AJ Jones, Senior WR/DB, Haverford School – Jones, a 6’2 athlete, was a two-way player for the Fords, and he led the team in multiple categories. He caught 24 passes for 313 yards, both team bests. He added four receiving touchdowns to go along with 13.1 yards per reception. Defensively, Jones intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns. He led the Fords in interceptions.
Akmed Greene, Senior RB, Roxborough – Talk about making the most of your first year as a varsity running back – Greene wasted no time. In his first ever varsity football game, he broke the school record for rushing yardage. When the dust settles, Greene finished the season with 252 carries for 1,540 yards and eight touchdowns, as well as 19 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown. The 1,540 rush yards was one of the highest totals in the Public League last year. He averaged 128.3 yards per game, surpassing 100 yards in a game seven times.
Aaron Regan, Senior RB, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic – The 2008 season was a struggle for Kennedy-Kenrick, as the team posted a 3-6 record. Regan did his best to help the Wolverines along, chalking up 96 carries for 467 yards and two touchdowns. Regan’s best game came against Academy of the New Church – he posted 17 carries, 188 yards, and a touchdown. Had Regan kept that average going for a nine game season, he would have run for 1,692 yards.
Aaron Wilmer, Senior QB, George Washington – Wilmer began the season with an 8-of-10, 141-yard, three-touchdown performance against Bensalem, and he didn’t slow down. All told, the District 12 champion quarterback threw for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing 83-of-161 passes. He threw for 100 yards or more five times last season.
Andre Frazier, Junior QB, Bok Vo-Tech – Frazier didn’t begin the year as Bok’s starting quarterback. That title belonged to Al-Hajj Shabazz. But when Shabazz transferred to Bartram, that opened the door for the sophomore. Frazier completed 32-of-64 passes for 467 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He also carried the ball 38 times for 55 yards and five touchdowns. All told, he finished the year with over 530 yards of offense and 14 total touchdowns.
Antonio Murrell, Senior QB, Roxborough – Murrell had a solid junior season, by Public League standards. The league is known for being reliant more on the run than the pass, but the Roxborough field general was efficient. Murrell went 51-of-147 for 807 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 67.3 passing yards per game last year. Murrell’s best game came against William Penn – he went 10-of-16 for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Speller, Senior DB, Abraham Lincoln – Speller played a big role defensively last season, leading Lincoln in interceptions with five. He also returned one of the picks for a touchdown. Speller was part of a Lincoln defensive unit that held six opponents to eight points or less.
Brad Wilson, Junior WR, Delaware Valley Charter – Wilson finished the season as the leading receiver for Del Val, hauling in 14 passes for 323 yards and an impressive seven touchdowns. He averaged 23.1 yards per reception and caught a touchdown every second reception. Also, it is impressive to note that Del Val only completed 41 passes last season – Wilson accounted for 34.1 percent of the team’s receptions. He had three catches for 121 yards against Episcopal Academy.
Braheem Ford, Senior DB, Roxborough – Ford was a two-way player for Roxborough last year, doubling as a wide receiver and a defensive back. Offensively, Ford caught 11 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 23.1 yards per reception. Defensively, he led the team with five interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Bryant Moritz, Senior FB/LB, Archbishop Carroll – After a 10-3 season in 2007, Carroll limped to a 4-8 finish last year. Moritz, one of the factors in the Carroll Wing-T offense, finished second on the team in rushing. He had 140 carries for 546 yards and scored two touchdowns. His best game came against Cardinal Dougherty – 12 carries for 95 yards. Moritz averaged 3.9 yards per carry and just under 46 yards rushing per game.
Christopher Lewis, Junior QB, Imhotep Charter – Lewis played as part of a two-quarterback rotation last season for Imhotep. He put up the better numbers of the duo (the other QB was Leland Smith), throwing for 643 yards and seven touchdowns despite only completing 47 percent of his passes. He threw for 100 yards or more three times, only playing in six games. He finished the season with a 4-of-5, 169-yard, two touchdown performance against Edison.
Connor Hoffman, Senior WR, LaSalle College – Hoffman finished as LaSalle’s second-leading receiver last season, as he hauled in 37 passes for 515 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 13.9 yards per reception last year. Hoffman twice went over 100 receiving yards in a game – his best game came in the second week of the season against Malvern Prep – he had nine catches for 108 yards and two scores.
