaps at linebacker.

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  9. Speaking of offensive linemen, I saw where the 247 recruiting site moved Marco Fugar up to a three-star…

    Go Pitt.

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  10. Hopefully Pitt his paydirt with a running back soon. They all look good in High School but have been underwhelming lately when they hit the college field.

    Obviously the line has a lot to do with it. All backs look better with holes to run through, but no one has stood out since Ollison. Hall had a good year behind a strong line.

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  12. Newton looks much more like a Middle Backer than Runningback.

    Obviously a GOOD athlete, especially for his build. Also, extremely good INSTINCTS which constantly has him in the right place to make a play on Defense.

    On Offense, Mr. Newton would seem to have two things working against him. That would be running both upright and SLOW.

    Think the HUGE numbers might be that a lot of kids just didn’t want to tackle him.

    Obviously, that won’t be the case at the next level. Just ask Mr. Sibley.

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  15. I think the strategy of going after kids in Virginia is great.
    In the process of getting good players from the DC and Tidewater areas, we hurt the Hokies, the Cavs and the Heels.

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    1. Joe – Hope you are good!

      Hurt the Heels? I think the Heels are just fine. Mack prefers 4 and 5 stars vs. 3 stars.

      Upitt

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    2. Heels have looked to Virginia for years buddy. Even Mack likes Virginia. This year is a bit different with the number of kids in the Charlotte area at the 4 star level.

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  16. Mack is an old 🐐

    I’m glad my son doesn’t have to watch his coaching failures at Texas. Guy can’t coach in his depends.

    Tex who free balls.

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  17. the current commitment class is more than half done (13) and is ranked 23rd. For the first time since 2017, the number of total commits will be > 20, and likely approach 25. Expect at least one more 4-star, and the ranking to end up no lower than the low 30s (ranking), maybe even in the 20s.

    9 of the 13 commits thus far are on the offensive side … a change from recent classes. While there are 20 seniors on the current roster, there is still a lot of underclassmen who will see a lot of action …. especially along both lines. I think depth wise, the present and near future squad to be in pretty good shape both offensively and defensively.

    Maybe this is what stability provides … I don’t know, but I do know there are many here who think recruiting should be better. Again, it’s all about expectations

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Newton looks like an Ironhead type. I didn’t see any real moves to avoid tackles, and the line opened big holes so he was not creating much on his own. I’ll give him a chance but he seems to be future fullback material. BTW, why isn’t the #18 running back a 4 star?

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    1. Because he’s not penn state material? Believe me if he was offered by the Nitters, he would be a 6.0 rated 4 star.

      Tex who star gazes.

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  19. Kid doesn’t seem to have much speed. D-backs and backers look really small. Reminds me a little of Ruschell Shell. We’ll see. Backs are funny, all in the eye of the beholder.

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    1. Yes JoeK.. and all what he does on the field. I have no idea what this kid can do. Players play….. You can’t always get what you want… Sorry I was jonesing for a song.

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    1. I agree but it also seems deceptive … there were many times when I thought the DB was just about to tackle him but didn’t. Not sure what to think. I do know he had a 5.7 Rivals and a similar rating on 247, and quite an offer list …. so I’m not ready to write him off just yet

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  22. Cam Mellor@CamMellor
    ACC attendance by percentage of stadium filled:

    Clemson- 99.89%
    NC State- 98.84%
    UNC- 96.67%
    VT- 92.93%
    FSU- 86.29%
    Miami- 86.19%
    Wake- 85.97%
    GT- 84.65%
    L’Ville- 82.06%
    BC- 76.45%
    Cuse- 72.28%
    UVA- 68.35%
    Duke- 67.78%
    Pitt- 63.04%

    Cam Mellor@CamMellor
    According to College Football News — here’s how the ACC stacks up by 5-year avg. attendance:

    Clemson
    FSU
    Virginia Tech
    NC State
    Miami
    Louisville
    UNC
    Georgia Tech
    Pitt
    Virginia
    Syracuse
    BC
    Duke
    Wake

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    1. But how does one report attendance. Pitt has gone back and forth between ticket sales and butts in the seats. And now they just lie about the numbers.

      Pitts percentage of capacity is probably closer to 50 percent which means they play in a stadium twice as big for their needs.

      Tex

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  23. Here’s hoping Newton’s play at RB is as good as another recent Pitt back that the experts
    slotted as a defensive end!
    PittPT

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Who is probably playing his last year for the steelers because he can’t stay healthy and or do much sadly.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Hey,I’m not saying this kid will be a bust, or a star, just sayin he seems huge for a 5-11 kid compared to other team, and. despite being a 4.5 kid he just didn’t look fast. He certainly is something we don’t have, a big back.

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  26. ??? The star system totally defies common sense. The classic case exists with one of our
    recruits.>>>Trevion Stevenson. Mr Stevenson has more than 25 offers (many from top
    Power 5 schools) and is only ranked 2 ** ???

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    1. He looks like a decent prospect but I’m skeptical about those offers.

      A guy like Bam Brima or Brandon George looked a lot better on film imo.

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  27. I’ve been waiting for an update on when the football team will report for summer workouts. Has Heather made the announcement yet?

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  29. I certainly agree with the basic premise; Beatty has done an incredible job and has really delivered on the recruiting front. He deserves a big raise because guys who are proven recruiters are a rare commodity so he’ll need paid. That said, I’m not sure I’ll go quite as far as “give him anything he wants”. I’d slot him in at a pay that is slightly higher then the current market for guys with his experience and results.

    One other point. We’re now seeing the results from a few top flight recruiters on our staff. Conversely, there are a few staff members whose results are less then impressive. Time for Pat to tell these guys that they either deliver or look for a new job.

    ScottsValleyPanther

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  30. Well Ike, if Carter cand grow an inch and put on 21 pounds just think what a kid who is already that size can become. Yup, the big back we didn’t have and really need. Just hope he can play.

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  32. Ike, Carter came in at 204. My point is if he could put on 21 pounds and grow an inch, what can a kid who is already that size grow into?

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  33. He can grow into another Aston. He may well become a “better version” of Aston going forward.

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