One of my followers on Twitter (@dawgbreed) pointed out that Sam Pittman just started following Penn State WR/Offensive recruiting coordinator Josh Gattis on Twitter.
Granted, Georgia is facing Penn State in a couple weeks so this could be nothing more than Pittman wanting to keep an eye on Gattis - but when you read Gattis' bio, you can see why he might be a fit on a number of staffs around the country.
He is a young coach but one of the top recruiters in the conference.
"Josh Gattis is in his second season as the Nittany Lions’ offensive recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also works closely with Charles Huff as the assistant special teams coordinator. Named the 2015 Scout.com Big Ten Recruiter of the Year, Gattis was instrumental in Penn State signing a Top 15 recruiting class in 2015. He has made an immediate impact in coaching after earning All-ACC honors as a safety at Wake Forest and spending two seasons playing with the NFL's Chicago Bears. He is entering his sixth season in the coaching ranks and was a member of James Franklin’s staff in 2012 and ‘13. In 2014, Gattis mentored DaeSean Hamilton, who led the Big Ten in receptions en route to all-conference accolades, Freshman All-America honors and Big Ten All-Freshman team awards. Hamilton’s 82 receptions in 2014 rank second in the Penn State single-season annals. Gattis has coached a pair of All-America wideouts, helping Western Michigan's Jordan White earn the honor in 2011 when he led the NCAA with 140 receptions for 1,911 yards. White's totals broke the Western Michigan and Mid-American Conference records and he broke the MAC career receiving yardage record. Gattis joined Franklin's staff at Vanderbilt in 2012 and tutored Jordan Matthews to All-America honors twice. Matthews ended his career as the Southeastern Conference's career leader in receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759), while also owning the SEC single-season mark with 107 catches, set in 2013. Matthews also is the only player in SEC history to record two seasons of at least 90 catches and the only player with 100-plus receptions in a season. Gattis broke into coaching as a graduate assistant at North Carolina (2010) on the offensive staff. From Durham, N.C., he earned his degree in sociology from Wake Forest and played in the 2007 Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. Gattis was a three-year starter and two-time All-ACC safety, grabbing 12 career interceptions and forcing six fumbles for the Demon Deacons.
The Gattis File
Personal
Hometown: Durham, N.C.
Alma Mater: Wake Forest, 2006
Degree: Bachelors, Sociology Family: wife, Tesa; son, Jace
Coaching Experience
2014-current - Penn State (offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers)
2012-13 - Vanderbilt (offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers)
2011 - Western Michigan (wide receivers)
2010 - North Carolina (Offensive graduate assistant)"
Granted, Georgia is facing Penn State in a couple weeks so this could be nothing more than Pittman wanting to keep an eye on Gattis - but when you read Gattis' bio, you can see why he might be a fit on a number of staffs around the country.
He is a young coach but one of the top recruiters in the conference.
"Josh Gattis is in his second season as the Nittany Lions’ offensive recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also works closely with Charles Huff as the assistant special teams coordinator. Named the 2015 Scout.com Big Ten Recruiter of the Year, Gattis was instrumental in Penn State signing a Top 15 recruiting class in 2015. He has made an immediate impact in coaching after earning All-ACC honors as a safety at Wake Forest and spending two seasons playing with the NFL's Chicago Bears. He is entering his sixth season in the coaching ranks and was a member of James Franklin’s staff in 2012 and ‘13. In 2014, Gattis mentored DaeSean Hamilton, who led the Big Ten in receptions en route to all-conference accolades, Freshman All-America honors and Big Ten All-Freshman team awards. Hamilton’s 82 receptions in 2014 rank second in the Penn State single-season annals. Gattis has coached a pair of All-America wideouts, helping Western Michigan's Jordan White earn the honor in 2011 when he led the NCAA with 140 receptions for 1,911 yards. White's totals broke the Western Michigan and Mid-American Conference records and he broke the MAC career receiving yardage record. Gattis joined Franklin's staff at Vanderbilt in 2012 and tutored Jordan Matthews to All-America honors twice. Matthews ended his career as the Southeastern Conference's career leader in receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759), while also owning the SEC single-season mark with 107 catches, set in 2013. Matthews also is the only player in SEC history to record two seasons of at least 90 catches and the only player with 100-plus receptions in a season. Gattis broke into coaching as a graduate assistant at North Carolina (2010) on the offensive staff. From Durham, N.C., he earned his degree in sociology from Wake Forest and played in the 2007 Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. Gattis was a three-year starter and two-time All-ACC safety, grabbing 12 career interceptions and forcing six fumbles for the Demon Deacons.
The Gattis File
Personal
Hometown: Durham, N.C.
Alma Mater: Wake Forest, 2006
Degree: Bachelors, Sociology Family: wife, Tesa; son, Jace
Coaching Experience
2014-current - Penn State (offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers)
2012-13 - Vanderbilt (offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers)
2011 - Western Michigan (wide receivers)
2010 - North Carolina (Offensive graduate assistant)"
