Dan Mason hears the opinions from people at church. People he doesn't know stop him at the mall and the grocery store, telling him their opinions.

They all tell him where he should go to college. Mason politely pretends to listen.

"I just tell people I'll go through the recruiting process and see what happens," Mason said.

Mason is a senior linebacker at Penn Hills and one of the last Division I college prospects from the WPIAL who hasn't made a college decision. Most of the other seniors in the WPIAL with Division I scholarship offers already have made verbal commitments to colleges.

High school players can sign a binding letter of intent with colleges Feb. 4. Mason (6 feet, 220 pounds) has pretty much narrowed things down to Pitt and West Virginia.

"Every time I go out somewhere, I hear people tell me where I should go," Mason said with a laugh.

Mason said he was still considering Penn State and Boston College, but said no coaches from those schools have called him in months. He is on a visit to Pitt this weekend and plans to go to West Virginia Jan. 23.

"I never felt any pressure to make an early decision," Mason said. "I don't want to put myself into a situation where I make a decision, and a couple months later I don't want to be at that school. I've always wanted to take my time with this."

With less than a month left before the signing date, Pitt has verbal commitments from 15 players. The Panthers will have probably 18-20 scholarships available for the class of 2009.

Unless Pitt finishes recruiting with a bang, this class won't be as highly ranked as some of Dave Wannstedt's previous ones. Rivals.com has Pitt's class rated 47th in the country and Scout.com No. 40.

Five of Pitt's recruits are from Western Pennsylvania -- Allderdice defensive end Will Clarke, Thomas Jefferson tight end Brock DeCicco, Steel Valley defensive lineman Tyrone Ezell, Aliquippa lineman Juantez Hollins and Beaver Falls receiver Todd Thomas. Also, receiver-defensive back Ed Tinker committed to Pitt after playing this past season at North Carolina Tech, but he is a graduate of Brashear in the City League.

One of Pitt's top recruits is Raymond Graham of Elizabeth, N.J., rated a four-star running back by Rivals.com.

Pitt is still in with some highly-touted players. Josh Evans, a dual-threat quarterback from Irvington, N.J., plans to decide among Oklahoma, Purdue, Florida and Pitt. The Panthers have a good shot at landing quarterback Kolby Gray of Cypress Falls, Texas. He had a visit planned to Pitt this weekend. Vanderbilt, Utah and South Florida are among the other schools that have offered.

Defensive lineman Isaac Holmes of Hoboken, N.J., plans to choose among Florida, Maryland and Pitt.

Penn State, meanwhile, has commitments from 23 players and its class is ranked No. 21 by Rivals.com and No. 11 by Scout.com. Seven of Penn State's recruits are from Maryland.

Offensive lineman Eric Shrive of Scranton, who played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl last weekend, is one of Penn State's top recruits , as well as defensive back Darrell Givens of Indian Head, Md., defensive back Derrick Thomas of Greenbelt, Md., and linebacker Gerald Hodges of Paulsboro, N.J..

Penn State also landed a quarterback in Kevin Newsome of Chatham, Va. Newsome also played in the Army All-American game and was coached by Gateway coach Terry Smith.

"He reminds me of a younger version of [current Penn State quarterback] Daryll Clark," Smith said. "He's a big, strong kid with a strong arm. He can make all the throws and he's a terrific athlete."

One of the top players Penn State is trying to land is linebacker Jelani Jenkins of Olney, Md. His final decision could come down to Florida and Penn State. Recently, Penn State got a commitment from Steelton-Highspire (Pa.) defensive lineman Jordan Hill. He had originally committed to Rutgers.

West Virginia has commitments from 22 players, and junior-college player Tevita Finau of Phoenix has already signed a letter of intent. Rivals.com ranks West Virginia's class No. 19 in the country and Scout.com No. 18.