'08 PA ATH Cameron Saddler (Pitt signee)

[osugrad21]

Pittsburgh Gazette

No to Michigan
Before Michigan lost to Ohio State Saturday, and before word got out that Lloyd Carr would be resigning as coach at the University of Michigan, two players from Gateway High had crossed the Wolverines off their final list.
Gateway running back/defensive back Cam Saddler and linebacker/defensive end Shayne Hale were supposed to make an official visit to Michigan this past weekend, but canceled it.
"We just don't think it's the best situation for either of us," Saddler said Friday night after the Gators defeated North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals.
That means Saddler will now choose between Pitt, West Virginia and Virginia. Hale's final three choices are West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio State. But he's not certain he will visit Ohio State, which means he probably will choose between West Virginia and Virginia.

[wadc45]

Scout.com: ScoutTV Presents: The Game

By Bob Lichtenfels
Regional Recruiting Analyst
Posted Nov 25, 2007

There are games and then there are games that become legend. On Friday, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Pa., we witnessed a game that people will be talking about for years to come as Pittsburgh Central Catholic outlasted Gateway in overtime 35-34 as the Vikings captured the WPIAL Class AAAA championship and a spot in the state playoffs.

Continued...

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Scout $

11/26

Talks about the loss to PCC and recaps his visit to Pitt this past weekend.

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Scout.com: Short Take

By Allen Wallace
National Recruiting Editor
Posted Nov 27, 2007

Cameron Saddler, who has already visited Virginia and Pittsburgh, is scheduled to visit West Virginia on Dec. 1. "They have a great offense and they said that I'd be able to play early," Saddler said. "I really liked how they used Steve Slaton and I see myself fitting in with their offense..." "They are in a good situation and hopefully they'll get into the national championship game,"

Continued...

[osugrad21]

Pitt Gazette

Recruiting


Saddler, a running back-defensive back, and Gateway teammate Shayne Hale made an official recruiting visit to West Virginia this weekend. Saddler will announce his decision later this week and the finalists are Pitt, West Virginia and Virginia.
Saddler and Hale attended the Pitt-West Virginia game, but Hale has not set a timetable to pick a college.
"I went out with [West Virginia receiver] Wes Lyons after the game, but it wasn't too great," Saddler said. "Everyone was just shocked."

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Scout $

12/3

By Lichtenfels...recaps his visit to WVU and talks about which coaches he expects to visit him this week.

[osugrad21]

Pittsburgh Gazette

Gateway's Saddler makes verbal commitment to Pitt
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pitt football team lost to Virginia on the field this season, but the Panthers beat Virginia in a recruiting battle for a Western Pennsylvania high school football player.
Gateway standout Cam Saddler announced tonight he has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. Saddler, a 5-foot-7, 165-pound running back-defensive back, chose Pitt over Virginia. He played running back and defensive back at Gateway and returned kicks. He was recruited by Pitt to play mostly receiver and also return kicks.
"The past few days, this thing has been Virginia-Pitt, Virginia-Pitt, Virginia-Pitt," Saddler said. "When it came down to it, I just felt I needed to be at the University of Pittsburgh."
West Virginia was his other finalist. In recent days, some close to Saddler thought Virginia was in the lead. Tuesday night, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt made a visit to Saddler's home and Saddler said Wannstedt made a great impression on his mother.

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Chat transcript: Pitt football, 12/6/07
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wanny_s_Crutches: Where do you think Cam Saddler fits into the offense? Obviously Wanny sees a lot of potential and convinced this kid he is going to be a key contributor to this team. Saddler already said he was going to try to recruit other WPIAL players, which never hurts.

Paul Zeise: I think he'll be a kick returner and a multi-purpose player, like LaRod Stephens-Howling could be (slot back, tailback in some sets, slot receiver) etc. He will be used in a lot of ways and he is a great talent so this is a good get by Wannstedt.

Bob_Dylan: Why did Pitt pull Cameron Saddler's original offer that was made last Spring? I read that Cam's father asked Wannstedt this question at his in-home visit, and that Dave answered the question satisfactorily. But there wasn't any more detail provided. Do you know what happened with this?

Paul Zeise: It was a situation where I think Dave Wannstedt misjudged Saddler's talent and didn't think he'd fit in until he really got to see him play and he realized that he is a very good player so they went back after him.

Chat transcript: Pitt football, 12/6/07