Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Injury doesn't prevent West Allegheny kicker from getting scholarship
strreatrjp
By The Associated Press
The get-well cards were not the deciding factor in kicker Dave Brytus' decision to give Purdue a verbal commitment, but they certainly helped.
Brytus, a punter and kicker, didn't play for West Allegheny last season because of an injury. But that didn't keep Purdue and other schools from offering him a scholarship.
Pitt, North Carolina, Maryland and Penn State were also interested in Brytus, even though he has only punted -- but has never kicked a field goal -- in a high school game.
"Purdue was the first school that showed interest in me when I was a sophomore," said Brytus, who is 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. "When I was hurt, they sent me get-well cards all the time. It just seems like the best place for me."
Brytus averaged 45 yards a punt as a sophomore but missed last season with a fractured bone in his left leg, his kicking leg. He was hit on the leg by a teammate during a kicking drill two days before West Allegheny's first game.
Brytus spent three months in a wheelchair, and a steel rod was inserted into the bone to help the healing process.
"I was depressed at first, but not being able to play last year just made me work harder for this season," Brytus said.
He has not had a chance to place-kick in a varsity game, but did make a 48-yard field goal attempt in a junior varsity game as a sophomore. Punting is what he does best and he has been concentrating on keeping his punts in the air for as long as possible.
"I want to get a 4.5 second hang time. That's what all the colleges are after," he said. "If you can average 40 yards a punt with a 4.5 hang time, they're pretty happy."
Despite his size, Brytus does not play another position for West Allegheny. Instead, he chooses to concentrate on kicking and punting. But nobody is questioning his toughness.
In 2002, he was the western Pennsylvania Golden Gloves boxing champion in the super heavyweight division. He also studied karate.
"The plan is for me to go in and punt for Purdue as a freshman and then maybe step in as the kicker a year or two down the road," Brytus said. "But for right now, I'm just concentrating on getting ready for the season."
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PITT IS IT: As expected, North Hills running back Andrew Johnson announced he will attend Pitt next season after also considering Ohio State.
A 5-11, 200-pound running back, Johnson rushed for 2,394 yards and 31 touchdowns the past two seasons at Pittsburgh Central Catholic. He transferred to North Hills last November, after Central Catholic was barred from the PIAA District 7 playoffs because of a hazing incident. His family already lived within the North Hills School District.
Johnson won the 100-meter dash at the PIAA Class AAA track championships at Shippensburg University in May.
Johnson had scholarship offers from Miami and UCLA, but wanted to stay close to family and friends. He said Pitt running back coach Dino Babers influenced his decision.
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DECISION TIME: Wilson's Chad Henne, considered one of the top senior quarterbacks in the country, is supposed to announce his college decision in the next few days.
Henne (6-3, 210) has been the focus of Penn State's recruiting efforts. A three-year starter at Wilson, he passed for more than 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
He is expected to visit Miami next week and has checked out Tennessee, Georgia, Penn State and Michigan.
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BASEBALL SHIFT: The PIAA was not pleased with stadium maintenance at Williamsport's Bowman Field, the site of a Pittsburgh Pirates Class A farm club. The PIAA baseball championships were scheduled there this spring, but were shifted to RiverSide Park in Harrisburg because Bowman Field was unplayable after storms.
As a result of the problems in Williamsport, the PIAA is looking into playing its 2004 baseball championship games at RiverSide Park or Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, whichever is available to the PIAA in mid-June.