A look at the top 30 prospects in the state.
1. CHAD HENNE, QB
6-3, 210, West Lawn Wilson
Became Wilson's starting QB as a freshman and has passed for more than 5,300 yards in three seasons. Plays in a pass-oriented offense and threw for 2,088 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. Completed 60 percent of his passes. For his career, he's 416 of 739 for 5,328 yards and 55 touchdowns. Besides having a strong arm, also moves well. He ran a leg on Wilson's 400-meter relay team that was in the PIAA Class AAA championship race in the spring. Committed to Michigan in early August, choosing the Wolverines over Penn State. Miami, Tennessee, Georgia and many others offered scholarships.
2. ANTHONY MORELLI, QB
6-4, 210, Penn Hills
Ranked by scouting services among the top quarterbacks in the country. Has a big-time throwing arm. Bench presses 305 pounds. Colleges across the country offered him scholarships, but he comitted to Pitt last week. As a junior, completed 75 of 151 passes for 1,770 yards. Has been the starting QB since the first game of his freshman year. Notre Dame was his other top choice, but he also considered Florida State, Tennessee and Iowa. For his career, he is 172 of 406 for 3,595 yards and 41 touchdowns.
3. DAN CONNOR, FB-LB
6-3, 220, Strath Haven
Runs the 40 in 4.55 seconds. A force on offense and defense for Strath Haven, which has been in the PIAA Class AAA championship game four years in a row. Was first-team all-state at linebacker as a junior, but he also rushed for more than 1,000 yards the past two seasons. One of his brothers, Jim, played at Boston College. Dan had narrowed his list of colleges to Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan before choosing Penn State in early August. Insiders.com ranks him the No. 3 player in the country, regardless of position.
4. JAMES BRYANT, LB-RB
6-3, 240, Reading
Bryant's brother, Sam, is a defensive back at Pitt. James is talented on offense and defense. Had 132 tackles last season and eight sacks. Has excellent speed, running the 40 in 4.5 seconds. Bench presses 400 pounds. Rushed for 984 yards on offense last year. Most colleges want him for defense. Michigan and Pitt are two of his top choices, but numerous others also have offered. Most likely won't make college decision until after the season.
5. KYLE MITCHUM, OT-DT
6-5, 265, Erie McDowell
Has excellent footwork, running the 40 in 5.1 seconds. A starter since his sophomore season, Mitchum plays on the offensive and defensive lines, but is being recruited as an offensive lineman. Is "very open" for colleges. Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin are a few schools that Mitchum likes. All have offered. He said Pitt and Penn State aren't very high on his list. "The main thing I'm looking at are the people at the school and the coaching staff," Mitchum said.
6. TYRELL SALES, LB-TE
6-3, 235, Butler
A hard-hitting linebacker who has added 20 pounds since last season. Colleges differ on whether he'll be an inside or outside linebacker. Had 100 tackles and eight sacks last season. Also will play tight end this year. Runs the 40 in 4.6 seconds. Good athlete who also excels in basketball and throwing the shot put and discus. Dozens of colleges offered scholarships, but Sales committed to Penn State Aug. 10. He chose PSU over Pitt, Ohio State, Virginia and Florida State, among others.
7. DONTEY BROWN, LB-OL
6-3, 252, McKeesport
Considered best defensive player at McKeesport since Brandon Short. "You don't have to show too much tape of our games to see the talent and the potential he has," said McKeesport Coach George Smith. Brown is a hard hitter who moves fairly well. Smith believes Brown could play a number of positions in college, including defensive line. Brown committed to Penn State in June. Pitt was Brown's top choice until he visited Penn State.
8. CHRIS ROGERS, LB-DE-TE
6-3, 242, North Allegheny
Rogers wasn't allowed to play football in 6th, 7th or 8th grade because he was over the weight limit. Now there is nothing holding him back. An intense defensive player who can play anywhere from tackle to end to linebacker. Runs a 4.7 40. Made verbal commitment to Michigan in June. Penn State was his second choice. South Carolina, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Iowa and Boston College were among the other schools that offered scholarships. Michigan wants him as a defensive lineman.
9. A.Q. SHIPLEY, OL-DL
6-3, 285, Moon
The A.Q. stands for Allan Quay. Shipley has been a starter at Moon since his freshman season. He was third-team all-state as a junior. Had more than 30 scholarship offers but committed to Penn Sate in June. Penn State offered him last summer. Michigan, Pitt and Virginia were his other finalists. "All the schools I visited, everything just kept coming back to Penn State," Shipley said. Was recruited as a nose guard. Moves well for a big player. Was on Moon's basketball team last season.
