PITT visits athletic NJ Linebacker Chapelle Cook

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Pitt will add at least three linebackers to their 2015 recruiting class.  They have already received a commitment from Altoona (PA) linebacker Kevin Givens (6-foot-3 inches, 230 pounds).  Last week, a pair of Pitt coaches stopped to visit a pair of New Jersey linebackers that have received scholarship offers: Lakewood (NJ) Chapelle Cook (6-foot-1 inches, 212 pounds) and Sicklerville (NJ) Timber Creek Neal Nelson (6-foot-1 inches, 225 pounds).

DreamBackfield.com was able to catch up with Chapelle Cook to discuss his thoughts on Pitt and the recruiting process.  He has been a two year, two-way standout for Lakewood High School.  Chapelle has received scholarship offers from Pitt, Boston College, Temple and a myriad of D2 schools.  Virginia, Rutgers, Memphis and Maryland have expressed strong interest in his services.

Two Pitt coaches, defensive coordinator Matt House and wide receiver’s coach Greg Lewis visited Cook last Monday.  Although he’s an athlete capable of playing a number of positions including quarterback, running back, linebacker and safety, Pitt envisions him as an outside linebacker on the next level.

“I’m a little over 210 pounds and I can run a 4.52 forty-yard dash.  My speed is a big asset at linebacker,” he said.  “I’m only getting faster.  I’m going to run track and I can already tell I’m faster than I was last year.  I’m going to cut my forty times down to 4.4 seconds.”

“I’m a linebacker that plays with a lot of physicality.  I’m very aggressive.  I make a lot of plays and I hate to leave the football field.  I love the game of football.”

“Coach House and Coach Lewis stopped at my school on Monday.  They said they wanted to show me how much they wanted me (to come to Pitt),” he said.  “They told me not too many people get two coaches at once but they feel strongly about me and how I fit into the football program.”

“They want me to come to camp this summer.  They already know what I’m capable of, so they want me to take that time and show me the campus and academics,” he said.  “I’m hoping I can meet more of the coaches and players at that time.  I want to make sure I’m comfortable with all of them.”

Lewis would like to attend Pitt’s camp this summer and return for a game during the season.  He’s high on Pitt and the priority they have placed on him.  “When I visit, I’m looking to get an instant bond with the school, coaches and players.  I feel like I have that already with Coach House and Coach Lewis,” he said.  “When I visit this summer I want to stick around so I can meet the players.  I want to see what my rapport is like with them.  I know college football is a business and there’s no guarantee the entire coaching staff stays together all four years I’m there.  The players will be there.”

“I want to bring my mother and review their academics as well.  That’s very important to me.  I want good education.”

“Lastly, I love talking football.  I’m hoping to sit down with Coach House and have some chalk talk.  I want to see how I fit into their defense.”

DreamBackfield.com will follow up with Cook shortly after his June visit.