PITTSBURGH - New coach Dave Wannstedt apparently wasn't kidding when he promised to refocus Pitt's recruiting on its traditional strength, its Western Pennsylvania backyard.

With recruiting effectively over except for the traditional flurry of last-minute activity on national letter of intent day today, Pitt expects to increase its Pittsburgh-area high school football signings from six a year ago to 10.

The Pittsburgh area no longer turns out the quantity or, for the most part, the quality of players it did in the days of Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath or Bill Fralic. But Pitt missed out on so many good local players during coach Walt Harris' eight-year stay that Wannstedt has spent considerable time in local high schools since his Christmas-week hiring.

Wannstedt even visited some schools that lack top recruits this year, if only to prove Pitt's recommitment to the area.

"In the NFL, you're recruiting 12 months a year - talking to free agents, selling yourself and your program," said Wannstedt, the former Dolphins and Bears coach. "I know the importance of recruiting. One of my strengths will be communicating with the high school coaches. The coaches around here are outstanding, and they want to feel like they're a part of this."

Wannstedt's desire to rebuild Pitt's local recruiting base paid off last weekend with commitments from Seton-La Salle all-state quarterback Bill Stull and Monessen fullback-linebacker Ernest "Mick" Williams.

The Panthers' basketball win Saturday night over then-No. 4 Syracuse didn't hurt, either. Both players liked the intensity and atmosphere at the game, and each committed almost immediately afterward.

Stull initially committed to Kentucky, but changed his mind after the assistant recruiting him there, Paul Dunn, joined Wannstedt's staff. Stull did something that even former Western Pennsylvania star quarterbacks Namath, Marino, Jim Kelly, Johnny Unitas and Marc Bulger didn't do: throw for 3,000 yards in a high school season.

Stull is considered the nation's 11th best pro-style quarterback by the Rivals.com recruiting service, but wasn't recruited by Harris.

Williams, an all-stater who also considered West Virginia and Iowa, is regarded as the No. 8 fullback nationally by Rivals.com, but was recruited by Pitt as a linebacker. He is listed at 245 pounds but may weigh closer to 270, though he said he plans to drop weight.

Since being hired five weeks ago, Wannstedt has landed four other local recruits: West Allegheny defensive lineman C.J. Davis, Duquesne running back Shane Brooks, and quarterback-defensive back Shane Murray and all-state tight end John Pelusi from Pennsylvania Class AAAA champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic - Marino's alma mater.

Pelusi is the son of John Pelusi, who played on Pitt's 1976 national championship team. Pelusi also considered Stanford, where Harris now coaches; Boston College; Northwestern; and Connecticut.

Not all of Wannstedt's recruiting efforts were focused on Pittsburgh. He also went back to Miami to get commitments from No. 3-rated fullback Conredge Collins of Monsignor Pace High, tight end-defensive lineman Gus Matakas of Chaminade-Madonna High and lineman Tommy Duhart of Glades Central High. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Collins is the son of former Patriots running back Tony Collins and also had offers from Miami, Florida State and Ohio State.

Before Wannstedt arrived, Pitt missed out on the Pittsburgh area's most-recruited player, Gateway's Jason King - a Penn State signee considered the nation's top cornerback recruit.

With all commitments nonbinding until signing day today, Pitt also has commitments from:

Offensive lineman John Bachman, Moon High, Coraopolis; running back Irvan Brown, Central Square, N.Y.; wide receiver Tommie Campbell, Aliquippa; defensive lineman Rashad Duncan, Belle Glade, Fla.; linebacker Doug Fulmer, Syracuse, N.Y.; offensive lineman Kevin Hughes, Allendale, N.J.; defensive tackle Derrell Jones, Waldorf, Md.; defensive end Gus Mustakas, Hollywood, Fla.; wide receiver Shawn Simmons, New Brunswick, N.J.; running back LaRod Stephens, Johnstown; defensive tackle Marlon Terry, Akron; wide receiver Oderick Turner, Teaneck, N.J.; and defensive back Bryan Williams, Akron.