Keystone Recruiting
By Chris Dokish
1. Ben Koyack, Oil City HS (Oil City) TE- 6-5, 230
NOTRE DAME
It’s not often that a tight end is the best player in the state, but there is little doubt that will be the case this year. Has good size with a frame to get even bigger. Possesses great hands to go along with good speed and athleticism. More of a threat as a receiver but is a willing and capable blocker. Most of all, he just knows how to play football. Committed to the Fighting Irish over Penn State, Pitt, Ohio State, Oklahoma, West Virginia, LSU,California, Virginia Tech, USC and many others.
2. Jameel Poteat, Bishop McDevitt HS (Harrisburg) RB- 5-10, 195
Not big but possesses a solid body, toughness inside and good blocking ability. Also has great feet, good quickness and speed, and excellent hands. Has over 40 offers and considers Pitt (where cousin Hank Poteat played), Rutgers, Notre Dame and Cincinnati to be four of his final favorites. The others include West Virginia,Wisconsin, USC, Washington, Tennessee, Boston College and Florida.
3. Dondi Kirby, Gateway HS (Monroeville) CB – 6-2, 190
Size and height are in the elite category for the position. Athleticism and quickness are excellent and could be enough to stay at corner, but if not, he projects as an excellent safety or even wide receiver. Offer list includes Pitt, WVU, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa.
4. Terrell Chestnut, Pottsgrove HS (Pottstown) CB – 5-10 ½, 185
Solidly built and tough. Plays QB for Pottsgrove so he is inexperienced as a corner, but has the elite athleticism, speed and football skills to make the transition. Has the tools to be a dangerous punt returner. Offers include Pitt, Penn State, WVU, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, LSU, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina andRutgers.
5. Kyshoen Jarrett, East Stroudsburg HS (East Stroudsburg) CB – 5-11,180
Solidly built cover corner with excellent speed and athleticism. Comes up strong against the run. True corner who knows how to play the position. Offers include Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Stanford and Virginia.
6. Mike Caputo, West Allegheny HS (Imperial) S/LB – 6-1, 200
Became a WPIAL legend when he went toe-to-toe with rival Rushel Shell, the junior running back phenom fromHopewell. Ended his junior season with over 2,600 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns. Future is on defense, and although he has the speed and athleticism to play safety, he could also add some weight and play linebacker. Has narrowed his college choices to Pitt, Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
7. Deion Barnes, Northeast HS (Philadelphia) DE – 6-4, 220
Another case of a Philly kid who is under-recruited. Needs to get bigger, but his arms are extremely long, his quickness on the pass rush is top-notch, and he is already strong for how lean he is. Tough against the run and closes just as fast on a running back as he does on a quarterback. Offers include Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville, Georgia and South Carolina.
8. Ejuan Price, Woodland Hills HS (Pittsburgh) LB – 6-0,220
One of the more undervalued and under-publicized prospects in the state this season, perhaps because of his lack of great size. He more than makes up for that, however, with elite level quickness and aggressiveness. Against both the run and the pass, he fires across the line of scrimmage like a rocket. Currently holds offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Pitt, West Virginia and Syracuse.
9. Brandon Jackson, McKeesport Area HS (McKeesport) DE – 6-4, 220
Rangy with great quickness and needs to add a lot of muscle to play on the line. Plays middle linebacker for the Tigers but projects to be a big time speed rusher at the next level. Offers include Michigan, Michigan State,Iowa, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Rutgers, Louisville, Virginia, North Carolina and N.C. State, among others.
10. Delvon Simmons, McKeesport Area HS (McKeesport) DT – 6-5, 265
Raw, but has the natural size, speed and athleticism to be turned into a potential college star some day. Offers include Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, West Virginia, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, North Carolina and Maryland, among others.
11. Desimon Green, Clairton HS (Clairton) DE – 6-4, 210
A man among boys in single-A, Green has used his great length and speed over his sophomore and junior seasons to accumulate an amazing 50 sacks. Also an effective quarterback—and has some offers for that position—but his destiny is on the defensive line. Pitt may be the favorite, but Texas Tech is a sleeper. Both have offered as have West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Syracuse, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue and half of the MAC.
12. Quinton Jefferson, Woodland Hills HS (Pittsburgh) DE – 6-3,225
Ranked third among three excellent WPIAL defensive end prospects this year, but is right there with the other two. He has similar size and the same explosiveness off the edge, with the potential to be as good any of them. Currently wide open and is holding offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Boston College, Maryland,Wisconsin and Iowa.
