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Recruit Report: Numbers confirm it -- a 'down' year
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It was not a good year for Division I football talent in the entire state, but Pennsylvania still was in the top 10 for states that produced the most major-college talent.
A study by Maxpreps.com showed Pennsylvania had only 67 seniors sign with NCAA Division I-A schools. That was 10th-best in the country.
The 67 signings this year is down from a year ago when 93 signed. But only 60 from Pennsylvania signed with Division I-A schools in 2011. There were 75 Division I players in the state in 2010. The WPIAL/City League had only 18 players sign with Division I-A colleges this year, possibly the lowest total ever for the district.
Texas, Florida and California had by far the most Division I signees this year. Texas had 370, Florida 356 and California 350. They were followed by Georgia (188), Ohio (151), Alabama (96), Louisiana (89), Illinois (83) and North Carolina (83). Pennsylvania had more Division I-A signees than New Jersey, which had 62.
Pitt signed the most Pennsylvania players this year with 15. Temple signed nine, Connecticut five and Penn State four. Penn State did not sign any WPIAL players.
If you think the talent level is down in Pennsylvania, consider that Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Vermont did not have one player sign with a Division I-A college. West Virginia had only three.
Division II signings
While Division I-A recruits grabbed most of the spotlight on "letter-of-intent day" last week, there were some significant signings of WPIAL and City League players with Division II colleges.
California, Pa., signed four Woodland Hills players, including defensive lineman Jawan Turner, who was a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, and linebacker Alex Beasley, who will play in the Big 33 all-star game this summer. Seneca Valley tight end R.J. McCauley was another top player who signed with California.
IUP signed eight players from the WPIAL/City League. Among them were North Allegheny linebacker Kevin Edwards, who was second on the team in tackles this past season with 94. IUP also signed McKeesport quarterback Ed Stockett, who verbally committed to Akron last summer, only to see the Zips pull his scholarship. Among other IUP recruits were Beaver running back Darian Bradley, West Allegheny defensive end Jordan Diven and Allderdice running back Pat Ferguson.
Among Duquesne University's recruits were Upper St. Clair offensive lineman Mike Mondzelewski and Aliquippa defensive back Malik Shegog.
First Published February 15, 2013 12:00 am
