By CHRIS DOKISH, Recruiting Editor

Though the ink is barely dry on letters of intent for the 2007 recruiting class, it’s already time to start looking ahead to the ’08 class. After all, it was one year ago today that Pitt locked up their first ’07 commitment, and Penn State and West Virginia followed soon after. Keystone Recruiting takes a look at the ’08 class in Pennsylvania.

THE CREAM OF THE CROP

There will almost assuredly be more elite prospects pop up, but the only way the following prospects won’t end up in the Top 50 is if they have a very poor year. It begins of course with Jeannette’s TERRELLE PRYOR. At 6’6” 220 pounds, he will be a quarterback, and yes, he is as good as his reputation. He isn’t fully evolved as a QB yet, but even if he never reaches his peak at the position, he should be a major force at the next level due to his athleticism alone. Look for Pitt, Penn State and Ohio State to be the main contenders, although Michigan and Notre Dame will be major players as well. His basketball ability may play a part in his decision.

Gateway’s SHAYNE HALE is already 6’4” and 230 pounds, and the middle linebacker is also fast, athletic and tough. Ohio State, Michigan and Pitt are among his early offers and Ohio State has the early lead.

Joining Hale in the discussion about the best linebackers in the western part of the state are ANDREW SWEAT from Trinity and CHRISTIAN WILSON from Montour. The 6’2 ½” 230 pound Sweat makes tackles all over the field due to his toughness and speed, while the 6’3 ½” 225 pound Wilson can also project at running back or H-Back. Pitt has made it a special mission to add both to a thin linebacking crew. In central PA, Harrisburg High boasts two excellent prospects in 6’2” 220 pound ADRIAN ROBINSON and 6’2” 215 pound SHARIFF BLAKE. Both are nasty, active, and can fly. Not to be outdone, Philadelphia has a top LB prospect, too, in Roman Catholic’s 6’2” 220 pound NICK MOODY, who came onto the scene last year by showing off his athleticism at summer combines.

Aliquippa’s JONATHON BALDWIN, like Pryor, is also a high D-1 basketball recruit with a Marquette offer. Many more should be on the way, but he is also getting major offers in football, including Pitt, Michigan and Notre Dame. At 6’6” and 225 pounds, he can project at receiver or tight end. The big time athlete with excellent speed has Michigan in the lead early.

If it’s speed you want, the two fastest elite players in the state are Altoona’s A.J. ALEXANDER and Gateway’s CAMERON SADDLER. Alexander is a high school QB that will likely move to WR in college. At 5’10 ½” and 180 pounds, he isn’t big, but he may be the fastest football player in the state. Pitt, Iowa and Louisville have already offered in writing and Penn State will join that group soon. There will be many more. Saddler is even smaller at 5’7” and 160 pounds, but he has amazing athletic ability and tied a national high school record with six returns for touchdowns the past season. Pitt, North Carolina and Virginia have proven he is too good to pass up as they were the first to offer. He will probably end up at cornerback and will definitely return kicks and punts. ED TINKER from Brashear in Pittsburgh’s City League already holds a Pitt offer due to his 6’2” 200 pound frame and top speed. He could project to safety or wide receiver.

If a big guy is what you’re looking for look no further than Thomas Jefferson’s LUCAS NIX and Roman Catholic’s JEWHAN EDWARDS. Nix is 6’5” and 285 pounds, and getting bigger by the month. While he could be a star at defensive tackle, he will probably end up at offensive tackle. His older brother, Nate, will be a redshirt freshman linebacker at Pitt this season and it would be surprising if the younger Nix doesn’t follow his big brother. Michigan has also offered early. Edwards is a force from his defensive tackle position at 6’2” and 310 pounds.

As is often the case, Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg is loaded, and two of their players will get many offers. Wide receiver JULIAN HARRELL has great size at 6’2” and 215 pounds, plus he is very fast and athletic. His teammate, CHRIS HENDERSON, is much bigger at 6’2” and 275 pounds, but is athletic enough to be an excellent pass catcher out of the fullback position. Look for him to use that athleticism and speed on the defensive line, however. He is good enough that Colorado, thinking he was a senior last year, tried to offer him at the Nike combine.

