Pitt Football: New Coach Todd Graham Impressing Critics with Energy, Hard Work

No one can criticize new Pitt coach Todd Graham for meandering his way through his first five days as head football coach.

He hit the ground running, winning over even the most skeptical and, best of all, making a run at keeping the seven recruits left in Pitt's once high and mighty 2011 class.

In addition to contacting Pitt's recruits, Graham has taken a long, hard look at which of his Tulsa recruits would thrive in the system he plans to run at Pitt.

He's not admitting to implementing a spread offense even if what he plans looks and sounds an awful lot like one.

Massillon (Oh.) Washington receiver Justin Olack is still committed to the Panthers. He did look around in the Wannstedt-to-Haywood shuffle and has aroused the interest of Toledo, Minnesota and Indiana. He is looking forward to meeting Graham and his staff when he makes his official visit.

Although Pitt will host recruits on Saturday at the Seton Hall basketball game at the Pete, the Panthers' big recruiting weekends are coming up next week and the following week.

Saturday's game with Seton Hall might not be a full house as the Steelers open the NFL playoffs at home.  Steelers-Ravens kicks-off at 4:30 pm. Pitt-Seton Hall tips off at 7 p.m.

Another recruit moving back into the fold is Lafayette Pitts. He never decommitted, but he is going to make some other visits before signing day on Feb. 2.

"I talked to Coach Graham, the defensive backs coach and the defensive coordinator. I liked them...they know what they're talking about," Pitts told Rivals.com.

Graham has made contact with two wide receiver prospects slated for Tulsa, Jakeem Grant and Keyarris Garrett. Both will make official visits to Pitt.

Jason Frimpong, a highly regarded athlete from the Dallas area, received a call from Graham and and an offer to play at Pitt. He is an explosive, slippery runner who has played quarterback, wide receiver and corner.

Frimpong said Pitt and Tulsa are his top choices.

Chris Bryant from Chicago, Illinois, is a four-star prospect who will make an official visit to Pitt this weekend. Bryant was high on Michigan. Now that several members of Rich Rodriguez's former staff have signed on at Pitt, he had no problem taking a serious look at the Panthers.

Despite all the good news there is still concern about the 2011 Pitt defense. Graham has not entertained a discussion about it and named two hold-overs from Tulsa, Paul Randolph and Keith Patterson, to his defensive coaching staff.

Tulsa's defense ranked 100 out of 120 FBS teams and gave up 6.14 yards per play. Some fans are wondering why the guys responsible for those lousy stats have been hired by Graham in the same capacity at Pitt.