Corey Brown, Senior RB, Cardinal O’Hara – Brown began the 2008 season scorching hot – but a knee injury prevented him from doing further damage. He only played in five games, but his numbers were impressive – 68 rushes for 662 yards, 13 receptions for 154 yards, and 13 total touchdowns scored. Before his injury, Brown was on pace to accumulate 1,795 all-purpose yards and score 29 touchdowns. A major Division-1 prospect, Brown is the highest-rated PA recruit by Rivals.com, at #69.
Curtis Wortham, Senior RB, Father Judge – Despite getting off to a slow start in Judge’s first two games of the season, Wortham picked up the pace and finished very strong. He racked up 254 carries for 1,562 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wortham averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 120.2 rushing yards per game. He surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game eight times last season, including a school-record 294 yards in a playoff game against Cardinal O’Hara.
Dan Grimes, Senior C, Archbishop Wood – Grimes is the lone returning offensive lineman from the Vikings’ PIAA runner-up team from a year ago. He helped pave the way for three rushers that eclipsed 450 rushing yards and a 1,300-yard passer at quarterback. Wood’s offense topped 30 points nine times last season, scoring a school-record 483 points in the process. Wood’s offense averaged 335 yards per game.
Danny Gallagher, Junior QB, Chesnut Hill Academy – Gallagher didn’t have to throw much last season with a steady running back in Ibraheim Campbell behind him, but the sophomore field general was efficient. He completed 44 percent of his passed for 830 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 63 rushing yards on 47 keepers. Gallagher’s best game came against Lawrenceville, NJ. He finished the contest 7-of-9 for 160 yards and a touchdown. He also went 6-of-6 for 138 yards against Episcopal Academy.
Dante Dickens, Senior LB, West Catholic – Dickens put up solid numbers last season, and is one of the top returning defenders on the ’09 West Catholic team. He finished the season with 86 tackles (60 solo) to go along with two sacks, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown) and eight passes defended. Dickens was part of a West Catholic defense that allowed an average of 13.9 points per game.
David Martina, Senior WR, William Penn Charter – He returns to the Penn Charter offense after catching 20 passes for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. Martina averaged 13.5 yards per reception, and had two impressive games – a six-catch, 83-yard performance against McDevitt and a five-catch, 98-yard performance against Episcopal Academy.
David Williams, Senior LB, North Catholic – He led the Falcons in tackles with 76, adding a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. He averaged just under seven tackles per game.
Dennis Regan, Junior ATH, Roman Catholic – Regan was a multi-faceted athlete for a very young Cahillite team. He ran for 53 yards on 19 carries, caught 17 passes for 223 yards, and intercepted two passes. He scored two touchdowns – both were receiving. Expect his production to increase drastically in 2009 with the graduation of feature back Kasseim Everett.
Devonne Boler, Senior QB, Philadelphia Central – Boler and the ’08 Central team made history when it played in a playoff game with a winless record – the first team in state history to do that. #12, named a team captain as a junior, threw for 977 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 172 rushing yards and five additional touchdowns. Boler is also a presence defensively, having picked off six passes in the last two seasons. He’ll look to snap Central’s 16-game losing streak this coming season.
Drew Loughery, Senior QB, LaSalle College – Add Loughery to the long line of LaSalle quarterbacks that can chuck the ball around the yard. After seeing limited action as a sophomore, he exploded, completing 165-of-289 passes for 2,628 yards and 25 touchdowns. He threw a touchdown pass in 11 of LaSalle’s 12 games, surpassed 200 passing yards in a game six times, and twice surpassed 310 yards passing. A Division-1 prospect, Loughery has the potential to hit 5,000 career passing yards.
Drew Sigfried, Senior ATH, Bishop McDevitt – Sigfried did a little bit of everything for Bishop McDevitt, which is not to be confused with a school from Harrisburg that hails by the same name. He ran for 146 yards, added another 167 receiving yards, and intercepted three passes. He scored three total touchdowns and earned an All-Catholic League nomination.
Dylan Moody, Senior RB/DB, William Penn Charter – Moody was a multi-purpose athlete for Penn Charter as a junior. He played as a running back, wide receiver, and defensive back. Moody finished second on the team in rushing yardage, totaling 389 yards on 83 carries. He added four catches for 43 yards, and intercepted a pass on defense. Moody averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 10.75 yards per reception.