The state has been excellent at the tight end position recently, and two more that excite are MIKE CRUZ from Bishop McCourt and MARK WEDDERBURN from Cardinal O’Hara. Cruz is already built for the position at 6’4” and 245 pounds while Wedderburn is athletic, but must put weight on to his 6’6” and 220 pound frame.  Colleges don’t think that’s a problem, though, as he already holds offers from Pitt, Virginia, Boston College, Illinois and Rutgers.

Defensive backs are plentiful as well, with three excellent prospects in JARRED HOLLEY from Easton, ANTWUAN REED from Johnstown, and DAVID POSLUSZNY from Hopewell. Holley needs to add some weight (5’11” 170), but his cover corner skills are among the best in the nation. Pitt, Penn State, Virginia and Rutgers are among those that have offered and many more will follow. Reed is 5’10” and 170 pounds, highly athletic, and projects as a cover corner. He has already verbally committed to Pittsburgh and was also offered early by Virginia. Posluszny is the younger brother of Penn State legend Paul Posluszny and many think he is better at the same stage of his career. He currently projects at—and wants to play—safety, but if he grows bigger than his current 6’2” and 200 pounds, linebacker could be in his future. It’s already in the genes.  Pitt, Notre Dame, Louisville and West Virginia have already offered and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to think Penn State will, too.  

THE QUARTERBACKS

It’s an interesting year for Pennsylvania quarterbacks since both Pitt and Penn State have elite freshmen this year, and both will also battle over Pryor. That opens it up for another school to possibly come in and steal a very good quarterback. The city of Downingtown has two of the best. NOLAN KEARNEY, from Downingtown West, is a big, athletic strong-armed signal caller with a lot of toughness. He also has great size at 6’4” and 225 pounds. At Downingtown East, 6’4” 180 pound PETE O’CONNOR took over for current Penn State quarterback Pat Devlin and put up huge numbers with his strong arm and athleticism. At West Scranton, MATT McGLOIN is 6’2 ½” and 195 pounds with cannon for an arm. RYAN NASSIB of Malvern Prep is also on college radars. At 6’3” and 205 pounds, he is big, strong, and can utilize his legs. On the west side of the state, Kiski Area’s JOSH VICK was lighting up the WPIAL last year until he blew his knee out at mid-season. If he is fully recovered, look out. Vick has good size at 6’3” and 200 pounds and his arm strength is so good that he won the Class AAA state championship in the javelin. A familiar football name in the area is DAN ROONEY, but this one is not the owner of the Steelers. He is the son of Art Rooney II, however, who is the Steelers president. At 6’3” and 190 pounds, Rooney has a powerful arm and has run a 4.6 at Metro Index.

THE LINEMEN

At defensive end, the WPIAL boasts three very good ones in Mt. Pleasant’s CHET WELC, Pittsburgh central Catholic’s QUINTIN WILLIAMS, and KALEB RAMSEY from Laurel Highlands. Welc is an athletic 6’4” and 225 pounds, but must get bigger.  Williams comes from one of the best high school programs in the state and at 6’4” and 230 pounds he has the frame to get bigger. Ramsey is a highly athletic end prospect at a very muscular 6’4” and 250 pounds. Injuries have been a problem, but his size/speed combo is in the elite category. On the other side of the state, HUBIE GRAHAM from West Scranton is a tireless worker and at 6’4” 225 pounds, he can really move. Tight end may also be a possibility for him at the next level. PETE MASSARO, from Maple Newtown, already has excellent size at 6’4” and 240 pounds. He is also a relentless pass rusher. At defensive tackle, Beaver Falls’ CARL THORNTON is an athletic and highly prolific tackle at 6’2” and 270 pounds.

On offense, MIKE FARRELL from Shady Side Academy has the makings of one of the better offensive tackle prospects on the East Coast. At 6’6” he has the length, but he needs to add to his 270 pounds. A sleeper from deep in the woods north of Pittsburgh is BRICE SCHWAB of Moniteau. At 6’6” and 315 pounds, he has great feet. Look for him to jump onto radar screens this spring. Other sleepers include 6’4” 285 pound MATT STANKIEWICZ of Blue Mountain, 6’5” 280 pound TYLER SANDS of Boyertown, and 6’4” 270 pound BRIAN CLARKE of Hanover Area. All are trying to get noticed this spring also. At Trinity High School in Camp Hill, R.J. DILL already holds an offer from Maryland, and because he is 6’8” and 280 pounds, expect more to follow. At guard, 6’4” 315 pound STEVE CAPUTO from Unionville should get his share of offers and 6’4” 290 pound CHRIS PALMER of St. John Neumann has the athletic ability to play on defense, too. 

