Posted by Bryan Fischer

National Signing Day is almost here and recruits across the country are gearing up for plenty of last-minute pitches and school visits as head coaches look to shape their program for years to come. Things are in a state of flux in the Big East and it seems that the lack of stability at some programs has hampered some recruiting classes. Things are still going well but it's going to be an interesting Signing Day for the league with several new head coaches and programs shuffling in and out like recruits change commitments.

• Full Big East conference commitment list

• Big East recruiting news and commitments

• Big East college football news

MaxPreps.com Top 25 Team Rankings
College		Commits	Top 100	Moving
	None	-	-	-
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Top storylines

1. Does Greg Schiano leaving destroy Rutgers' class? 

If there's a coaching change to come out of left field, it might be Schiano's, who leaves just days before Signing Day. Rutgers had been in the middle of building their best recruiting class in years and had locked up a lot of in-state talent in a great year for recruits in New Jersey. Now all of that is in jeopardy with the shock recruits are feeling quite evident from many of their comments. Expect the Scarlet Knights to drop out of the running for several of the top uncommitted guys on their board and other school calling everybody in their class to see if they want to take a late official visit and reconsider their pledge.

2. Can Paul Chryst build out a good first effort?

Another swift departure out of town for Todd Graham has led to a very good hire for Pittsburgh in Chryst, who jumps over from Wisconsin where he did an excellent job of developing talent. Graham did a good job of keeping top in-state talent close to home and landed the top big back in the country in Rushel Shell. There are a lot of good pieces, especially on offense, but it's up to Chryst to keep everybody committed and build on it with others in his first effort on the recruiting trail as head coach. More than anything, he can hopefully bring some stability to the program.

3. How are the newcomers doing?

Every report and indication has the Mountaineers playing in the Big 12 in 2012, until the i's are dotted and t's crossed, they're going to be stuck in Big East purgatory for now. Dana Holgorsen knows the league and recruiting in Texas in particular but has hit the state of Florida extremely hard with the incoming class. Regardless of the exact timing, this will be the first group of recruits brought in to play in the Big 12 so it's worth tracking to see if that leads to a boost when the faxes are in or whether the big Orange Bowl victory or coaching turnover has a bigger impact.

4. West Virginia's first Big 12 class... at some point.

While the majority of teams the Big East has added over the past year or so won't join the league for another year, it's still worth tracking how the newcomers fare on the recruiting trail. In the case of a school like Boise State, the past success of the program has led to one of the best classes in recent memory with solid depth and a handful of players that should be in the mix for playing time earlier than is normal on the Blue Turf. Houston and UCF have done a solid job considering coaching turnover and scandal while SMU has still tried to keep things going despite losing the school's top recruiter. The class of 2012 might not play right away in the Big East but you have to keep tabs on them since they will in the not to distant future.

Most impressive class: Pittsburgh

Most underrated class: South Florida

Work left to do: Syracuse

Top Players to Watch Name Pos Committed 11. Rushel Shell RB Pittsburgh 27. Ronald Darby ATH Uncommitted 29. Darius Hamilton DE Uncommitted 35. Devin Fuller ATH Uncommitted 91. Leonte Carroo WR Rutgers 95. Bennie Coney QB Cincinnati 105. Chad Voytik QB Pittsburgh 107. Wayne Morgan DB Uncommitted 108. Adam Bisnowaty OL Pittsburgh 109. Quanzell Lambert LB Rutgers Complete Top Players Page

Assistant recruiters of note:

Kerry Coombs, Mark Elder and Steve Stripling, Cincinnati
George DeLeone, UConn
Vance Bedford, Clint Hurtt and Brian Jean-Mary, Louisville
Bob Bostad and Joe Rudolph, Pittsburgh
Brian Angelichio and Jeff Hafley, Rutgers
Todd Fitch and Phil McGeoghan, South Florida
Scott Shafer and Tyrone Wheatley, Syracuse
Robert Gillespie and Daron Roberts, West Virginia