10. ANDREW JOHNSON, RB-DB
5-11, 195, North Hills
It wouldn't be an overstatement to call Johnson one of the fastest players in the country. He is the PIAA Class AAA 100-meter dash champion. He ran the 40 in 4.22 seconds at the Nike camp this spring. Transferred to North Hills after last season. Rushed for 1,690 yards as a sophomore. Had only 704 yards on 114 carries last season, but played sparingly in a few games because of ankle injuries. Made verbal commitment to Pitt in July, choosing the Panthers over Ohio State. Virginia Tech, UCLA and Miami also had offered scholarships.
11. RORY NICOL, TE-LB
6-5, 242, Beaver
Some scouting services rank Nicol among the top 10 tight ends in the country. He only caught 12 passes last year, but colleges like his size and athleticism. He runs the 110 high hurdles in track and has run a 15.8 in the event. Penn State is his favorite, followed by Ohio State and Syracuse. Tennessee and Florida State also are in the mix. "I don't know when I'll decide, but everyone always says when I get the feeling, I'll pull the trigger," Nicol said.
12. GREG HARRISON, OT
6-5, 295, Shenandoah Valley
Good student with 3.7 GPA and 1,120 SAT. Also gets high marks on the field. Committed to Penn State at Nittany Lions' spring game. Had offers from Virginia, Michigan State and North Carolina State. A few months after his commitment, he thought about making some other visits but decided against it.
13. JON SKINNER, OT
6-5, 275, Mount Carmel
Skinner's future is with defending national champion Ohio State. Skinner committed to the Buckeyes this summer. Some schools shied away from Skinner because of a knee injury suffered last season. He came back late in the year and played in the PIAA Class AA championship game. He had ACL surgery in January, but Ohio State still recruited him. After the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship, Purdue, Michigan State and Virginia followed. Pitt was his other top choice. Excellent student with 4.0 GPA and 1,240 SAT.
14. DEVON LYONS, WR-DB
6-3, 205, Woodland Hills
Lyons is a cousin of former Woodland Hills star DB Ryan Mundy. But Lyons won't be following Mundy to Michigan. Lyons' top schools are Pitt, Penn State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami and Michigan State. Lyons said he won't make a college decision until after the season. Besides playing safety, Lyons also will start at receiver.
15. DAN LAWLOR, FB-LB
6-3, 240, Cumberland Valley
Lawlor gives Cumberland Valley one of the top fullbacks in the eastern part of the country. In the past two seasons, he has rushed for 2,660 yards and caught 35 passes. In June, Lawlor committed to Penn State. His teammate, Wyatt Bowman, committed to the Nittany Lions in April. Maryland, Iowa and Vanderbilt were Lawlor's other top choices. He's big, strong and also runs the 40 in 4.6 seconds.
16. CHARRON FISHER, LB
6-4, 235, Roman Catholic
Fisher is a two-sport star who could have a future in football or basketball. He averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds a game as junior. He participated in the Nike All-American basketball camp this summer, which includes some of the top players in the country. Football seems to be his best bet. He has offers from Pitt, Virginia, Northwestern and Rutgers. He doesn't have any offers yet for basketball, but they might come. Virginia is his top choice for football.
17. ANTHONY HEYGOOD, RB
6-1, 210, Cardinal O'Hara
Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. Nicknamed "Sweets," Heygood rushed for more than 900 yards last season, despite missing three games with injuries. Also runs track. Plays at the same school that produced Virginia Tech star running back Kevin Jones. Boston College, Purdue, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Syracuse have offered scholarships. Also likes Notre Dame, but Irish haven't offered. Probably won't make college decision until after the season.
18. ADAM GUNN, QB-DB
6-3, 195, Kiski Area
Made a commitment to Pitt in mid-December of his junior year. Gunn is a hard-hitting defensive back who breaks well on the ball. He also is the team's quarterback, and last season completed 76 of 167 for 1,031 yards. His future is definitely on defense, though. Had three interceptions as a junior.
