Alston no longer committed to Pitt

Sicklerville (N.J.) Timber Creek linebacker Quinton Alston has kept an open mind even with all of the uncertainty surrounding the Pitt program since word came out that Dave Wannstedt would not be coaching the Panthers in the future.

Alston remained committed to Pitt after he heard the Panthers had hired Miami-OH coach Mike Haywood, saying at the time that he liked the idea of playing for a disciplinary that preached hard work.

With word that Haywood has been arrested on allegations of domestic violence, and Haywood's subsequent dismissal by Pitt, Alston had just had enough.

"After what he had been preaching about discipline, it's just hard to believe what he's preaching," Alston said on Saturday evening. "I'm not sure what to make of this or how much truth there is to it. I had to sit down with my family and decide what was best for me. I've decided it's best for me to look elsewhere.

"Pitt just has no structure right now. I've talked to a lot of the other guys to see what they're going to do. The guys that are sticking with Pitt, God bless them. I just don't think there's any structure there."

Alston and his high school coach have reached out to a few other schools to determine what his options might be between now and Signing Day.

With so many schools filling up and so few scholarships remaining Alston's options might be more limited now than they were when he committed to Pitt over the summer, but he's still a high quality prospect.

"I've talked to Cincinnati and Purdue and I'm going to visit those schools," Alston said. "I'd like to visit Cincinnati on January 14 and if I can visit Purdue this next weekend (January 7) that would work out well for me.

"Jameel (Poteat) talked to the coach from Cincinnati and he said they're excited about having me out there for a visit. Purdue doesn't have a linebacker in this class and they've said they'd like me to be the guy they bring in.

"I also want to call the coach from Louisville and see if I can visit them. Their coach has said they'd definitely like to take a linebacker. I'll probably take one more (visit), too."