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Bryan Williams commits to Pitt

He was at tOSU Sunday and didn't get an offer- not too big of suprise- we just don't have unlimited schollies.

This is a nice addition for Pitt.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib.../s_201135.html

There has been a steady flow of players from Akron's John R. Buchtel High to Pitt, and the Panthers once again returned to their favorite pipeline.
Bryan Williams, a 6-foot, 186-pound cornerback, made a verbal commitment to Pitt on Monday night. Williams said he chose Pitt over offers from Akron, Illinois and North Carolina.

Williams is the Panthers' fifth recruit from the Class of 2005, joining Buchtel teammate Marlon Terry, Burrell tackle John Brown, Johnstown tailback LaRod Stephens and Columbus Brookhaven cornerback Dominic Jones.

In the past, Pitt has signed Buchtel defensive linemen Darrell McMurray and Brandon Hayes, safety Ramon Walker, fullback Tim Murphy and cornerback Steve Walker. Hayes' brother, Deon, was a preferred walk-on.

"The coaches made me feel at home, like they knew me," said Williams, who has a 3.0 core grade-point average but must improve his score of 15 on the ACT to qualify for freshman eligibility. "I felt like I was at Buchtel, with Steve, Marlon and Tim."

Williams, who is entering his third season as a starter, had 51 tackles and six interceptions last season while playing the corner opposite Walker. Their styles differ, however, as Williams prefers the physical play of bump-and-run coverage to Walker's risk-taking.

Brown said Williams was timed at 4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Pitt's camp June 18, and has run faster at other camps.

"He's a good one," Buchtel coach Claude Brown said. "Bryan is a kid who has great recovery speed. He doesn't gamble as much as Stevie Walker, but his technique is second to none."

Williams is the second Ohio cornerback to commit to Pitt in as many days. Brookhaven's Jones - the Ohio Division II defensive player of the year - picked the Panthers over Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State on Sunday.

Bill Kurelic, Midwest recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and publisher of the Midwest Football Recruiting News, ranks both players among the top 25 prospects in Ohio. "They're two of the top cornerbacks in Ohio, but not the best," Kurelic said. "I think both of them have the potential to be starters and key contributors. I think they're excellent additions for Pitt."

Brown credited Pitt associate head coach Bob Junko, who recruits Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, for keeping the Buchtel pipeline flowing.

"The University of Pittsburgh treats our kids well," Brown said. "They seem concerned with our well-being and keep in contact with our kids' progress. They've got eight kids from Buchtel. Not all of them have worked out, but they didn't stop recruiting here."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04182/339557.stm

Bryan Williams, a 6-foot, 187-pound cornerback from Akron, gave a verbal commitment to Pitt yesterday, making him the second standout defensive back from Ohio in three days to choose the Panthers.

And much like Brookhaven standout Dominic Jones, who committed to Pitt Sunday night, Williams said he was sold on the Panthers the first time he visited the campus.

"I was just comfortable there from the minute I got there until I left," Williams said. "It is a wonderful campus, a great city, and I really liked what the coaches had to say to me."

Williams, who had 31 tackles and five interceptions last season, was third-team all-state last year at Buchtel High School. He had offers from Illinois, North Carolina and Akron.

The Insiders, a national recruiting service, rates Williams the one of the top 15 prospects in Ohio and one of the top 65 players in the Midwest. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds, has a 34-inch vertical leap and squats 350 pounds.

Williams is the Panthers' fifth commitment for the class of 2005 and their second from Buchtel. Williams' teammate, defensive lineman Marlon Terry, made a commitment to the Panthers earlier this month.

Pitt fullback Tim Murphy is a Buchtel graduate.

"I liked the fact that there were already guys there who I know and that one of my teammates will be going there with me," Williams said. "I won't feel like a stranger and I won't feel all alone. That's important to me because going away is a big adjustment to begin with."

ABJ

Buchtel senior commits to Pitt

Williams following in other Griffins' footsteps

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal staff writer


The ``Pipeline to Pittsburgh'' continues as another Buchtel football player has committed to the University of Pittsburgh.

Bryan Williams, who will be a senior running back and defensive back for the Griffins this fall, orally committed to play for the Panthers next season. Williams, a 6-foot 195-pounder, attended Pittsburgh's team camp last week, and Panthers coach Walt Harris liked what he saw.

Last week, Buchtel lineman Marlon Terry also committed to Pittsburgh.

With Williams and Terry, eight Buchtel players have committed to Pittsburgh since Claude Brown began as the Griffins' coach in 1997. The others who have played or committed to Pittsburgh under Brown's tenure include:

• Ramon Walker, defensive back

• Brandon Hayes, defensive lineman

• Deon Hayes, defensive lineman

• Darrell McMurray, offensive line

• Tim Murphy, fullback

• Steve Walker, defensive back.

``Pittsburgh treats the Buchtel kids very well and the coaches do a nice job recruiting,'' Brown said. ``Since we've been going to their camp starting in 2000, a Buchtel player has been offered a scholarship at the camp every year.''

Williams has nine career interceptions and finished with 26 tackles last year. He also has seven career touchdowns.

Williams' strength and speed make him an attractive recruit. He was a member of Buchtel's 400-meter relay team which won the City Series championship. At the Pittsburgh camp, Williams was timed at 4.32 in the 40-yard dash.

``Bryan is a competitor and the one thing I like most about him is his speed,'' Brown said. ``He has great recovery speed in the secondary and he doesn't gamble. He's a conservative defensive back and he's a technician.

``Plus, Bryan is only 16. He's going to be a young senior so he has the potential to grow two or three more inches.''