Pitt coaches drop in on recruits at Florida photo shoot
Three Pitt football coaches apparently will follow coveted recruits anywhere – even into a room full of newspaper reporters.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman and linebackers coach Rob Harley got wind Tuesday of a photo shoot for six high school football players in the newsroom of the Fort Myers (Fla.) News Press , the newspaper reported. Two of the players are Pitt targets: wide receivers Shocky Jacques-Louis of Dunbar and Jeshaun Jones of South Fort Myers.
Pitt's NCAA compliance office will be pleased – and maybe relieved – to know that the coaches did not discuss the recruits with anyone from the newspaper, even though they were surrounded by word processors, tape recorders and eager reporters looking for a scoop. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking about recruits to the media before they are signed.
The photo shoot lasted two hours, but the coaches stuck around the entire time, chatting with the recruits and two high school coaches while munching on holiday snacks.
Only two of the six players have verbally committed to colleges: North Fort Myers receiver and defensive back Joe Wilkins Jr. (Notre Dame), and Dunbar defensive end Rocky Jacques-Louis (Florida International).
Also at the News-Press were North Fort Myers linebacker and running back Fa'Najae Gotay and Fort Myers linebacker Jordan Weatherbee.
Shocky Jacques-Louis has decommitted from Kentucky and Tennessee, but has publicly mentioned Kentucky and Pitt among his possible choices.
Thanks for the edit ‼️‼️‼️#H2P #Pitt #Edit pic.twitter.com/wj6h3Slc8s
" Shocky Jacques-louis (@ShockyMVP) December 12, 2017
Jones also said Pitt was among his final four choices but declined to name the others. His coach, Brian Conn, said Tuesday he will consider Pitt, Nebraska, Maryland and Iowa State.
The early signing period begins Dec. 20 and runs for three days.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
