By Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Published: Monday, January 31, 2011

The Pitt football program received four -- possibly five -- more verbal commitments over the weekend when Steve Williams, a safety from Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School, receiver Ronald Jones of Fort Meade, Fla., and cornerback Lloyd Carrington of Dallas' Lincoln High School said they plan to enroll.

They were followed by a commitment Sunday from outside linebacker LaQuentin Smith of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.

Williams and Jones told the Tribune-Review on Sunday that they intended to sign a letter of intent with the Panthers on Wednesday.

Williams, 6 feet 2, 197 pounds, played mostly offense last season, rushing for 1,691 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he will not initially play running back at Pitt, he said.

Jones, 5 feet 8, 165 pounds, is the eighth running back, receiver or tight end among Pitt coach Todd Graham's 14-player Class of 2011.

Carrington, 6 feet, 180 pounds, visited Pitt on Saturday and yesterday after a stop in Minnesota. He also had been considering Houston among his 17 offers. Other schools in the mix were Baylor, Oklahoma State, North Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa. He had not previously committed to a school before visiting Pitt.

"Pitt is a very unique place with good facilities and a good fan base," Carrington said before boarding a plane back to Dallas. "And I believe in coach Graham."

Smith is 6 feet 1, 205 pounds and said he had offers from "every Big East school," plus South Carolina, Arkansas and Illinois.

"My heart was telling me (Pitt) is the best fit for me," he said.

Smith said his teammate at Dr. Phillips High School, safety Roderick Ryles, also plans to commit to Pitt. Ryles is 6 feet 1, 185 pounds.

Smith and Ryles are three-star recruits, according to rivals.com.

1. Brown’s ‘Inferno’ puts Langdon through his paces
2. Pirates notebook: Botched popup shocks Martin
3. Penguins notebook: Spezza will return for Senators in Game 3
4. Zoning restrictions threaten reopening of coke facility
5. Monessen revival boils down to money that could be difficult to secure
6. Local 'drummer boys' plan march from Pittsburgh to Gettysburg
7. Kovacevic: The smartest man in hockey
8. Winter bee deaths devastate keepers
9. Southmoreland seniors earn spots  on All-State Band
10. Architect Comes’ church designs teach lessons about Western Pa. history
11. Earnhardt has special memories at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.