SMALL BUT GOOD

Every year, size becomes an issue for many players. With great speed and/or athleticism, however, some overcome that. Cameron Saddler from Gateway is one that has already done that, but others are trying too. RAYMONE WEST from Camp Hill already has the stigma of going to a school for court adjudicated youth, so it doesn’t help that he is also a 5’9” 180 pound running back. His talent is unquestioned, however. Just as talented is JAMIR LIVINGSTON of St. Joseph’s Prep, but he is even smaller at 5’6” and 155 pounds. His cutting ability and quickness is off the charts so somebody could take a chance on him. Chestnut Hill’s RASHAD CAMPBELL is only 5’8” and 180 pounds, but he is an explosive running back that can go the distance any time he touches the ball. TERRELL OGLESBY played second fiddle at Philadelphia’s North Catholic to Daryl Robinson this past year, but that won’t be a problem this fall since he will take over. Few have Robinson’s speed and athleticism but Oglesby, at 5’8” and 160 pounds, is not far off. CHRIS SMITH appears to be headed back to Chichester after an unhappy year at Cardinal O’Hara. The 5’10” 170 Smith played WR at O’Hara, but wants to go back to playing quarterback. He would also like to play QB in college, which may be a stretch, but his athleticism may get him some major D-1 offers at receiver.

MORE SKILL

At running back, sleeper ERIC REYNOLDS of Central Bucks South has excellent speed at 5’11” and 185 pounds. UConn has already offered. Two other running backs expected to get a lot of looks are Hopewell’s JARED RAINS and Bethlehem Liberty’s AKHEEM SMITH. Rains is not blazing fast or big, at 5’11” and 185 pounds, but he is a very good football player. The 6’0” 195 pound Smith came out of nowhere to run for 25 touchdowns for one of the best programs in the state. MIKE SHANAHAN from Norwin is another basketball star that could choose either sport. While his father and uncle played D-1 basketball, this Shanahan may be better off playing football, as he has the athletic ability, hands, and 6’5” 200 pound frame to be a very good college wide receiver. VAUGHN CARRAWAY of Muhlenberg has athletic ability to go with his 6’3” 175 pound body. He could also end up at safety and already has a UConn offer. Another Central Bucks South sleeper is COLIN DONNELLY, a 6’2” 175 pound track star with excellent speed.

MORE DEFENSE

Lansdale Catholic safety JIMMY KELLY is a solid 6’0” and 190 pounds. He could also project at wide receiver, but probably will remain at safety. He is tough and athletic.  Linebacker ALPHONSO LEWIS from Altoona is 6’2” and 205 pounds right now, so he has to get bigger, but he is athletic and tough, with excellent instincts. LEON GREEN has been on the scene since he led a powerful West Mifflin team as a sophomore quarterback. He will probably end up in the defensive backfield at the next level due to this quickness, speed, athleticism and strong 5’10” 190 pound frame. He can project at wide receiver or safety. MATT CARROLL of Unionville is a 6’2” 215 pound workout warrior whose dad played for the 1976 National Championship Pitt team, while 6’1” 215 pound MICHAEL YANCICH of Washington’s Trinity HS is an athletic sleeper. GEOFFREY PRATHER of Archbishop Carroll is a solidly built 6’2’ 200 pound athlete that could either be a safety or grow into a linebacker. Bishop McDevitt has three more D-1 possibilities in MIKE JONES, MIKE COMASCO, and TYRELL HARRIS. Jones took over at running back two years ago when LeSean McCoy went down for the season, but it’s at corner where he will play at the next level. He is an athletic cover corner at 6’1” and 195 pounds. Comasco is not big at 5’10” and 175 pounds, but he is an excellent football player that plays offense, defense, returns kicks and does the kicking for one of the most talented teams programs in the state. Harris has overcome a troubled past to excel on and off the field. He can flat out fly at 6’2” and 170 pounds. He could also play on either side of the ball.

With the spring camp and combine season right around the corner, expect to see more and more from this group of talented Pennsylvania players.