Head coach under pressure: Skip Holtz, South Florida

Top Big East class prediction: Louisville

Top Big East signee: Rushel Shell

Big East school-by-school
Program		Commits	Top Players	Notes
	- Team page - Commitment list	32	QB Bennie Coney RB Dennis Norfleet OL Caleb Stacey	Butch Jones has done a good job at hitting needs and filling out his class. Coney won't be ready to play right away but has the physical tools to fit right into the offense. Norfleet is an absolute steal at running back.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	QB Casey Cochran WR Neally Cunningham WR John Green	Not a lot of remarks about this group other than the fact that Cochran is a very solid pick up at quarterback and is smart and has a strong arm.
	- Team page - Commitment list	23	LB Keith Brown LB James Burgess LB Nick Dawson	The trio of top linebacker Charlie Strong has managed to grab headline this class but it has several other very good grabs that could have played at bigger programs. OL depth is notable.
	- Team page - Commitment list	16	OL Adam Bisnowaty RB Rushel Shell QB Chad Voytik	The headliners for the Panthers are on offense and they should fit right into Chryst's system. Voytik has a compact throwing motion and strong arm while Shell is a multipurpose threat who is a load going downhill.
	- Team page - Commitment list	17	WR Leonte Carroo OL J.J. Denman LB Quanzell Lambert	You can put TBD next to this class.
	- Team page - Commitment list	15	DB Chris Bivins WR D'Vario Montgomery TE Sean Price	Bivins and Price are SEC-caliber players and terrific adds by the staff. Montgomery is a big time threat who should see early playing time and is part of a very athletic freshman class.
	- Team page - Commitment list	21	OL Kyle Knapp TE Ron Thompson	Knapp and Thompson are two solid adds but other than that, the most remarkable thing about the Orangemen is adding all-Namer Pancho Barnwell.
	- Team page - Commitment list	26	QB Ford Childress WR Deontay McManus ATH Brandon Napoleon	Childress is a guy you can project to put up big time numbers in Holgorsen's system and you can say the same about a dynamic threat in McManus. Good job at addressing needs while adding athleticism.
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Posted by Bryan Fischer

We're two weeks out from Signing Day and what better time to take a look at each conference and where every school stacks up as coaches make final home visits and work on scholarship math. Here's a look at all the verbal commitments for the Big East.


   Cincinnati (32)

Wide receiver Shakim Alonzo (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Offensive lineman Deyshawn Bond (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Defensive back Kevin Brown (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Defensive back Drake Burns (Fort Thomas, Ky.)
Running back Deionte Buckley (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Defensive end Jonathan Burt (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Linebacker Kenneth Bynum (Jacksonville, Ind.)
Linebacker Errol Clarke (Miami, Fla.)
Wide receiver Nathan Cole (Memphis, Tenn.)
Quarterback Bennie Coney (Plant City, Fla.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Athlete Alex Dale (Memphis, Tenn.)
Tight end DeShawn Dowdy (Akron, Ohio)
Defensive back Zach Edwards (Middletown, Ohio)
Defensive back Marcus Foster (Troy, Ohio)
Wide receiver Jeremy Graves (Maple Heights, Ohio)
Athlete Ti'on Green (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
Linebacker Corey Griffin (Miami, Fla.)
Defensive back Andre Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Linebacker Joey Jones (Homstead, Fla.)
Running back E.J. Junior (Middletown, Ohio)
Linebacker John Law (Atlanta, Ga.)
Defensive end Ryan Leahy (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Linebacker Lester Liston (Grand Blanc, Mich.)
Linebacker Ey'Shawn McClain (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Wide receiver Vincent Miller (Lexington, Ky.)
Running back Dennis Norfleet (Southfield, Mich.)
Quarterback Trenton Norvell (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Defensive end Alex Pace (Cleveland, Ohio)
Defensive back Leviticus Payne (Detroit, Mich.)
Defensive end Josh Posley (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Offensive lineman Caleb Stacey (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Offensive lineman Kyle Williamson (Cincinnati, Ohio)

   Connecticut (22)

Defensive end Brendan Battles (North Eastham, Mass.)
Offensive lineman Kyle Bockeloh (Houston, Texas)
Offensive lineman Rennick Bryan (New Haven, Conn.)
Quarterback Casey Cochran (Monroe, Conn.)
Wide receiver Neally Cunningham (Palm Bay, Fla.)
Athlete Jordan Floyd (Baltimore, Md.)
Offensive lineman Drew Ghio (Widnsor, Conn.)
Wide receiver John Green (Miami, Fla.)
Linebacker Jon Hicks (Paimyra, Pa.)
Defensive back Chauncey Lanier (Davie, Fla.)
Offensive lineman Richard Levy (Trenton, N.J.)
Athlete Michael Marder (Orlando, Fla.)
Defensive back Obi Melifonwu (Grafton, Mass.)
Defensive tackle Mikal Myers (Newburgh, N.Y.)
Linebacker Elijah Norris (Washington, D.C.)
Kicker Bobby Puyol (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Offenisve lineman Zach Rugg (Johnstown, Pa.)
Offensive lineman Tyler Samra (Ramsey, N.J.)
Linebacker Jason Sylva (Plymouth, Mass.)
Quarterback Chandler Whitmer (El Dorado Kan./Butler County JUCO)
Defensive back Jhavon Williams (Wellington, Fla.)
Running back Joseph Williams (Fork Union, Va.)

