Top RB Recruit Derrick Green to Make Official Visit to Pitt

Derrick Green, the nation’s No. 1 running back recruit in college football for 2013, will make an official visit to the University of Pittsburgh around July 18, according to a tweet from Pitt sports blog the Oakland Zoo.

The 5’11", 220-pound running back from Hermitage High School in Richmond, Va., is considered to be the premier running back in the country by Rivals.com.

ESPN and Scout.com both rank Green among their top-10 running back recruits.

Green is powerful runner with good footwork who will blow through offensive lines and run over defenders. While he lacks the pure speed of other top recruits, Green consistently breaks tackles at the line of scrimmage for huge gains on the ground.

A First-Team All-Region Selection as a sophomore, Green was the running back Most Valuable Player for Ohio State’s football camp in 2010. He rushed for 1,493 yards and scored 20 rushing touchdowns in 2011.

Pitt will have heavy competition to land Green.

Eleven Warriors, an Ohio State sports blog, reports that many of the top college football programs in the country are after Green:

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Derrick says Alabama, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson, Oregon, and Wisconsin are standing out. He says he is still an OSU fan but the new offense may not be for him.

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One selling point for Pitt may be the success it has had producing great collegiate and professional running backs.

NFL legends Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin are Pitt alums, along with recent stars LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis and Henry Hynoski.

Pitt senior running back Ray Graham averaged 130 yards per game last season before injuring his knee, and top recruit Rushel Shell will join the squad this fall.

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