Rob Dowdy's got a list of reasons why he committed to Pitt on Monday, but one stands above the others.

"It was really the comfortability," the Westerville (Oh.) Westerville South offensive lineman told Panther-Lair.com Monday night. "I could tell how genuine the coaches are. Like Coach (Paul) Chryst; he was just relaxed, like a regular guy. He's not like all the other coaches; he talked to you like a real person. He's really big on talking and getting to know the person more than just as a player, and that was really cool."

Dowdy was recruited to Pitt by offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, and he also kept in regular contact with recruiting coordinator Dann Kabala.

"Coach Rudolph is a really cool person; that's something I like about him and Coach Kabala and everybody there: they really shoot forward and they're straight about everything they say. They don't fluff anything up and I like that about a coach. I really like that.

"The last time I visited was last July, so I haven't been there in a year and the only people I've been talking to are Coach Rudolph and Coach Kabala, but when I got there [Monday] everybody there remembered everything we talked a year ago; that showed me a lot."

Dowdy picked Pitt over "maybe around 20" offers, he said, including scholarships from Arizona State, Arkansas, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Minnesota, N.C. State, Rutgers and West Virginia. This summer he visited a number of those schools, but as he got closer to Monday's Pitt visit, he had a feeling about where his college career might take place.

"I was thinking about committing all week," he said. "I really felt like I belonged there and everything around me was pointing toward Pitt. So I kind of knew ahead of time I was going to commit; I just wanted to do it in person."

In addition to his relationships with the coaching staff, Dowdy said he was impressed with what Pitt has to offer outside the football program.

"The Cathedral of Learning is a big attraction to me; all the classrooms are really impressive and the student-to-teacher ratio is really good, too. It's a really good school for education; everything is positive with the education there."

Dowdy is the 14th recruit to commit to Pitt in the class of 2015 and the third offensive lineman, joining Canon McMillan center Alex Paulina and Hempfield offensive tackle Tony Pilato. He is also the fourth recruit from the state of Ohio to pick the Panthers, along with Archbishop Alter defensive tackle Kraig Howe, Austintown Fitch running back Darrin Hall and Pickerington Central defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton.

Dowdy said that he works out in the offseason with Hamilton.

"Me and DaVon train together and we're planning on going to a game," Dowdy said. "His dad was always talking to me about Pitt and I kept telling him they were in the running."

At 6'5" 290, Dowdy is another big body for Pitt's offensive line. But like some of the other linemen Chryst has brought to the Panthers, he moves well for his size.

"I like to play light on my feet," Dowdy said. "Pass protection is definitely a strength, and I'm good with the run, too. I think my frame isn't like most offensive linemen in high school, especially at my weight; it's a long but big frame and I like to use it to my advantage. I think I have a lot of room to grow but I don't have a lineman gut."

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