   Louisville (23)

Offensive lineman Sid Anvoots (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Kicker Joshua Appleby (Harvest, Ala.)
Tight end Hunter Bowles (Glasgow, Ky.)
Defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown (Savannah, Ga.)
Linebacker Keith Brown (Miami, Fla.)
Linebacker James Burgess (Homestead, Fla.)
Linebacker Nick Dawson (Charlotte, N.C.)
Offensive lineman Abraham Garcia (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Quarterback Will Gardner (Douglas, Ga.)
Offensive lineman DeAndre Herron (Avon, Ind.)
Defensive back Gerrod Holiman (New Berlin, N.Y.)
Defensive back Kevin Houchins (South Eucid, Ohio)
Tight end Ryan Hubbell (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Iowa Western JUCO)
Defensive tackle Dequan Ivery (Lake City, Fla.)
Linebacker Patrick Jean (Port St. Lucie, Fla.)
Defensive end Larry Jefferson (College Park, Ga.)
Offensive lineman T.C. Klusman (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Offensive lineman Joe Manley (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Defensive back Devontre Parnell (Winnsboro, S.C.)
Running back Brandon Radcliffe (Miami, Fla.)
Defensive end Sheldon Rankins (Covington, Ga.)
Defensive end Pedro Sibiea (Homestead, Fla.)
Wide receiver Brandon Snell (Miami, Fla.)

   Pittsburgh (18)

Offensive lineman Adam Bisnowaty (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Linebacker Mike Caprara (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Wide receiver Trenton Coles (Clairton, Pa.)
Wide receiver Chris Davis (Austintown, Ohio)
Athlete Demitrious Davis (Austintown, Ohio)
Defensive back Marzett Geter (McKees Rocks, Pa.)
Defensive end Myles Hilliard (Bedford, Ohio)
Tight end JP Holtz (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Defensive back Ryan Lewis (Sammamish, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Adam Pankey (Hamilton, Ohio)
Defensive back Jahmahl Parder (Rochester, N.Y.)
Defensive back William Parks (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Defensive back Jevonte Pitts (New Berlin, N.Y.)
Linebacker Devon Porchia (Baltimore, Md.)
Defensive end Darryl Render (Brook Park, Ohio)
Running back Rushel Shell (Aliquippa, Pa.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Quarterback Chad Voytik (Cleveland, Tenn.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Linebacker Alkwan Williams (Johnstown, Pa.)

   Rutgers (17)

Wide receiver Carlton Agudosi (Franklin, N.J.)
Offensive lineman Brandon Arcidiaconco (Warminster, Pa.)
Offensive lineman Ryan Brodie (Long Branch, N.J.)
Wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Ramsey, N.J.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offenisve lineman J.J. Denman (Fairless Hills, Pa.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Kicker Kyle Federico (Ponte Vedra, Fla.)
Tight end Michael Giacone (Jersey City, N.J.)
Athlete Davon Jacobs (Wayne, N.J.)
Linebacker Quanzell Lambert (Sicklerville, N.J.)
Linebacker Steve Longa (Saddle Brook, N.J.)
Offensive lineman Chris Muller (Boyertown, Pa.)
Offensive lineman Derrick Nelson (Washington, D.C.)
Wide receiver Ruhann Peele (Linden, N.J.)
Running back Desmon Peoples (Warminister, Pa.)
Defensive end Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Montclair, N.J.)
Quarterback Blake Rankin (Bloomsburg, Pa.)
Athlete Delon Stephenson (Parlin, N.J.)

   South Florida (14)

Offensive lineman Kofi Amichia (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Defensive back Chris Bivins (Gainesville, Fla.)
Defensive back Josh Brown (Lancaster, Texas/Arizona Western JUCO)
Tight end Guito Ervilus (Orlando, Fla.)
Defensive tackle James Hamilton (Orlando, Fla.)
Defensive end Eric Lee (Daphne, Ala.)
Offensive lineman Chandler Mathews (Poplarville, Miss./Pearl River JUCO)
Defensive back Jarivs McCall (Seffner, Fla.)
Defensive end Tevin Mims (Corsicana, Texas/Navarro JUCO)
Wide receiver D'Vario Montgomery (Winter Park, Fla.)
Defensive back Fidel Montgomery (Marianna, Fla./Southwest Mississippi JUCO)
Defensive end Daniel Perry (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Tight end Sean Price (Citra, Fla.)
Defensive back Jalen Spencer (Pensacola, Fla.)
Athlete LaMarlin Wiggins (Plant City, Fla.)

