Pitt Football recruiting: Tony Pilato commits to Pitt

Pitt received their 12th commitment for the class of 2014, when Tony Pilato made the choice to stay with his hometown team. Pilato plays his high school ball for  nearby Hempfield High School in Greensburg. The Hempfield Spartan is rated as a three star offensive lineman according to Rivals, Scout, and 24/7. Pilato gets ranked as the 17th best player in Pennsylvania, and 30th by Rivals. He chose the Panthers over offers from Maryland, Minnesota, Syracuse, and Virginia.

Pilato is a massive offensive lineman, and he certainly fits into the Paul Chryst mold of player. He stands in at an imposing 6'7" and weighs in at a lean 290 pounds. In fact, Pilato is likely one of the most athletic offensive line recruits in the country, as he is the starting center for the successful Hempfield basketball team. Pilato exhibits his athleticism on the football field as well, and moves very well for a player his size.

The Pitt recruiting class is coming to a head, as they now have 12 commitments in place. The class is expected to round out around at 16 or 17 players total, so Paul Chryst and his staff are certainly ahead of the game this season.  Pilato is the sixth player to commit to the Panthers from the WPIAL, and the seventh player from Pennsylvania overall. He joins Alex Paulina as the two offensive linemen for this class, and Paul Chryst's emphasis on building up the trenches continues in his third recruiting class. With only four or five spots left, Pitt needs to address some needs while being selective at the same time.

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