Eric Petransky, Senior RB, Monsignor Bonner – Petransky finished 2008 as the team leader in rushing yardage. He finished the season with 177 carries for 809 yards and five touchdowns. Petransky surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game four times last season, including a 170-yard effort against Episcopal Academy and a 129-yard outburst against Archbishop Ryan.
Eugene Byrd, Senior RB, North Catholic – Byrd was a part of a North Catholic offense that won six of its first seven games and averaged 18.5 points per game. He finished the season with 252 carries for 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns. Byrd surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game five times, including a season-high 177 yards and three scores against Pennridge.
Garrett Compton, Senior RB, St. Joseph’s Prep – This Hawk finished second on the team in rushing yardage last season, trailing only outgoing senior Mike Yeager. Compton ran for 830 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 carries. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and had four games in which he surpassed 100 yards rushing.
Ibraheim Campbell, Senior RB/DB, Chesnut Hill Academy – Playing offense or defense, Campbell was a standout. He ran for 1,772 yards and 22 touchdowns, and added two interceptions on defense. A Division-1 prospect, Campbell projects as a defensive back at the next level. Only three of Chesnut Hill’s 11 opponents held Campbell below 100 yards rushing in a game.
Jake Zuzek, Senior C, West Catholic – Zuzek is one of the largest returning centers in the state. His 6’2, 290-pound frame will be needed to help solidify the Burrs’ line in the coming season. Zuzek helped pave the way for three 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,300-yard passing quarterback last year during the Burrs’ record-setting 775-point, PIAA runner-up outburst. West racked up nearly 7,300 yards of offense, averaging over 456 yards and 49 points per game.
Jamal Abdur-Rahman, Junior ATH, LaSalle College – Abdur-Rahman arguably had one of the best sophomore seasons in all of the Catholic League last season. He was a dual-threat running back, racking up both the rushing and receiving yards. Abdur-Rahman ran for 1,009 yards on 148 carries and hauled in 25 passes for 449 yards. In all, he scored 23 total touchdowns. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry and nearly 18 yards per reception.
James Fowler, Senior TE, George Washington – He didn’t top 65 receiving yards in any game last year, but Fowler still put up solid numbers , hauling in 25 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 13 yards per catch. Defensively, he intercepted a pass and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Jaron Turner, Junior WR, Olney – Turner had a successful sophomore season for Olney, even though he only got 15 touches on offense – four carries and 11 receptions. But he did a lot with a little – totaling 427 all-purpose yards (362 receiving) and scoring nine touchdowns (one rushing, six receiving, and two kickoff returns). He averaged nearly 33 yards per reception and 16.3 yards per carry.
Jeremiah Mitchell, Senior TE, Delaware Valley Charter – Mitchell didn’t catch many passes, but when he did, he made a significant impact. His 10 receptions for 231 yards and four touchdowns, an average of 23.1 yards per catch – was second on the team in all three categories. His best game came in the season opener against King – he had two catches for 92 yards.
Jim Lynch, Junior TE, West Catholic – The passing game wasn’t a big factor last season for West Catholic – the Burrs steamrolled for over 5,900 rushing yards. Lynch only caught four passes for 52 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. He’s a 6’3, 205-pound target that averaged 18 yards per reception last year.
Joe Clayborne, Junior TE, George Washington – Clayborne had an interesting 2008 season. It began with a four-catch, 115-yard performance for University City, and then he spent the rest of the season playing for Washington. Between the two schools, Clayborne caught 16 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 26 yards per reception.
Joe McCausland, Senior QB, Abraham Lincoln – McCausland had an efficient junior season for Lincoln, completing 63-of-138 passes for 824 yards and nine touchdowns. By far, his best game of the season came against West Philadelphia. In that game, McCausland went 12-of-15 for 173 yards and two scores. He also had a game against William Penn in which he went 4-of-5 for 99 yards and three scores.
John Counts, Junior RB, Fels – Counts didn’t play in the first two games of the year for Fels, but he did play in the final nine games of the year. He finished as the team’s leading rusher, toting the rock 124 times for 619 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged nearly five yards per carry and 69 rushing yards per game. His best game came against Edison – 23 carries, 200 yards, and two touchdowns.
