UT keeps Pittsburgh pipeline flowing

Corey Jones, a four-star wide receiver out of Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, switched his commitment from Pitt to Toledo after the Panthers hired Paul Chryst. Jones was wary of Chryst's system. POST-GAZETTE/LAKE FONG Enlarge

The fact a handful of Pittsburgh Penn Hills graduates have gone on to have productive football careers at the University of Toledo wasn't a major reason a new wave of players from that high school chose to be Rockets.

At the same time, it didn't hurt.

A few years removed from the days when Penn Hills products Barry Church, Archie Donald, and Tyrrell Herbert produced highlight-worthy plays on UT's defense, teammates Treyvon Hester, Chaz Whitaker, and Corey Jones ensured the pipeline between the two schools is still flowing.

The Penn Hills trio signed letters of intent with UT on national signing day last Wednesday, exciting Rocket fans who are thankful to the high school for what it already has gifted the university. Hester, a tackle, and Whitaker, a safety, will play on defense, while Jones, the only four-star member of UT's class, will line up at receiver.

Relationships with coaches, offensive and defensive schemes, and UT's recent success were significant factors in their decisions to be Rockets. The whole Penn Hills-UT connection, well, it makes for a good story, but truthfully it played a minor role.

"It was an influence, but not as big of an effect as people would think," Whitaker said. "I chose Toledo because I think it would be a good fit for me."

Of UT's 27 recruits, six are from the city of Pittsburgh where assistant coach Jason Candle spent several days and nights leading up to signing day. Penn Hills finished last season with a 5-5 record, losing 36-6 to nearby Central Catholic, the home of UT recruits Juwan Haynes and Damion Jones-Moore.

Whitaker (6-2, 180) and Jones (5-8, 165) committed on the final day of their visit, with Jones nullifying his previous pledge to University of Pittsburgh. Hester (6-3, 290) followed along days later, picking the Rockets when it became apparent Pittsburgh was not planning to offer him a scholarship.

"They're my boys, and I always wanted to go off and play college football with them," Hester said.

The previous Penn Hills crew shared a similar bond while they excelled on the field. Church, who recently finished his second NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys, won multiple All-MAC honors, as did Donald, a senior linebacker in 2010. Defensive backs Herbert (2004-08) and Brandon Hefflin (1999-03) were multi-year starters.

"We felt a little more comfortable knowing those players from Penn Hills have already been to Toledo to play ball," Hester said.

Hester consulted Donald to gage his feelings about UT, and although Donald told Hester to make the best decision for himself, one part of their conversation scored points for the Rockets.

After his second year was washed away due to academic problems, Donald rectified the matter and eventually graduated. Hester, similarly, struggles in the classroom and has not yet been accepted by the NCAA Clearinghouse. He hopes that by using the same resources at UT Donald leaned on, he will get on track academically.

"Coach Candle keeps me in line and tells me what I have to do to have a bright future and to not throw it all away," Hester said.

Securing a commitment from Jones was, arguably, the biggest get of the recruiting season for the Rockets. Jones, who committed to play in a spread offense under former Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham, was wary about how he'd be used in new coach Paul Chryst's pro-style system, so he switched his commitment.

Making UT appealing to Jones, among other things, was how the school "took care of the Penn Hills players before." He expects that won't change with the new crew.

"We're all real good friends," Jones said. "We're all real competitive, and I think it's a good thing we're going to the same school because we can push each other and motivate each other to be better."

Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com, 419-724-6160, or on Twitter @RyanAutullo.