North Xtra: Wild recruiting saga ends for Shaler's Holtz
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Shaler Area's J.P. Holtz flipped his commitment from Penn State to Pitt after child sex abuse scandal broke.
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Every high school football player who goes through the Division I recruiting experience can come away with a different story.
Some embrace and enjoy the process; others loathe it and can't wait to get it over with.
For reasons completely out of his control, Shaler Area's J.P. Holtz has had one of the more unpredictable and tumultuous recruiting sagas. After all, it's not every day a student-athlete watches the school to which he made a verbal commitment end up embroiled in a child sex abuse scandal and then has its legendary NCAA all-time winningest coach die from complications of lung cancer in a matter of a couple months.
Making Holtz's situation potentially more combustible, the school he switched his commitment to fancies itself a bitter rival of the one he switched from.
Still, through it all, Holtz embraced the process.
"I enjoyed it while it lasted," said Holtz, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end rated a three or four-star prospect, depending upon the recruiting service one might consult.
"Of course, I'm excited to get it over with just so I can move on to the next chapter of my life, go to get my education and play some football. But you have to enjoy it."
Holtz made his commitment to Pitt official Wednesday morning on national signing day.
Holtz originally had committed to Penn State. But he changed his mind and opened up his recruiting -- not coincidentally, after the university and football program became embroiled in the highly publicized Jerry Sandusky scandal in November.
Less than three months after being fired in the fallout, coach Joe Paterno died Jan. 22 at 85.
Three days later, Holtz made his verbal commitment to Pitt public on KDKA-TV. While the timing so soon after Paterno's death was unintentional and unfortunate, Holtz had gone on record in the summer talking about his admiration and respect for Paterno.
Holtz gave other reasons for choosing the Panthers, too.
"I loved the new coaches, and I just love Pitt," Holtz said. "It just feels like a big family. And with all the other recruits, it definitely is a really good recruiting class. I get along with the team. It just feels right. I fit in well there.
First Published February 2, 2012 12:00 am
