Pitt Football: New Coach Todd Graham Makes Panthers' Recruiting #1 Priority

New Pitt head football coach Todd Graham storms into Pittsburgh ahead of another infamous Western Pennsylvania blizzard. Priority number one will be to sort out the mess from the the Wannstedt-to-Haywood-to-Graham transition that diminished a top 25 recruiting class to one that's completely fallen out of the Rivals.com rankings.

The over-riding issue with recruits will be the compatibility of their strengths to the new offense Graham and his staff plan to install. The stability question has been resolved.

Additionally, Graham will have to deal with the departure of three Pitt stars -- wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, running back Dion Lewis, and fullback Henry Hynoski -- who've announced plans to enter the NCAA draft. Hynoski in particular did not foresee compatibility between his role and Graham's anticipated changes to Pitt's game plan.

Before Dave Wannstedt was fired on December 8, 2009, he had put together an excellent recruiting class.

The hiring of Mike Haywood with his stern face, Freddy Kreuger analogy and subsequent arrest leading to termination from Pitt pushed the majority of recruits away.

Here are the recruits Rivals.com has listed at Pantherlair.com currently:

Jeremiah Bryson: Running Back, 5-8/173, 3 stars

Terrell Chestnut: Athlete, 5-11/180, 4 stars

Sam Collura: Tight End, 6-3/250, 3 stars

Max Issaka: Defensive End, 6-3/240, 3 stars

Khaynin Mosley-Smith: Defensive Tackle, 6-1/275, 4 stars

Justin Olack: Wide Receiver, 6-3/195, 3 stars

Lafayette Pitts: Athlete, 5-11/185, 3 stars

Artie Rowell: Offensive Lineman, 6-2/296, 3 stars 

Graham is almost certain to run some version of the spread and he appears likely to bring many members of his Tulsa staff with him to Pitt. The adoration being heaped on Graham right now and Pitt's willingness to open its checkbook wide to get him should appeal to these recruits.

Lafayette Pitts had publicly announced he was looking to commit with some other school, but with Graham on board, he may stick with Pitt.

Graham knows Wannstedt did not leave the cupboard bare. No doubt Graham has already made contact with the seven remaining recruits and is surveying recruiting possibilities now. Along with analyzing Pitt's remaining talent, he has to do his best to land a decent class by signing day in a few weeks.