North Allegheny High School football player Ryan Schlieper has backed out of a verbal commitment to Maryland and will instead play at Pitt.

Schlieper, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound offensive lineman and a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, had committed to Maryland last summer. But he always held out hope that Pitt might offer a scholarship.

The Panthers offered Friday and Schlieper accepted last night. He will sign with Pitt tomorrow, the first day high school players can sign a binding letter of intent with a college.

Schlieper said Maryland was upset.

"This is nothing against Maryland," Schlieper said. "They have a great football complex, a great coaching staff, everything is great. But Pitt is where I've always wanted to be."

Schlieper said a scholarship opened for him at Pitt when quarterback Kevan Smith recently decided to give up playing football to play baseball.

Elsewhere, North Allegheny receiver Brian Austin will attend West Point. North Allegheny tight end Wes Henderson will play at the Naval Academy.