Wade Freebeck commits to Pitt

No, I promise you the Wade Freebeck commitment didn't slip past our radar. But with trying to prepare for the ACC move and real life stuff, just been a bit behind.

At any rate, Pitt did indeed land another quarterback for the 2014 class in Freebeck. And that comes on the heels of not getting Keller Chryst, who will head to Stanford. Freebeck isn't Chryst, but he's at worst, a decent recruit with some potential. As Jerry DiPaola of the Trib says, Freebeck put up some quality numbers despite playing on an injured ankle for part of last year.

Freebeck is a three-star prospect according to Rivals, but ESPN calls him a four-star. His other offers were reportedly from South Florida, Akron, Marshall, and Samford. Freebeck also previously landed a scholarship offer from Florida earlier in his high school career, but it's believed that was rescinded at some point for whatever reason.

24/7 rates him as a three-star and says he was recruited by QB coach Brooks Bollinger and Inoke Breckterfield.

Despite those mediocre ratings (save the four-star tag by ESPN), ESPN calls him one of the QBs with the most upside (entire article is paid, but the stuff on Freebeck is free):

Freebeck had offseason lower extremity surgery this spring that limited his development and ability to hit the camp and combine circuit. As a junior, his delivery on film really stands out, enough so that we are actually surprised he has not seen more attention to this point. He attended Florida's camp prior to his junior season and performed really well. Freebeck is only going to get bigger and stronger physically, and his release mechanics can't be coached.

One thing that Pitt fans should like? Freebeck can apparently go deep:

What Freebeck lacks in stature, he makes up in his ability to throw the deep ball. Freebeck earned a reputation as a gunslinger at Western, but with St. Thomas' elite receivers, his game is likely to show refinement and polish that hasn't been on display in his last two seasons.

That reference, by the way, is to his transfer. He was playing at Western, but transferred to St. Thomas for this year. Regarding the deep ball, two of his strengths according to that ESPN profile page linked earlier are arm strength and accuracy.

I'm pretty glad about this pickup. A kid formerly recruited by Florida and viewed as one with some upside can't be all bad. And in a class where Pitt needed a QB, they've suddenly got two of them.

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