zff Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 JD is hitting PA hard!!!! In other recruiting news, Franklin Regional tight end/linebacker Scott Uziel has committed to Akron. The 6-foot-4, 258-pounder is the second WPIAL player to commit to Akron in the past week, joining Chartiers-Houston offensive lineman Elliott Bates (6-2, 275). Uziel, a first-team all-Greater Allegheny Conference tight end, also had offers from Central Michigan and Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ***GUEST_Z.I.P. Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Akron is now listed with seven verbals -- the most I believe among MAC schools, and SCOTT UZIEL may be the best pickup thus far. Ranked among the top 50 tight ends in the US (pre-season apparently) according to: www.Fab50recruiting.com/fab50_tight_ends.htm Nice list of schools that were interested. Did he have a less-than-expected senior season to not have any of those BCSs offer? AND has anyone noticed that Pitt has not gotten a verbal commitment since the season started? Thank you Panthers, and good luck Coach Harris, wherever the heck you end up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Playoff loss can't erase solid football season By Jim McNamara, Sports Editor Wednesday, November 10, 2004 It took some time before head coach Greg Botta could look at the tape of his Panthers loss to West Mifflin in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs. "It was a very disheartening loss," said the coach. But it was not a disheartening season for the Panthers and their fans. The Panthers went 7-2 during the regular season despite losing two of their top running backs during the first two weeks of the season. And after suffering a 14-13 loss to Hampton in the fourth week of the year, Franklin Regional ran off five straight wins. The Panthers outscored their opponents 192-16 during that span. "I'm pleased with the work ethic and attitude of this football team," said the coach. And all of those positive qualities started with the Panthers Class of 2004. Leading the way were Scott Uziel and Jim Rockovich. Uziel, a tight end/linebacker, is a legitimate NCAA Division I prospect and was a leader on and off the field. "Scott is the type of kid who can go as far as he wants to," said Botta. "He's going to be missed. He was like a son to me." Uziel started as a sophomore and continued to get better each year. "The other conference coaches couldn't say enough about him," said Botta. "Wherever he goes, he's going to make an impact." Rockovich didn't make his impact until the third week of the season, after two other running backs - Robbie Armstrong and Fran Johns - went down to injury. Rockovich became the team's go-to offensive weapon. "It fell on Jimmy's shoulders and he stepped up," said Botta. But it wasn't just those two. Botta said every senior member of the team contributed. And several underclassmen also turned in solid seasons. Two that jump out are Lenny Gallo and Brad Phillips. Phillips started the season at quarterback and defensive back. Gallo started sharing time at quarterback midway through the season and took the majority of the snaps by the end of the season. The Panthers will also have their entire defensive secondary, both inside linebackers and one inside linebacker back. On offense, Armstrong will return and should be healthy to lead the rushing attack. The key, said Botta, will be rebuilding the offensive and defensive lines and continuing the type of play this year's team started. "We have to stay hungry," said Botta. Having a winning attitude could be especially important because Botta believes the Greater Allegheny Conference will be pretty balanced next year. Hampton, he said, should be the favorite because the Talbots have a host of talented players returning. But the rest of the teams could be about even. There are a lot of talented young players coming back to teams like Keystone Oaks and Highlands, said the coach. "There should be a lot of parity next year." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 And another WPIAL (Post Gazette) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zff Posted December 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Ok I have a question. With these two verbals for TE that give the Zips like 6 TE form next year. Why do they need that many when they really don't throw the ball to the TE???? Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tightest End in the Midwest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Well, Zff.. one factor is that tight end is a position from which many top programs pull players for movement to places that have less depth. TE's can become DEs and down linemen, wide receivers, even linebackers or occasionally QBs (guess we got enuf of them tho). I look at these two youngsters and see Scott Uziel as the player with much more potential, frankly. In fact, I have to wonder if Poindexter gets a scholarship. Potential walk-on or black-shirt(?) (enrolls in Spring of 06). Don't think he had any other D-1 offers/bites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rln Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Merce Poindexter is a solid D1 prospect. He played wide receiver at Ellwood City. What separates Merce from other wide-outs is his size (6'4'') and speed (4.54). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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