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Pottsgrove’s Chestnut hopes for fast finish to recruitment

Terrell Chestnut thought the decision-making process was over when he orally committed to play football for the University of Pittsburgh last July.

Terrell Chestnut thought the decision-making process was over when he orally committed to play football for the University of Pittsburgh last July.

Now, with the Pitt program in a state of upheaval after the hiring and firing of Michael Haywood in a 16-day span, the Pottsgrove senior is considering going elsewhere.

"I'm looking around, keeping my options open," said Chestnut, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior who starred for the Falcons as a quarterback and defensive back. "I've heard from a few schools."

Chestnut, a two-time Inquirer first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection as a defensive back, said he had talked with representatives of Miami, Boston College, and Villanova.

"My mind has been spinning a bit from all that's gone on recently," he said. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do. But I don't want to open up the whole recruitment thing again. I want to keep it to a few schools."

Early last month, Dave Wannstedt was forced to resign as Pitt's head coach after a disappointing 7-5 regular season. (Pitt finished 8-5; its win Saturday in the Compass Bowl was coached by defensive coordinator Phil Bennett.) "That's when I first started to look around," Chestnut said.

Of Wannstedt, who went 42-31 in six seasons, the Pottstown resident said: "He was a guy who really made you feel at home when you were there. He was very open, very genuine. You could talk to him about anything and feel fine with it."

Chestnut said he had also developed a close relationship with Bob Junko and Matt Dudek, Pitt's director and assistant director of football operations, respectively.

Pitt hired Haywood, formerly the boss at Miami of Ohio, on Dec. 16. "I spoke to him briefly on the phone," Chestnut said. On Jan. 1, Haywood was fired after his arrest on a domestic violence charge involving his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child.

Last summer, Chestnut, clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and projected to be a safety or cornerback in college, chose the Panthers over Rutgers and West Virginia, the alma mater of longtime Pottsgrove coach Rick Pennypacker.

Chestnut, who led the Falcons to a 43-9 record over the last four seasons, said he planned to visit Villanova next weekend, West Virginia the weekend of Jan. 22-23, and Miami the weekend of Jan. 28-29.

"I committed last summer because I wanted to take the pressure off and enjoy my senior year," he said. "But I know that college football is a business. You have to be prepared for something like this to happen."

The Class of 2011 can sign national letters of intent beginning Feb. 2.

Cohen to return. Ron Cohen said he would be back for a 27th season as George Washington's coach.

"I'm coming back for at least one more year," the 68-year-old said. "When it comes to retirement, you have to be prepared for it. You have to be ready."

Cohen, who has guided the Eagles to a 233-65-2 record, has been a health and physical-education teacher for 44 years.

Addazio in town. Steve Addazio, Temple's new coach, was at Washington early Thursday to talk with a pair of Owls recruits: defensive end Brandon Chudnoff and wide receiver/cornerback Daquan Cooper.

"They're staying with Temple," Cohen said. "It's a good match for both of them."

Jim Henry Award. On Thursday, at a dinner at Drexelbrook Caterers in Drexel Hill, the Maxwell Football Club will present the Jim Henry Award, given annually to the Philadelphia- or South Jersey-area player who excels in both athletics and academics, and serves his school and community.

The finalists for the award, given to one of the 60 Mini Max award recipients, are Great Valley's Zachary Anderson, Bishop Eustace's Sean Bill, Pennridge's Brandon Cope, Upper Dublin's Bill Kim, Downingtown East's Trey Lauletta, North Penn's Craig Needhammer, and Upper Perkiomen's Casey Perlstein.

Extras. Sam Mormando, who stepped down as Penn Wood's coach after compiling a 34-23 mark in five seasons, will be a tight-ends coach at Widener. . . . George Washington's Claudy Mathieu, a 6-4, 210-pound, two-way end, has a scholarship offer from James Madison. A projected defensive end, the senior plans to visit the school next weekend. Rutgers and Temple are also possibilities.