Chad Nicholas, Junior WR/DB, Hazleton Area HS – The Hazleton Cougars had one of the most impressive playoff runs in the state last season, even if it ended as finishing with the title of District 2/4/11 runners-up. Nicholas was one of the contributors to that 11-2 effort, as he amassed 235 receiving yards to go along with 3 touchdowns. From his defensive back position, the 6’2, 180-pounder notched 26 tackles and intercepted a team-best 5 passes. Nicholas was part of a Hazleton defense which held 5 opponents to 7 points or less, including 3 shutouts.
Eric Shrive, Senior OL, West Scranton HS – All you need to know is that Shrive is the best offensive line prospect in the Commonwealth this 2008 season. Division-1 scouts will be flocking to the Scranton Area to see this 295-pounder in action as he opens up holes for a physical and rugged Invader offense which reached the PIAA “AAA” quarterfinals last season and finished 12-2. Shrive has heard from over 30 Division-1 programs, and looks to lead the Invaders to its third straight District 2 “AAA” championship. Shrive has verbally committed to Penn State.
Hank Neurouter, Senior RB, Delaware Valley HS – Neurouter returns as the Warriors’ leading rusher from the 2007 team which qualified for the “AAAA” playoffs in the 2/4/11 subregional. He ran for 767 yards last season, and should have an impact on the Warriors’ ground game for the upcoming season.
Michael Perry, Junior RB, Dunmore High School – Michael Perry had a stud sophomore season running behind an offensive line which averaged 273.6 pounds per man. Perry ran for 1,736 yards on 291 attempts and scored 18 touchdowns for the Bucks, who reached their 2nd PIAA state finals in school history and first since 1989. Perry has run for 2,902 career yards, and surpassed the 1,000 yard rushing plateau as a freshman. He’s not afraid of the big stage; he ran for 245 yards on 27 attempts against Loyalsock Township in the “AA” Eastern Finals, and then ran for 133 yards and 1 TD in the state finals against Jeannette. Perry’s 133-yard performance was just the 3rd 100-yard rusher the Jayhawks have allowed since the 2006 “AA” state championship game. He joined Wilson Area’s DJ Lenehan (now the QB at Toledo) and East Allegheny’s Monte Ashby as the only other ball carriers to accomplish the feat.
Miller Holmes, Junior QB, Dunmore HS – Holmes was a model of efficiency last season, especially in the first five games of the PIAA playoffs. The 2007 season saw the Buck field general complete 102-of-171 passes (59.6 percent) for 1,655 yards and 25 touchdowns. Through the first 5 games of the postseason, Holmes was a dazzling 32-of-51 for 618 yards and 11 touchdowns. He led a Dunmore offense to 497 points on the season, just 3 points shy of becoming the first Bucks team in history to score more than 500 points in a season.
Peter Andonizio, Senior QB, Wyoming Area HS – Andonizio led the Warriors to yet another District 2 playoff appearance last season, and he did so in an efficient manner, though not quite as efficient as Miller Holmes. The Wyoming Area field general completed 49-of-99 passes for 749 yards and 12 touchdowns to go against just 3 interceptions. He threw for 100 yards in 3 separate games, but 2008 will certainly be a test as to how well Andonizio can lead the Warrior offense, which loses its top 3 rushers from 2007, who combined to rush for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Rich Colorusso, Senior WR/KR, Hanover Area HS – If consistency is the name of the game, then Coloruso is one individual who can succeed. He’s posted nearly identical years in the receiving department for the Hawkeyes, hauling in 25 passes for 407 yards in 2006 and 28 passes for 511 yards in 2007. He’s only scored 5 touchdowns in the two seasons, but Hanover relies more on its ground game to score touchdowns. Colorusso is just 82 yards shy of hitting the 1,000-yard mark for receiving yards in his career. Colorusso also returned kicks for the Hawks in 2007, doing the honors 27 times for 376 yards, a 16.3 yard average per return.
Ryan Womack, Senior ATH, Wilkes-Barre GAR Memorial HS – Entering the 2007 season, Womack had only run for 89 career yards and hauled in 1 pass for 21 yards. He was more of a defensive presence for the Grenadiers, but showcased his offensive abilities, running for 1,236 yards, hauling in another 150 through the air, and returning kicks and punts for 372 additional yards. He totaled 1,758 all-purpose yards a season ago and scored 16 touchdowns, leading the GAR Memorial in that category. From his defensive back position, Womack registered 60 tackles, deflected 12 passes, and intercepted 6 more passes. He has the potential to be a Division-1 recruit.
Shawn Bodtman, Senior RB, West Scranton HS – Bodtman is the Invaders’ third major Division-1 recruit in the last 2 seasons, and its his hard-nosed running style, so typical for District 2 running backs, that earned him an offer from Nebraska. Bodtman verbally committed to the Cornhuskers after rushing for 1,452 yards last season, helping West Scranton to the PIAA “AAA” quarterfinals against Garnet Valley.
3 Responses
Josh,
I am a Wyoming Valley West student but i think that Ali Muhammad should of been in there.
Josh,
I think Shawn Bodtman was recruited as a linebacker to Nebraska. He had a good year at that position for West last year as well until he hurt his shoulder.
Great article. Nice to hear about the local talent.
Rich
Although i am not a Lake Lehman fan whatsoever, im surpsrised to not see their quarterback Nate Volkel on here.