Pitt lands a big one for 2017
Pitt landed a huge piece for the class of 2017 Friday when Seton LaSalle four-star safety Paris Ford picked the Panthers.
In fact, being a big piece of Pitt's recruiting was the reason Ford decided to commit 16 months before Signing Day.
"I wanted to show people that this '#412Crew' movement can be serious if a big piece committed," Ford told Panther-Lair.com. "So I decided to be that piece."
The "#412Crew" hashtag was developed by first-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff to represent what the coaches are trying to build at Pitt, and Ford said that Narduzzi's involvement in his recruitment was a big part of the Panthers' appeal.
"I talk to Coach Narduzzi more than any other coach," Ford said. "He stayed on me until he got me. He was the main guy for me, always sending me hand-written mail and staying in touch.
"I always kind of liked Pitt but the way he recruited me individually really touched me. When the head coach is coming at you real strong, there's no other feeling like that."
Ford also credited defensive coordinator Josh Conklin, linebackers coach Rob Harley and director of program enhancement Bob Junko with recruiting him to Pitt. Now Ford plans to do some recruiting of his own. Western Pennsylvania has a number of four-star prospects in the 2016 and 2017 classes, and Ford intends to keep as many of them at home as he can.
"I'm trying to bring everyone here with me," he said. "I'm working on everyone. Every top guy. We want to bring a national championship home."
Ford is Pitt's second commitment in the 2017 class, joining Johnstown cornerback Exree Loe. And the 6'0" 180-pound safety thinks Pitt's defense under Narduzzi will be appealing to even more recruits.
"Their defense is looking real mean," Ford said. "It just shows that Coach Narduzzi is a great coach if he's winning and he has a top ten defense with the guys they had from last year. I'm just imagining, if he can get a couple more top recruits, what he can do with this Pitt defense."
While Ford said that the Pitt coaches told him he could play both offense and defense, his future is most likely at safety, and he thinks that's a good fit.
"I think I can be a physical safety, come downhill and play in the box. And hopefully play next to Jordan Whitehead and learn from him before he goes to the NFL."
Ford picked Pitt from a list of 18 offers that included Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State, among others. He ranks as the No. 4 safety prospect in the class of 2017, the No. 33 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 3 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania.