For your consideration, the nation’s top WR Class of 2016

An interview with Oaks Christian’s Michael Pittman

 

Certain positions in high school football are easily filled with productive players. Across the nation most high school teams stick their top athletes at running back, linebacker, defensive end, safety, and/or wide receiver making competition to be among the best of the best fierce year after year at those key positions. Few of those players could play each position and excel at an all-state level if called upon.

As always, there is an exception to every situation and this exception is Michael Pittman.

Pittman is a star wide receiver for Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California, right off the 101 Freeway outside of Los Angeles. The Southern California talent is spread around the field to optimize his 6-foot 4-inch, 205 pound, frame that allows him to be a playmaker also at strong safety and from time to time at outside linebacker.

Being big is not always enough, being fast, like Pittman who runs a 4.4 forty-yard dash, also is not enough. Wanting to be the best also is not enough, but for Pittman the physical abilities coupled with determination has him arguably being the best if not one of the best wide receivers in the Class of 2016.

Pittman sat down for an interview to discuss his commitment to UCLA, his junior season, and how he is preparing for a highly anticipated senior campaign.

 

Michael, I always start off with the tough stuff first. Last season Oaks Christian finished 5-5, a down year by the program’s high standards. What happened?

“It was a disappointment; we had the worst record in Oaks history. We were a pretty close team though, in the past we were not as close of a team. I think we’ll be a lot better next year.”

How does the team look heading into next season?

“Our offense will be great next year. We have a lot of returning offensive lineman. This year our defense was our strength, we had a lot of seniors on defense.”

What are your strengths on the field at wide receiver?

“Going up and getting the ball and my yards after the catch.”

What about on defense at strong safety?

“At safety I think I have good recovery speed and I like to deliver big hits. I’m good against the run and I like to blast people.”

What are your goals for the 2014 football season?

“Two goals, win CIF and State.”

Any personal goals?

“I want to break the school record for yards and touchdowns, and I want to win CIF and State. I want to catch every ball that is thrown in my area on offense.”

What’s the school record for touchdowns?

“I think its somewhere between 21 and 24 touchdowns but I’m shooting for 26.”

Will you continue to play wide receiver and safety next year or are there bigger challenges ahead for you in 2015?

“The coaches want me to play some outside linebacker next year.”

Are you excited about the position change?

“I am excited about coming down closer to the line. I’m not afraid to hit linemen and running backs. I played linebacker in Pop Warner and then I was at defensive end before they moved me to safety.

I should also get more chances at punt return next year.”

Looking back, how do you judge your performance in 2014?

“I did alright but it wasn’t enough to get my team where they needed to go. I’m happy with my play but disappointed at the same time. I could have done more and regret not being able to do more.”

You committed to UCLA on Oct. 4 (2014), what impressed you enough to verbally commit to the Bruins?

“I’ve always liked UCLA. I’m impressed with what coach Jim Mora has done with the program. My dad likes them, the school is close to home, and everyone can come to the games which is important to me. UCLA is one of the top schools in the country. Everything about the school is good.”

What other programs do you have offers from?

“I have offers from USC, UDUB (Washington), Cal (Golden Bears), and Notre Dame.”

Do you plan on taking all of your official visits?

“Yes but I don’t know where I am going yet. I might use one on USC, one to UCLA, one maybe to Notre dame – I’ll have to wait for all my final offers my senior year before I figure it all out.”

Would you say you are a hard or soft commitment to UCLA?

“Right now I am a soft verbal.

What would steer you away from UCLA?

“It all depends on how comfortable I feel with the coaching staff and the school.”

Are there other schools out there that interest you?

“I like Texas A&M, Oregon, and LSU.”

When you talk to the different college coaches what aspects of your game do they mention?

“The coaches tell me they like my size, but they don’t go in depth too much.”

What positions are you being recruited to play?

“UDUB wants me as a defensive guy; they want to make me into a linebacker.”

How do you feel about playing linebacker in college?

“I feel like it’s not my strongest point on the field, but I’d do it if that was my only option. I’d put on some weight and get ready for the season.”

Are you going to any college camps this summer?

“I might go to the Oregon camp and the Arizona State camp. I might go to some Nike camps – I might go to the Open.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for the camp circuit and your senior season?

“I have a job, I work at Target. So I lift and do my speed-work around school and work. My focus is to lift and stay strong and speedy. Last offseason I gained 35 pounds. I got after it pretty good. Last offseason showed me hard work pays off.”

What is your target weight for your senior season?

“I’d like to be somewhere between 215-220 pounds.”

What NFL players do you like watching play the game?

“I like watching Tyrann Mathieu (a.k.a The Honey Badger) and Patrick Petersen (both with the Arizona Cardinals). I love the way they play. They love to destroy people out there.”

That explains your interest in LSU.

(Laughing) “Yes.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I like to go out and put on a show for people. I like to make my team, my family, and our fans proud. I just want everybody to enjoy watching what I am doing out on the field.”

 

Despite not playing basketball for his high school team, Pittman plays wide receiver like a small forward down on the blocks. He naturally shields the defender off the ball putting nothing in between him and moving the chains. He also goes up for the ball at its highest point like a forward pulling down a rebound out jumping defenders along the sidelines or in the corner of the end zone.

In the open field he splits defenders like a premiere ball-handling forward on a fast break with a shot at getting a monster dunk but in this case picking up six.

The one difference to his football-basketball game is he runs in traffic like a short-yardage back fighting for every yard. Maybe the best basketball analogy is watching a big No. 4 scramble for a loose ball then power his way for a dunk in the lane over the opposition. Either way Pittman is getting the job accomplished.

Pittman used his size, speed, and abilities to pull down 47 passes for 914 yards with 12 touchdowns while averaging 91.4 yards per game as a junior. He added two kick returns for touchdowns showing his shiftiness and breakaway speed in the open field.

Pittman’s future seems to be on the offensive side of the ball catching passes and making big plays happen. Or a school could put him on defense turning him into an all-conference linebacker. Not knowing just how big he may become, his future could be at wide receiver or tight end, linebacker or safety. Again, either way, wherever Pittman is on the field, rest assured, the job will get accomplished.