13. Ben Kline, Dallastown Area HS (Dallastown) LB – 6-2, 220
PITT
Solid, blue collar middle linebacker with decent size, good strength, and top-notch toughness and intangibles. Has the potential to become a very good run stopper in the middle of the defense. Not elite at any aspect of his game, but above average in at everything. Chose the Panthers over offers from West Virginia, Rutgers, UConn,Michigan, Illinois, Boston College, Maryland, Duke and Vanderbilt.
14. Kevin Reihner, Scranton Prep (Scranton) OG- 6-3, 275
STANFORD
A tough brawler who needs to add size, but he is an extremely brutal and aggressive run blocker that goes all out until the whistle blows. Father was an offensive lineman for Penn State and the Houston Oilers. Excellent student who chose the Cardinal over Pitt, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Syracuse, Minnesota, Northwestern and North Carolina State.
15. Shawn Oakman, Penn Wood HS (Lansdowne) DE – 6-8, 240
PENN STATE
Needless to say, at 6’8”, his height is at the elite level – the only concern is if he has stopped growing yet. Already muscular, he can put on another 30-40 pounds easily. A Division 1 basketball prospect with offers fromTemple and LaSalle, Oakman has decided to play football, choosing the Nittany Lions over Pitt, South Carolina,North Carolina State, and UConn.
16. Armstead Williams, Gateway HS (Monroeville) LB – 6-2, 200
Quick and fast enough to play wide receiver for Gateway, Williams could play at that position at the next level, but more than likely he will end up on the defensive side of the ball. Must get stronger and more physical if he does stay on defense, however. Current offers include Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue,Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina State and Louisville.
17. Paul Gaughan, Dunmore HS (Dunmore) OT – 6-6, 280
Great size and the frame to add more. Moves very well for his size and could possibly pan out on the left side. Excellent student with a 3.7 GPA and offers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Stanford, Maryland, BostonCollege and Syracuse.
18. Jordan Kerner, Fairview HS (Fairview) DE – 6-5, 230
PENN STATE
Great height and strength for the position, plus the frame to add to his current 230 pounds. Good straight line speed and plays all out on every snap; excels in kick and punt coverage as well as blocking field goals. Could also end up at tight end. Chose the Lions over Iowa, West Virginia, Boston College, Rutgers, Maryland andMinnesota.
19. Brandon Clemons, Delaware Valley HS (Milford) OG/DT – 6-4, 250
Very raw but has a high ceiling. Tore the meniscus in his knee last season but played through it, and after postseason surgery appears to be healthy now. Projects equally well on both sides of the ball; has the frame to add size. Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, UConn, Maryland and BC have offered.
20. Brandon Cottom, Council Rock North HS (Newtown) RB/LB – 6-2, 230
PURDUE
Physically imposing beast that is athletic and fast enough to have returned punts and kicks last season, including a few for touchdowns. Projects equally well on both sides of the ball but may get a look at running back first. Chose the Boilermakers over Cincinnati, Rutgers, Syracuse, Illinois, Minnesota and Duke.
21. Dexter Bridge, Conestoga HS (Berwyn) WR – 6-2, 185
Under-recruited athlete with good size, speed, athleticism and leaping ability. Runs smooth routes and has good hands. May not be a star at the next level, but has all the tools to be an effective starter eventually. N.C. Stateand Illinois have offered.
22. Tyler Kroft, Downingtown East HS (Exton) TE – 6-5, 220
RUTGERS
Needs to add good weight but has the frame to do so. Has good speed, athleticism and hands but needs to learn to be a blocker. Chose the Knights over West Virginia, Boston College, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Northwestern and UConn.
23. Artie Rowell, Central Dauphin HS (Harrisburg) OG/C – 6-2, 295
PITT
A solid interior line prospect with excellent strength, toughness and quick feet. Has the potential to become a good college lineman. Chose the Panthers over Northwestern and Temple.
24. Andrew Zeller, Red Lion Area HS (Red Lion) – 6-5, 280
MARYLAND
One of the bigger surprises of this recruiting class as Zeller was 6’1″ and 220 pounds 18 months ago. He showed last season and at camps this spring that he retained his athleticism and speed. Chose the Terps over Oregon,Rutgers and Duke.
25. Lafayette Pitts, Woodland Hills HS (Pittsburgh) CB/RB – 5-10, 175
PITT
Pitts doesn’t have much size, nor does he have great speed. He’s a football player, though, who runs hard and knows how to handle his position on either side of the football. He’ll contribute on special teams at the very least. Turned down West Virginia, Maryland, Iowa and Illinois among others.