John Loughery, Junior QB, William Penn Charter – Loughery put up quality numbers in his sophomore season. In fact, most of his passing yardage came in a five-week stretch. He completed 88-of-189 passes for 999 yards and six touchdowns. In a five-week stretch that began with Valley Forge and ended with Malvern Prep, Loughery completed 58 passes for 754 yards and all six of his touchdowns. Loughery replaced senior John Ryan in Week 3 as a full-time starting quarterback. Ryan finished with 181 yards passing in just two games.
John Ruppert, Senior DT, West Catholic – Ruppert had a successful junior season on the defensive side of the ball for West Catholic last year, posting 51 tackles (18 for loss) along with 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He finished with the second-highest sack total on the team and averaged just over three tackles and one tackle for loss per game.
Jon McAllister, Junior TE, Chesnut Hill Academy – This 6’0, 190-pounder had a terrific sophomore season in a predominately running-oriented offense. He never topped three receptions in any game, but McAllister hauled in 21 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns. He had three catches for 98 yards against Haverford School, and three catches for 84 yards against Episcopal Academy. He averaged 21 yards per reception.
Joseph Montouth, Senior RB, Martin Luther King – Montouth, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2007, struggled in 2008, just as King struggled to a 2-10 finish. He ran for 448 yards and scored four touchdowns. Montouth surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game twice last year.
Joshua Bangura, Senior TE/LB, Dobbins-Randolph Vo-Tech – Bangura made a limited impact offensively last season. Dobbins Tech didn’t throw the ball much – just 52 total times the entire season, and only 21 completions. Bangura hauled in five passes for 71 yards, but made a bigger impact defensively, where he intercepted a team-best five passes, returning one for a touchdown.
Julian Huggins, Senior WR, North Catholic – Huggins is the top returning receiver in the Falcon aerial attack, but he won’t have the luxury of catching passes from outgoing quarterback Dennis Logue next season. Huggins caught 16 passes for 299 yards last year, averaging 18.7 yards per reception. He did not score a touchdown. Huggins’ best game of the season came against Penn Charter – he caught three passes for 69 yards in the Falcons’ 28-14 victory over Pennridge.
Karon James, Senior WB, Dobbins-Randolph Vo-Tech – James was one of four running backs to surpass 300 yards rushing for the Mustangs, which finished 8-4 and played for the Philadelphia City “AAA” championship against Archbishop Wood. James racked up 125 carries for 770 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and topped the 100-yard rushing mark in three games.
Keenan Clark, Senior RB, Overbrook – Clark was both a running and pass-catching threat for Overbrook last season. He led the team in rushing yardage, tallying 585 yards on 77 carries. Clark also caught 6 passes for 186 yards. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry and 31 yards per reception. Clark scored eight touchdowns – seven were rushing. He didn’t surpass 100 yards rushing in any game last year, as he was part of an Overbrook offense that featured three running backs that each topped 400 rushing yards.
Kendrick Lewis, Senior WR, Imhotep Charter – Lewis had a successful junior season as a receiver despite playing in a two-quarterback rotation. In an offense that saw 11 different receivers catch passes last year, Lewis was the #2 target, hauling in 13 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 25.7 yards per reception. He was also a factor on defense and special teams, intercepting two passes and returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
Kessan Christopher, Senior RB, George Washington – Christopher finished the season as Washington’s second-leading rusher. He toted the rock 89 times for 453 yards and five touchdowns. He was also a receiving threat – hauling in 12 passes for 56 yards and three additional touchdowns.
Kevin Regan, Senior QB, Roman Catholic – The junior field general had a successful first season under center for the purple and gold. He completed 54-of-148 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. His best game of the season came in a 48-0 shutout of Roxborough. He completed 7-of-10 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Regan also intercepted a pair of passes on defense.
Lamont Jackson, Junior RB, Germantown Academy – Jackson led the team in rushing yardage last season, finishing with 654 rushing yards on 172 carries. He scored six rushing touchdowns and added another receiving. He surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game twice – including a season-best 145 yards on 17 carries against Malvern Prep.
Leland Smith, Senior QB, Imhotep Charter – Smith was the second half of Imhotep’s two-quarterback rotation last season. In fact, he began the season as the starter, and got off to a fast start, completing nine passes for over 200 yards and two scores. But after Week 2, Smith didn’t throw a touchdown pass. He finished the season with 507 passing yards and the pair of touchdowns. He had 198 total yards of offense against Furness (150 passing), arguably his best game of the year.
