Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 122

James Franklin likes Phil Trautwein’s story. That’s not the only reason Penn State’s coach hired Trautwein this year to replace Matt Limegrover as offensive line coach. But his story should serve as motivation for his players. Trautwein’s father was in the Air Force, so the family moved around the country...

William Jeffress’ basketball journey began in the second grade when he scored half of his AAU team’s points in a game against the Pittsburgh Storm. His team lost, 45-6. “We were in second grade and they were in fourth grade, and they handled us,” Jeffress said, unashamedly. “We hit two...

Pitt fans looking for good news won’t find it from Chip Patterson, a college football analyst for CBSSports.com. Patterson predicted every ACC team’s season, game-by-game, and he sees Pitt winning only seven of its 12 and finishing 4-4 in the ACC Coastal (fourth place). It’s a curious prediction, with Pitt...

Pitt boosted its class of 2021 to seven members when wide receiver Myles Alston announced through his Twitter account Monday his intention to enroll next year. @CoachAlstonOL @bredlife757 @RivalsFriedman @HamiltonESPN @BrianDohn247 @LandonVCooper @clarissacoop @KDotTheGemini C O M M I T T E D ! pic.twitter.com/j4B2u29t0z— MYLES ALSTON (@Myles1Alston) April 27,...

West Virginia fans received good news that had been expected Sunday when star forward Oscar Tshiebwe said he plans to return for his sophomore season. Tshiebwe had requested an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Tshiebwe, a graduate of Kennedy Catholic, said in a Twitter post it was his...

If you didn’t know the story behind the young man, you would think his was just another name flashed across the bottom of the TV screen during the last day of the NFL Draft. But Kenny Robinson’s story is different — sad, embarrassing even. But it’s one he doesn’t run...

Dane Jackson, who started three seasons at cornerback for Pitt, moved to the next level Saturday when he was drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills (No. 239 overall). “The Bills got themselves a steal in Dane Jackson,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “He is as good as...

Quarterback Ben DiNucci’s football journey from Pine-Richland to Pitt to James Madison ended up in Dallas on Saturday when he was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (No. 231 overall). After transferring from Pitt when Kenny Pickett seized the starting job in 2017, DiNucci, who originally committed to...

Geno Stone, lightly recruited by most Power 5 schools only three years ago, became the 12th New Castle graduate to enter the NFL on Saturday when he was drafted in the seventh round (219th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens. He ended up at Iowa, where he played safety. In 2018,...

Defensive tackle Rob Windsor, who started two years at Penn State, was drafted in the sixth round Saturday by the Indianapolis Colts (No. 193 overall). Windsor was named third-team All-Big Ten last season after recording three sacks in 13 starts. He was more productive in 2018 but received only honorable...

Linebacker Cameron Brown, who became a productive playmaker during his final two seasons at Penn State, was drafted in the sixth round Saturday by the New York Giants (No. 183 overall). Brown will reunite with former Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who was hired by the Giants this...

Kenny Robinson, who grew up in Wilkinsburg and played at Imani Christian Academy, knows a little bit about drafts. He was picked in the fifth round Saturday by the Carolina Panthers (No. 152 overall) after going to the St. Louis Battlehawks last year in the XFL’s first draft. Robinson, 6-foot-2,...

West Virginia offensive tackle Colton McKivitz, a four-year starter for the Mountaineers, joined the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Saturday as their fifth-round draft choice (No. 153 overall). McKivitz was named third-team All-American and second-team All-Big 12 last season. He started 47 career games, three seasons on the right...

Cornerback John Reid, a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention choice, became the third Penn State player drafted this year when the Houston Texans selected him in the fourth round Saturday (No. 141 overall). Former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien is coach of the Texans. Reid joins second-round picks Yetur Gross-Matos...

Khaleke Hudson became the 15th McKeesport graduate to reach the NFL on Saturday when he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round (No. 162 overall). Naturally, Hudson was thrilled, but his friend and fellow McKeesport graduate Mike Logan was beaming, too. “He’s looking forward to a bright...

Kahlee Jacoby Hamler, better known as Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler, joined teammate Yetur Gross-Matos as second-round draft choices Friday night when he went to the Denver Broncos (46th overall). Gross-Matos, a defensive end, was chosen eight picks earlier by the Carolina Panthers. Hamler is only 5-foot-9, 178 pounds,...

Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos slipped into the second round of the NFL Draft, but he didn’t have to wait long Friday night before he was selected 38th overall by the Carolina Panthers. Gross-Matos (6-foot-5, 266 pounds) was the second defensive end picked, following Ohio State’s Chase Young, the...

Pitt received two verbal commitments from members of the class of 2021 Thursday when offensive lineman Terrance Rankl and wide receiver Jaden Bradley made their non-binding pledges public. 100% Committed #H2P #PITT2L1TT pic.twitter.com/tVVedlqcNc— Jaden G Bradley (@JadenBradleyyy) April 23, 2020 That makes three in two days for Pitt, lifting its...

Pitt women’s basketball coach Lance White is using transfer players to rebuild his team. new beginnings ?? pic.twitter.com/P1f0QC6arj— Destiny ? (@___destiny03) April 23, 2020 White received a verbal commitment Wednesday from guard Destiny Strother, who played sparingly as a freshman this season for Marquette. She will join Jayla Everett, who...

Trevion Stevenson couldn’t visit Pitt while mulling scholarship offers from 39 other schools, but Wednesday he committed to coach Pat Narduzzi, anyway — on Narduzzi’s 54th birthday. Blessed To Be In This Position ✞... Now It’s Time To Take The Next Step C O M M I T T E...

Nothing against wrestling or his great uncle Bruno’s legacy, but Zach Sammartino never was a grappler. “I always focused my offseason on training for football. Football was always my dream,” Sammartino said. ? @zsammartino1 ➡️ @NFL #TheWoods pic.twitter.com/HYi9B2xopB— Dartmouth Football (@DartFootball) April 22, 2020 But he’s proud to share a...

Penn State’s spring depth chart was released last Saturday, but wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield warned his players not to pay special attention to it. In fact, he suggested it was written in water colors that easily could disappear. After all, it is April, and the first game isn’t scheduled...

Pitt coach Keith Gavin finalized his 2020 recruiting class Tuesday when he announced Tyler Badgett, one of the country’s top wrestlers at 152 pounds, signed his letter of intent. Badgett is ranked No. 8 by FloWrestling and No. 7 by InterMat. “I chose Pitt because I know the coaches will...