Latest recruit elates staff
Highly rated RB adds speed, depth, return capabilities
Every time Pat Narduzzi and running backs coach Andre Powell discussed their recruiting board at that position, one name kept standing out.
When it seemed for certain that Mychale Salahuddin would play his college ball somewhere other than Pitt, they would bandy about some other prospects, moving them up or down their overall list of targets. But none was as appealing as Salahuddin, which turned Narduzzi’s and Powell’s backfield recruiting into something like a one-horse race.
“We feel good with our running backs we have, so it’s got to be someone that we feel can come in and compete right now,” Narduzzi said Wednesday, explaining his rationale for pursuing Salahuddin. “Otherwise, let’s wait until next year and get one that can compete fast.”
They don’t have to wait, thanks to Salahuddin choosing Pitt in a faux-dramatic signing ceremony replete with the same kind of jukes and sudden misdirection he’ll try to bring to the Pitt offense the next four years or so. He playfully picked up a Syracuse hat, briefly put it on, took it off, then removed a Southern California sweatshirt to reveal a white dress shirt, which he unbuttoned to unveil a blue T-shirt with Pitt’s script logo on it.
Salahuddin felt the need to atone for that Thursday morning, tweeting: “Hope I didn’t startle anyone yesterday with the way I announced! PLEASE respect my decision and no disrespect to CUSE. all fun and games” — but the Panthers won’t apologize for adding a four-star recruit they think can add a different dimension as soon as this year.
“We’ve got guys who, they’re what I’d call slashers or thumpers,” said offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, “and they’re gonna be really good inside runners, but he can give you an outside element, too. So it just gives you more multiplicity and things to play with, so we’re counting on him to be that kind of factor for us.”
Here’s a fun fact: Thanks to seniors Darrin Hall and Qadree Ollison, Pitt brings back more career rushing yards from running backs (2,731) than any team in the ACC Coastal Division other than run-happy Georgia Tech. So with both veterans and a couple second-year backs in A.J. Davis and Todd Sibley, it’ll take some special qualities for the Panthers to use Salahuddin right away.
For his part, Powell never worries much about whether there are enough carries to go around — “They’ll decide based on how quickly they absorb information and how well they perform,” he said — but he knows he likes what he sees in Salahuddin.
“Well, I always think that I’m a better coach when I’m coaching one of the fastest human beings on the field,” Powell said, “and he’s fast. He can just do some things you can’t coach, so that’s exciting.”
Powell and Narduzzi added that Salahuddin could turn out to be the reverse Jordan Whitehead, in that he might be a full-time tailback who sees a few snaps here and there on defense.
At H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, Salahuddin also played strong safety, and Narduzzi became a big fan of his junior season highlights while watching him “whack people.”
But any defensive duties for the new running back would come only after he solidifies himself at the spot he was recruited for, Powell said, and Salahuddin also will have an opportunity to help in the return game with Quadree Henderson off to the NFL.
“I’d say so,” Powell confirmed. “That job is up for grabs. I prefer young guys, because if you get a young guy trained, then you got him for three or four years.”
Speaking of Henderson, as Pitt looks to replace its most elusive player, Salahuddin might quickly become one of the go-to guys for jet sweeps and bubble screens. But make no mistake, Pitt’s new 5-foot-11, 190pound speedster isn’t just a scatback for gadget plays.
Watson called him an “every-down back” and “as good an inside runner as he is an outside runner.” More than anything, though, Watson has been enamored with Salahuddin since observing him at a camp this past summer,and not just for the physicalattributes he showcased.
“The skill set was on film, but his work ethic, usually that’s a sign of high-character kids,” Watson said. “He was very competitive, and I thought he was the best back there that day, in my opinion, just because of the way he worked and what he was able to do. And once you got to know him as a person, he’s a really strong character guy.
“He’s got a lot of purpose in his life. He’s mature, understands what he wants, and understands he’s got to pay a price to get there.”