Malik Stokes, Senior QB, Philadelphia Northeast – He might be one of the highest-profile pro-style quarterbacks that has come out of the Public League in some time. Stokes surpassed 1,000 yards passing for the second straight year, throwing for a league-best 1,379 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s a Division-1 prospect who has thrown for 2,635 career yards. No Public League quarterback has ever thrown for 4,000 or more yards in his career.
Mark Tiberi, Senior K, Malvern Prep – Tiberi, a 6’3, 200-pounder, was part of one of the Friars’ best teams ever, one which went 10-0 and scored an average of 42.4 points per game. He connected on 42 extra points, accounting for one tenth of Malvern’s scoring.
Markeese Walker, Junior RB, Delaware Valley Charter – He was Del Val’s feature tailback as a sophomore, and he put up respectable numbers in the role. 153 carries for 800 yards and eight touchdowns later, Walker returns for his junior season after averaging 5.2 yards per carry and 66.7 rushing yards per game. He surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game three times last year.
Marquise White, Senior RB, Benjamin Franklin – White only played in eight of the Electrons’ 12 games last season, and when he was on the field, he was (pardon the pun) white hot. He ran for a team-best 773 yards, topping 100 yards in a game three times and 150 yards twice. He averaged 96.6 rushing yards per game, and was on pace for 1,159 yards if he had played a full season. He scored 11 total touchdowns – seven rushing, one receiving, and three on defensive fumble returns, scoring a team-best 78 points.
Matt Conroy, Junior RB, Bishop McDevitt – Conroy had one of the better seasons for McDevitt, statistically speaking. He ran for 394 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 72 receiving yards on five catches. He ran for 135 yards in McDevitt’s season-opener against Lower Moreland, and 108 yards against Kennedy-Kenrick.
Matt Massello, Junior DL, Archbishop Wood – Massello is listed on Rivals.com as a player to watch for the Class of 2011. He was a part of an Archbishop Wood defense that held 11 of 15 opponents to seven points or less.
Michael Adens, Senior QB, University City – Adens had a very successful season, statistically speaking, finishing second in all of the Public League in passing yardage. He trailed Malik Stokes, a D-1 prospect, by a solid 40 yards. Adens completed 85-of-228 passes for 1,338 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw for 100 yards or more seven times, and twice surpassed 200 yards passing. Adens averaged 121.6 passing yards per game in ’08.
Michael Brown, Senior RB, William Penn Charter – Brown finished the season as Penn Charter’s leading rusher – he totaled 137 carries for 593 yards and scored five touchdowns. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and intercepted three passes on defense. Brown only surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game once – it came in the form of a 168-yard effort against McDevitt.
Mick Foley, Senior WR, William Penn Charter – In terms of receiving yardage, Foley was #1. He led the team with 373 receiving yards on just 18 catches, an average of 20.7 yards per reception. He scored two touchdowns. Foley’s best statistical game came against Valley Forge – he caught three passes for 81 yards.
Mike Bennett, Senior PK, LaSalle College – Bennett is one of the top returning kickers in the Catholic League. He converted 48 extra points and kicked eight field goals last season. He scored 72 of LaSalle’s 376 points, or 19.1 percent, of the Explorers’ season output.
Montrell Stewart, Junior QB, Simon Gratz – Stewart did not play in the first game of the season, but he came on the scene and threw for 800 yards and eight touchdowns. He surpassed 100 yards passing in three games, throwing for a season-high 164 yards against Mastbaum.
Nate Smith, Sophomore CB, George Washington – Smith made an impact for Washington last season, as a freshman. Remember, 2008 was the year of the “youth movement” – many freshmen made significant impacts. Smith caught six passes for 94 yards, averaging 15.7 yards per reception. Defensively, he tied for the team lead in interceptions with four, returning one for a touchdown.
Neil Warren, Senior RB, Delaware Valley Charter – Warren only played in the first nine of Del Val’s 12 games last year, but he was off to a torrid start. He had 96 carries for 630 yards and five touchdowns, along with six two-point conversion runs. He had four games in which he ran for more than 100 yards – they came in a five week span. Warren averaged 6.6 yards per carry, and 70 yards rushing per game.
Omar Black, Senior ATH, Abraham Lincoln – Black was a very active part of Lincoln’s 7-5 season last year. He ran for 145 yards, added 297 receiving yards, intercepted three passes, and scored nine touchdowns a total of four different ways (rushing, receiving, kickoff return, INT return). Black averaged just over 3 yards per carry and 16.5 yards per reception. He’s one of the top returning multi-purpose athletes in the Public League this coming season.
