Wannstedt took another step in that direction Monday when Jordan Gibbs, Penn Manor's 6-foot-7, 290-pound tight end and two-time Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star, verbally committed to Pittsburgh.

By stockpiling some of the state's top linemen and blockers, Wannstedt, who played on Pitt's offensive line from 1970-73, is on his way to building the physical and punishing ground game he craves.

Recruited as a blocking tight end by Panthers offensive line coach Paul Dunn, Gibbs becomes the second Lancaster County player to commit to Pittsburgh. Manheim Township quarterback Pat Bostick announced his commitment on May 12.

Gibbs and Penn Manor football coach Bob Forgrave could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Gibbs started at tight end and defensive end last season as the Comets finished 3-4 in L-L Section One and 5-5 overall. He recorded 20 receptions for 450 yards and five touchdowns. Penn Manor's season was highlighted by a 41-40 win over section foe McCaskey on Oct. 21.

Gibbs was named Second Team tight end on the L-L's All-Section One team and an honorable mention choice on the All-Pennsylvania Football News All-State squad. He was an L-L Section One honorable mention selection at tight end in 2004 and received the Comets' Gatorade Rookie of the Year award.

A starting center in basketball this past winter, Gibbs helped lead the Comets to a 19-11 finish and berths in the league, district, and state playoffs.

He becomes the 10th player to commit to Pitt this spring and the second tight end. Nick Krupa (6-4, 230) of Santalucces, Fla. gave a verbal commitment on June 30. Krupa was recruited as both a blocker and a receiver, and at the time, it was noted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Panthers were looking to add another blocking tight end.

Krupa chose Pitt after considering scholarship offers from Auburn, Northwestern, Stanford and UCLA, among others.

According to Scout.Com, the Panthers had been recruiting heralded Pittsburgh-area prospect Andrew Devlin. But the 6-6, 250-pound Devlin, who will be a senior at Mt. Lebanon this fall and is ranked by Rivals.Com as the 10th-best recruit in the state, committed last week to the University of Virginia. According to Scout.Com, that prompted Gibbs, who had been considering the Cavaliers, to commit to the Panthers.

Gibbs bolsters a recruiting class that has already landed four offensive linemen. Among them is Erie McDowell's Dan Matha. The 6-7, 315-pound Matha is ranked by Rivals.Com as one of the top two offensive tackles in Pennsylvania and as the 14th best prospect in the state. blog comments powered by Disqus