19. SCOTT McKILLOP, FB-LB
6-3, 220, Kiski Area
McKillop had more than 100 tackles as a junior and was the team's leading rusher with 729 yards on 109 carries. Committed to Pitt in May. Pitt was the first school to offer a scholarship, but many others were interested. Was recruited to play linebacker. His brother, Chris, is a freshman linebacker at Pitt.
20. JORDAN STEFFY, QB
6-2, 205, Conestoga Valley
He has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and last year completed 158 of 246 for 2,031 yards. Good strength, bench pressing close to 300 pounds. Needs only 200 points to become the first 1,000-point basketball scorer at Conestoga. Maryland, Virginia Tech and Michigan State are his top three choices and all three have offered.
21. WYATT BOWMAN, OT-DL
6-6, 314, Cumberland Valley
Moves fairly well for a big lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds. Transferred from Central Mountain High School to Cumberland Valley before his sophomore season. Teammate of fullback Dan Lawlor, a Penn State recruit. Bowman committed to Penn State in April. Penn State was the first school to offer him a scholarship.
22. CRAIG BOKOR, OL-DL
6-4, 250, Hopewell
A standout two-way lineman for the defending PIAA Class AAA champion Vikings. Made commitment to Pitt in early May. In June, he said he wasn't so sure about his commitment. Then in late June, he reaffirmed his decision. Virginia and West Virginia also offered when he committed to Pitt. Michigan later offered. Was recruited as a defensive lineman. Has played nose guard and defensive end for defending PIAA Class AAA champ.
23. JAIMIE THOMAS, OT
6-4 1/2, 330, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt
Bishop McDevitt will probably run often behind big J.T. this season. He's been a starter since his sophomore year. Maryland, Virginia and Notre Dame are his top choices, but Notre Dame has not offered a scholarship yet. North Carolina State, Tennessee and Penn State also have offered.
24. COREY DAVIS, DL-LB
6-3, 255, Peabody
Davis has been a City League standout since the first game of his freshman year. He has been an all-City League selection since his freshman year. He had seven sacks last year. Davis committed to Pitt in February. That was the only scholarship offer he had at the time, but others would have come if Davis had not committed.
25. DARRELLE REVIS, QB-DB
6-1, 180, Aliquippa
It wouldn't be an overstatement to call Revis one of the WPIAL's best athletes. In football, he has scholarship offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and Toledo. In basketball, he was a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous Five as a junior. He also was on a 400 relay team that qualified for the PIAA track championships. He is the nephew of former Aliquippa star and NFL player Sean Gilbert.
26. CURTIS BRINKLEY, RB
5-10, 185, West Catholic
Brinkley is seriously talking about rushing for 3,000 yards this season. Judging from last season, it's not an unreachable goal. Brinkley ran for 2,813 yards last season. Has offers from Syracuse and Minnesota. Brinkley believes he should be recruited more heavily, but acknowledges his size hurts him. "A lot of schools told me they want to see me this year. September is when a lot of other stuff is supposed to come along," he said. Runs a 4.4 40.
27. DAVE WEBER, OT-DT
6-4, 320, Upper Merion
Weber isn't the most agile lineman, running the 40 in 5.4 seconds. But colleges like him because of his size. He said early in the summer Pitt was his top choice and he committed to Pitt this past Saturday. Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Syracuse and Rutgers were his other top choices. Was recruited to play offensive line. He helped team to second-place finish in Class AAA District 1 last year.
28. BEN MALJOVEC, QB-DB
6-3, 202, Warren
Maljovec can play safety or cornerback. He also is a good running quarterback, accounting for 1,386 rushing yards last season. Played receiver as a sophomore. Colleges like him for defense. Iowa and Syracuse are his favorites and both have offered. Boston College and Vanderbilt also have offered.
29. KEVIN AKINS, RB-DB
6-2, 185, North Penn
North Penn is expected to have one of the top Class AAAA teams in the state this season, and Akins is one of the primary reasons. He is talented on offense and defense. He rushed for 1,500 yards as a junior and also was a force on defense also. He committed to Boston College in June.
30. MORTTY IVY, QB-DB
6-2, 200, Gateway
Made Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 as a junior. He gained 654 yards on 123 carries last season and completed 58 of 132 passes for 791 yards. On defense, had 51 tackles with one interception and two fumble recoveries. Committed to West Virginia in July. West Virginia had him pegged as a defensive back in college. But WVU coaches were so impressed with Ivy's throwing ability at camp this summer, they might give him a shot at QB.
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