Pat Kwiatkowski, Senior WR, Archbishop Ryan – It was a tough season for Ryan – one that ended with a zero in the wins column. Kwiatkowski, though, put up some nice numbers in ’08. He caught 16 passes for a team-best 342 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 21.4 yards per reception, and had a three-catch, 65-yard performance against Conwell-Egan.
Quran Kent, Junior WR, West Catholic – Kent finished as the Burrs’ second-leading receiver last season, hauling in 11 passes for 240 yards. He didn’t score a touchdown as a receiver, but did return a punt for six points. Kent averaged 21.8 yards per reception, and had two games in which he posted a single catch that went for 50+ yards.
Ramadan Abdullah, Senior QB, Germantown – It’s not every day that a Public League quarterback throws for over 1,000 yards in a season. Abdullah did just that in 2008. He completed 70-of-153 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns. He surpassed 100 yards passing five times last season, including the final two games of the year, in which he threw for 296 yards and a trio of scores. Abdullah was the catalyst for a Germantown passing attack that featured four receivers the each had at least 10 catches.
Rashan Walker, Senior WR/DB, Delaware Valley Charter – A two-way player for Del Val, Walker didn’t get many touches on the offensive side of the ball, but he was a lethal weapon. He only caught five passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, but those numbers came in just three games. Had he kept that average going for 12 games, Walker would have caught 20 passes for 848 yards and eight scores. Walker, who averaged 42.4 yards per reception, also intercepted three passes on defense, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Ray Manuel, Senior DB, West Catholic – Manuel is one of the top returning defensive backs among the Catholic League small schools after posting 50 tackles and picking off four passes. He finished in a tie for second in interceptions, and added four tackles for loss.
Rolando Ransom, Sophomore RB, Communications Tech – The Phoenix brought the Public League a little recognition when they stunned two District 1 “A” teams in Bristol and Jenkintown. Ransom completed his freshman season with some pretty nice numbers – 135 carries for 637 yards and seven touchdowns. He only broke 100 yards rushing in a game once, but it was a memorable one. His 173 yards against Prep Charter were part of a 479-yard effort on the ground in a convincing 34-14 victory.
Ryan Bond, Senior WR/DB, Conwell-Egan Catholic – His name is Bond. Ryan Bond. Don’t forget about “Double-O 34.” Enough super-sleuth references, but Bond did make his share of plays last season. He led C-E in receiving yards, with 552 on 22 catches and six touchdowns. Bond averaged 25.1 yards per reception, and had three games with four catches. He also tied for the team lead in interceptions, with four, returning one for a touchdown.
Ryan Shea, Junior RB/CB, Archbishop Carroll – Shea finished a successful sophomore campaign for Carroll despite the Patriots having one of their worst seasons in recent memory. Shea toted the rock 88 times for 458 yards, and led Carroll in rushing touchdowns with seven. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and a touchdown every 12th attempt. His best game came against Cardinal Dougherty – he had eight carries for 103 yards and two scores. He also had a 10-carry, 92-yard, one-score game versus North Catholic.
Sam Feleccia, Senior WR, LaSalle College – Feleccia was the go-to guy in LaSalle’s spread-out passing attack. The Division-1 prospect hauled in 51 passes for 971 yards and scored eight touchdowns. The 6’3, 210-pounder had four games with six or more receptions, and twice went over 100 yards receiving. His best game was a seven-catch, 110-yard, one touchdown day against West Catholic in a narrow 27-26 victory.
Scott Adkins, Senior DB, Archbishop Wood – Adkins is a relative of St. Joe’s Prep behemoth Mark Arcidiacono, and while there’s quite a differential in size, both are proven, athletic players. Adkins led the Viking defense with a team-best eight interceptions, and week in and week out, he shut down notable receiver after notable receiver. He keyed a defensive effort in the Eastern Finals that held a potent Selinsgrove passing attack (over 2,100 yards entering the game) to just 61 yards. Adkins, at 5’8, only allowed one successful fade pattern all season long – to Thomas Jefferson’s 6’5 tight end Brock DeCicco.
