Pitt Football Recruiting: Defensive end Bryce Hargrove commits to Panthers

Pitt landed another football recruit on Friday, picking up a verbal commitment from Akron defensive end, Bryce Hargrove.

He helps fill a need where Pitt has few proven players - on the defensive line. Hargrove, as the Post-Gazette notes, is the first defensive lineman in the class. He reportedly earned the offer during Pitt's recent prospect camp.

Hargrove isn't rated very highly right now, but he did reportedly have a couple of decent offers from Cincinnati and Rutgers. Rivals currently has him unranked.

I wouldn't be too disappointed with the lack of attention he's gotten so far. It should be noted that he also has a great chance to pick up more recognition and improve with a strong senior season. That's a possibility for anyone, but particularly in his case since last year was his first season playing on the varsity football team. With a year of experience, he should be able to get even better and improve on the 9 1/2 sacks he had last year, per the Trib. It will be interesting to see how much more recognition he picks up this year.

As to position, he's a defensive end right now but looks to play elsewhere for the Panthers. Defensive tackle sounds likely, but as Panther Lair notes, the offensive line could even be a possibility:

Hargrove's conversation with Sims was particularly interesting, since the coach and the recruit discussed the matter of position. Hargrove, a 6'6" 250-pound defensive end in high school, worked out at defensive end, defensive tackle and offensive tackle at Pitt's prospect camp, and the coaches hadn't been specific about where they saw him playing in college.

"Coach Sims was talking to me about what he wants me to do there, where I would play and what he expects out of me," Hargrove said. "He wants me to play defensive tackle, and if I come in ready, he'll give me a chance to play right away.

With the recent defection of Tony Butler, that puts the Panthers' class at eight right now.

Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Follow the author and founder/editor @AnsonWhaley.