   Syracuse (21)

Defensive end Poncho Barnwell (Rochester, N.Y.)
Offensive lineman Ben Barrett (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Defensive tackle Harold Brantley (Hershey, Pa.)
Quarterback Ashton Broyld (New Berlin, N.Y.)
Defensive tackle Marcus Coleman (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
Wide receiver Alvin Cornelius (Staten Island, N.Y.)
Defensive end Jason Emerich (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.)
Defensive back Dontez Ford (McKees Rocks, Pa.)
Defensive tackle Zian Jones (Los Angeles, Calif./West Los Angeles Juco)
Offensive lineman Kyle Knapp (Portage, Mich.)
Athlete Ben Lewis (Middletown, Md.)
Defensive end Josh Manley (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Athlete Devante McFarland (Dix Hills, N.Y.)
Running back George Morris (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Kicker Ryan Norton (Garden City, N.Y.)
Offensive lineman Omari Palmer (Middle Island, N.Y.)
Tight end Joshua Parris (Stone Mountain, Ga.)
Tight end Ron Thompson (Southfield, Mich.)
Linebacker James Washington (Winter Park, Fla.)
Defensive back Julian Whigham (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Linebacker Tashon Whitehurst (Gainesville, Fla.)

   West Virginia (26)

Defensive tackle Imarjaye Albury (Miami, Fla.)
Defensive tackle Christian Brown (Bridgeton, N.J.)
Running back Roshard Burney (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Quarterback Ford Childress (Houston, Texas)
Running back Torry Clayton (Homestead, Fla.)
Defensive back Kimlon Dillon (Apopka, Fla.)
Offensive lineman Mark Glowinski (Scranton, Pa./Lackawanna Juco)
Running back Jarrod Harper (Frostburg, Md.)
Defensive end Korey Harris (Fruit Cove, Fla.)
Linebacker Garrett Hope (The Woodlands, Texas)
Tight end Will Johnson (Osseo, Minn.)
Defensive back Karl Joseph (Orlando, Fla.)
Wide receiver Darreall Joyner (Miami, Fla.)
Defensive back Nana Kyeremeh (Worthington, Ohio)
Linebacker Sam Lebbie (Hyattsville, Md.)
Wide receiver Devonte Mathis (Miramar, Fla.)
Offensive lineman Tony Matteo (Akron, Ohio)
Wide receiver Deontay McManus (Baltimore, Md.)
Athlete Brandon Napoleon (Jersey City, N.J.)
Defensive end Noble Nwachukwu (Wylie, Texas)
Offensive lineman Tyler Orlosky (Lakewood, Ohio)
Wide receiver Devonte Robinson (Delray Beach, Fla.)
Defensive back Nate Smith (Warminster, Pa.)
Wide receiver Jordan Thompson (Katy, Texas)
Defensive back Sean Walters (Hallandale Beach, Fla.)
Athlete J.T. Washington (Satellite Beach, Fla.)

Posted by Bryan Fischer

There were six Miami commitments at The Opening this past week at the Nike Campus in Oregon. Competing with the best of the best, the group represented the Hurricanes with a variety of hats, shirts and even eye black with the "U" on it.

On top of all of that, they were also Al Golden's recruiters on the road and did a pretty good job if you consider the results: Fellow Opening players and high school teammates James Burgess and Herb Waters both made verbal commitments to Miami upon returning home from the event Sunday.

"I couldn't feel any better," Waters told CaneSport.com. "Today was the best day of my life becoming a family with the rest of the kids and knowing we have a championship to win."

Waters had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Florida State, UCF and others before selecting Miami. His Homestead High teammate Burgess said the pair literally selected the 'Canes over their other offers on the way back from The Opening.

"We decided today at the airport when we landed," Burgess told the site. "We decided on the plane. When we got settled we called coach Golden. We talked to him for 10 minutes. He was out of town, said best of luck and welcome to the U family."

The pair give the Hurricanes 22 commitments for the Class of 2012. Burgess finished last season with 132 tackles and an interception; Waters played multiple positions as a junior, including quarterback, receiver and running back.