Seth Betancourt, Senior OL, St. Joseph’s Prep – Betancourt is one of the top Catholic League offensive linemen, and is being sought by numerous Division-1 colleges. He helped pave the way for two 800-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard passing quarterback. Betancourt was part of an offensive line that blocked for an offense that averaged 361 yards and 28 points per game.
Shaquille Gaskins, Senior ATH, Southern – Gaskins might be the best returning athlete on the entire Southern team. He was like a Visa card – everywhere. Gaskins ran for 272 yards, threw for 307 yards, added five catches for 109 yards, and led the team in interceptions, with four. He ran for five touchdowns, threw for three more, and added one receiving. He finished second on the team in scoring, with 40 points. Gaskins’ best game came against Mastbaum – he ran for 133 yards and threw for 118 more.
Sharif Smith, Sophomore RB, Furness – Smith wears #1, and he’s got the potential to be one of the better career running backs in the Public League, if he keeps the pace of his freshman year going. He led the team in rushing yardage – 930 yards and six touchdowns on 195 carries, to be exact. Smith averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game four times. He had a 24-carry, 240-yard, four touchdown performance against Prep Charter, a 40-0 Furness victory.
Sharrif Floyd, Senior DT, George Washington – Floyd is one hulking defensive lineman. He checks in at 297 pounds, and will arguably be one of the top defensive linemen in the state in ’09. He’s ranked among the Top-100 Division-1 recruits in the Class of 2010 by Rivals.com, in the high 80s, to be exact. Floyd is the owner of numerous Division-1 offers, and, purely speculating, might be one of the selections for the 2010 Big-33 Football Classic.
Skyler Mornhinweg, Sophomore DB, St. Joseph’s Prep – Remember the aforementioned “youth movement?” Mornhinweg was a part of it. He led the Hawks with four interceptions on defense. As a freshman, Mornhinweg checked in at an impressive 6’2, 176 pounds. A potential D-1 prospect in a few years? Probably.
Stephan Singleton, Senior DB, North Catholic – Singleton will be the best-returning defensive back for North Catholic after he recorded 16 tackles and intercepted a team-best four passes.
Steve Jones, Senior TE, LaSalle College – In terms of size, Jones has plenty of it. In terms of numbers, he’s the fourth-leading receiver returning to the Explorers’ fold in 2009. Seldom used in the passing game, Jones hauled in 11 passes for 212 yards. He averaged 19.3 yards per catch, but did not score a touchdown. The big reason he makes this list is for his size – 6’4, 210 pounds. Maybe, with that size, Jones will see an increase in passes thrown his way in the upcoming season.
Tariq “Pop Tart” Gordon, Senior RB, University City – Pop Tarts are good for breakfast. Random, yes, but this “Pop Tart” was pretty good on the football field. Gordon finished the season with 154 carries for 1,122 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 19 catches for 233 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. He only played in nine of UC’s 12 games last year, averaging nearly 125 yards rushing per game.
Taron Mills, Senior LB, Frankford – Mills will be one of the top returning defensive players returning to the Pioneers’ defense in 2009. He was an all-Public League “AAAA” selection on defense last year. The Pioneers defense finished 9-3, allowed a total of 59 points in 12 games, and held 11 of their 12 opponents to seven points or less, with four shutouts.
Terrell Lee, Senior QB, Edison – Edison only won one game last season, a narrow 26-22 decision against Fels. Lee put up some respectable numbers last season as part of a two-quarterback rotation, completing 60-of-134 passes for 830 yards and eight touchdowns. Lee’s best game of the season came against Simon Gratz – he finished the game 12-of-25 for 249 yards and three scores.
Tim Carroll, Senior K, West Catholic – Carroll is easily one of the top two returning kickers in the Philadelphia area for the 2009 season. He converted on 89 extra points last season, which shattered the Philadelphia record set eight years previous by Archbishop Carroll. Tim Carroll did not attempt a field goal last season, but he very well could have – twice in fact – in the state title game. Either attempt, if successful, would have more than likely brought the PCL its first PIAA football championship.
Tony Smith, Junior QB, Father Judge – Smith put up very efficient numbers in his sophomore season – completing 105-of-205 passes for 1,583 yards and 13 touchdowns. He helped lead Judge to seven wins out of the team’s final eight games, finishing the season 9-4. He surpassed 100 yards passing in nine games. Smith went 15-of-19 for 158 yards against Upper Merion, and finished the year with a 7-of-10, 161-yard, three touchdown performance against Abraham Lincoln.
