Jackson: Pitt is where I want to be

The Pitt coaches need a little extra time evaluating Dane Jackson before deciding to offer him, but the Quaker Valley athlete didn't have much hesitation, and he committed to the Panthers Tuesday.

"The first thing was that Pitt is close to home and close to my family so my family will be able to watch me play," Jackson told Panther-Lair.com. "And they have a good coaching staff. They're pretty open, and I like that about them, and they seem to be honest. They all have good relationships with each other, too.

"I always wanted to go there. I always knew Pitt was a school I wanted to go to."

Jackson was sold on Pitt well before he received the offer on Sunday, but the coaches had one other person to convince:

His mother, and her input was very important. While Jackson was more or less ready to commit when he got the offer, he made sure to wait until he could discuss the decision with his mother. After talking it over, Jackson and his mother made a visit Tuesday morning so both could see more of what Pitt had to offer, and Jackson wouldn't have it any other way.

"I wanted to make sure she felt good about Pitt, too," Jackson said. "That was her first time visiting, so she wanted to see about the academics because she wanted me to go somewhere where I could be a good football player and do good in school.

"So we went and talked to some people about academics. They explained how the academics are and what it's like for football players there. I think we were both impressed by that."

Jackson and his mother also met with the Pitt coaches, including defensive backs coach Troy Douglas and head coach Paul Chryst.

"With Coach Douglas, we were just going over their defense," Jackson said. "He was showing me the way they run their Cover-4 and explaining it to me. We had a good conversation.

"We sat down with Coach Chryst at the end, and he was explaining to my mom how he thought I was a good football player but a good kid as well. Him and my mom hit it off pretty well, and that was when I told him I was going to take the offer and that this is where I want to be. He was excited; he had a big smile and he gave me a hug."

Jackson's commitment comes two days after he received an offer from Pitt. Since he is a dual-threat quarterback at Quaker Valley - 1,111 yards rushing, 975 yards passing and 23 total touchdowns last season - the coaches weren't sure where Jackson could play in college. So he attended the Panthers' prospect camp earlier this month, during which he worked out at receiver and cornerback. Jackson then returned on Sunday for a private workout exclusively at cornerback, and the coaches decided to offer him for that position after the workout.

"I think I'll do a pretty good job of moving to cornerback," Jackson said. "The coaches said they like my ability to open my hips and drop and make good cuts. And

"I've played cornerback before; I play on both sides of the ball in high school. Coach (Chris) Haering said I'll be playing special teams, kick return and punt return, so I'll get the ball in my hands."

With Jackson on aboard, Pitt now has 10 commitments in the class of 2015. He joins Melbourne (Fla.) Palm Bay running back Sekai Lindsay, Kettering (Oh.) Archbishop Alter defensive tackle Kraig Howe, Apollo-Ridge receiver Tre Tipton, Canon-McMillan offensive lineman Alex Paulina, Altoona linebacker Kevin Givens, Kittanning tight end Nick Bowers, Malvern Prep quarterback Alex Hornibrook, Wilmington (Del.) Alexis I Dupont receiver Quadree Henderson and Hallandale Beach (Fla.) Hallandale defensive back Malik Henderson.

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