Pittman held in check
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Gainesville (Fla.) Eastside did about everything it could to keep Florida wide receiver commit Latroy Pittman in check.
"I didn't get much pass play opportunities," the four-star wideout said. "They were so over the top with the safeties. And the corners were playing in the flats and all that, so it was kind of difficult for our quarterback to get the reads and throw the ball to me."
But while the Rams were able to hold Pittman to a relatively quite night that consisted of just two catches -- one eight-yard slant and a circus, 28-yard snag down the Eastside sideline -- the same couldn't be said for the rest of Citra (Fla.) North Marion's offense.
"That gave a chance for other guys to get open," Pittman said.
By others, Pittman is referring to teammates like South Florida tight end commit Sean Price, who had 42 yards receiving and a touchdown, or running back Jamie Gilmore, whose busy night included a 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Both Jamie's touchdown run and various other big plays were sprung by viscous run blocks by Pittman, who admitted to taking out some of his frustration from not getting the ball on helpless defensive backs.
"If I'm not getting the ball, I'm blocking as hard as I can to the whistle because I know Jamie can break it at any time," he said. "Just knowing that coach has faith in me calling it to my side most of the time. He knows I'll make my block and get him in the end zone. I take pride in that."
Defensively, it was also a fairly slow night for Pittman, who doubles as a safety for the Colts. He recorded three tackles, including one big hit on an Eastside running back in the first quarter on an attempted third-down conversion. And after a controversial clock issue gave the Rams a final snap from inside the five at the end of the first half, Pittman made a diving deflection to preserve what ended a 35-0 shutout.
Pittman, Gilmore, Price and other starters were pulled around the middle of the fourth quarter, as the game was out of hand.
"Coach felt like he'd just put younger guys in and get the other running backs some carries and things like that," Pittman said. "You want to stay in because you want to do more. It is what it is. It worked out fine, and 35-0, that's something we'll take."
Playing only about six hours after the decision of Rivals100 Land O' Lakes (Fla.) tight end Kent Taylor to commit to Florida, Pittman was excited about the newest addition to the 2012 class.
"Another great athlete that can contribute to the offensive side of the ball," he said. "He's like 6-foot-6, a lean guy, but he can get muscle mass. He can go up and get the ball. He's like a wide receiver. You can flex him out in the slot and get him on linebackers and all of that."
[Related: Is Pittman visiting Notre Dame this weekend?]