PITTSBURGH — Sometimes a college football coach recruits a freshman class that fits his needs because it includes substantial depth, yet doesn't impress the recruiting analysts because it lacks marquee players.

This may be such a class for Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt.

The Panthers are coming off their first nine-win regular season since 1982, yet their recruiting class announced Wednesday includes no ESPN.com top 150 prospects and no five-star players by any major recruiting service.

Rivals.com ranks it the 47th best class nationally, below par for a Wannstedt class. Scout.com ranks it higher at No. 28, but still not a top 25 class.

"I think we filled our needs, from the standpoint of players graduating and building good depth," Wannstedt said.

Keeping with Wannstedt's philosophy of staying within a reasonable driving distance of Pittsburgh to recruit, the Panthers landed players from only six states, although two recruits are from talent-rich Florida.

Wannstedt made his usual big in-state push by landing half of his class from Pennsylvania, although Penn State, which only a couple of years ago began losing quality recruits to Pitt, has a higher-rated class.

Pitt signed five of the state's top 12 prospects, according to Rivals.com, and nine Associated Press Pennsylvania all-state picks, including three-time pick Todd Thomas of Beaver Falls.

Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver, hopes to team with former high school rival Jonathan Baldwin of Aliquippa in Pitt's lineup.