By Chris Dokish
As always, this list was compiled after extensive interviews with college and high school coaches, as well as scouts and players. Special thanks to Joe Butler, founder of Metro Index Scouting and originator of the NFL scouting service, BLESTO, for his input.
This is not a list of the 50 best high school players in the state this year; it is a list of the 50 best college prospects in the state.
Pennsylvania’s class this season, overall, is not nearly as strong at the top as most years, but it also has a larger amount of good, solid players who will excel at places like UConn, Maryland, Boston College and the MAC.
One interesting note is that, contrary to every other year when the prospects were balanced evenly over both sides of the state, this season Harrisburg eastward has 32 players overall compared to the western part of the state, which has only 18 players on the list. Eight of the top dozen are from the WPIAL, however.
Between Pitt and Penn State, the Panthers have nine players on the list and Penn State has six. Keep in mind, however, that Penn State recruits nationally much more than Pitt. Outside of the two in-state powers, Rutgers nabbed four PA prospects while West Virginia and Ohio State had three each.
ELITE PROSPECTS
1. Dorian Bell, Gateway HS (Monroeville) LB- At 6'0" tall he is on the short side, but he has a rock solid 230 pound frame with no fat. Combine that with his speed, athleticism, and strength, and he becomes the full package at linebacker. Even has the natural ability to be a great wide receiver or running back prospect, and he had a great senior season at running back, but he was born to play linebacker. Plays the run and the pass equally well and is an accomplished blitzer. Chose OHIO STATE over more than 50 offers, including Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan and Florida State. Bottom line: Even in a program as deep as Ohio State, he could see immediate action, and it would be surprising if he didn't end up as at least a quality starter in the Big 10.
2. Eric Shrive, West Scranton (Scranton) OT- Giant offensive line prospect that has the frame to put on more size to his already huge 6'7" 300 pound body. Needs to add strength like most high school linemen and once he does, he could be a monster. "He's a stud," says Butler. "He should be in the NFL someday. He's a man child." Surprised many who thought he was going to choose Notre Dame by deciding to stay home and play for PENN STATE. Other offers included Pitt, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Miami, Nebraska, Auburn, Florida State and Illinois. Bottom line: Penn State has signed some excellent offensive linemen over the years, but this one is up there with the best prospects they ever had at the position. Has NFL first round potential.
3. Corey Brown, Gateway HS (Monroeville) CB- Gateway head coach Terry Smith has been producing elite prospects almost yearly since he has become coach and amazingly he has two of the top three prospects in the class this year. The 180-pound corner needs to add some weight, but he has excellent cornerback size at 6'1". Excellent high school wide receiver who could also project at the position in college. Not a speed demon, but has good speed to go along with great hands, athleticism, body control and toughness. "Best cover corner I've seen in the state in awhile," says Butler. Chose OHIO STATE over Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan, Notre Dame and Alabama, among others. Bottom line: An excellent football player who proved himself against the best of the best all season, whether it was in games, combines, camps or all-star games.
4. Je'Ron Stokes, Northeast HS (Philadelphia) WR- Decent size at 6'1" and 180 pounds, but plays bigger than he is. Can really fly, has great hands, runs good routes, and has elite athleticism. Excellent runner after the catch. Caught passes this season from his younger brother, Malik, who will be a major college prospect next season. Chose TENNESSEE early, but after the firing of Phil Fulmer, he has decided to look around. Says he still considers the Volunteers his choice, but he is still looking at Michigan, Georgia, and Illinois. Bottom line: Has everything it takes to be an excellent college player.
EXCELLENT PROSPECTS:
5. Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls HS (Beaver Falls) WR- Do-everything player who has mostly played running back and defensive back in high school. Projects to wide receiver at the next level because of his 6'3" 200 pound size and 4.4 speed. Raw at the position so he will have to get by on his elite athleticism first at the next level. Grades could be a major problem. Chose PITT leads over the likes of Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan and Boston College. Bottom line: Many feel like his eligibility is a major concern, and he is very raw as a wide receiver, but if he makes it to the Panthers and learns the position, he has all it takes to be big time.
6. Mark Arcidiacondo, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) OT- A tad smaller at 6'4" 280 pounds than a normal big time offensive tackle, but has long arms and a big frame to help compensate. Well coached. Needs to get stronger, but the same can be said for almost every lineman prospect. "He's a player", says Butler. "He's good, man." His teammate, and fellow OT, Seth Bettancourt, is considered the top offensive lineman next season. Chose PENN STATE over Florida, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Rutgers, among others. Bottom line: The Nittany Lions have been recruiting extremely well at offensive line and this is just one more for the mix.
VERY GOOD PROSPECTS
7. Dan Mason, Penn Hills HS (Pittsburgh) LB- His 6'0" 220 pound size isn't ideal, but he is a tough, nasty middle linebacker that tackles like he has a vendetta against the ball carrier. Built like a pit bull with a similar temperament. Very good speed that lets him attack the line like a shot or run with backs and tight ends in coverage. Chose PITT over West Virginia, Penn State and Boston College. Bottom line: Not big and because he already has a ripped physique he can't get much bigger, but his mentality, toughness, athleticism and speed should help him become a solid college player.
8. Abdul Smith, Perkiomen School (Pennsburg) CB- Top-notch high school safety that has the physical skills to play cornerback at the next level. Very good speed and athletic ability. Good size at 6'0" and 182 pounds, but could add some more muscle to his already lean and strong body. Very aggressive on the field. Came out of nowhere this summer to dazzle in summer camps but has proven on the field that he's more than just a great athlete. Played quarterback as a senior and had a great year. Lives in Trenton, NJ, but travels over the PA boarder to go to Perkiomen. Could easily move to free safety if he doesn't pan out on the corner. Can also return kicks. Chose RUTGERS over many offers, including Pitt, Penn State and Boston College. Bottom line: Has the raw athleticism to be a big time defensive back.
9. Brock DeCicco, Thomas Jefferson HS (Clairton) TE- Good all-around tight end prospect with great hands and toughness. Fights to the death for the ball when it's in the air. Not great speed, but runs hard and has been known to trample more than a few would-be tacklers. Has to add much more weight, as he is currently only 225 pounds, but at 6'5" tall he has the frame to easily add 25 more pounds of muscle and still be relatively lean. Brother, Dom, is a sophomore at Pitt where he will be a starting safety. Chose PITT over Wisconsin with Miami, Iowa and Illinois among the others who offered. Bottom line: Pitt's top three tight ends will be seniors next season so he has the chance to start early in his career after a redshirt year to add weight. Has the skills to be good.
10. Tyrone Ezell, Steel Valley HS (Munhall) DT- Tough, aggressive lineman with a ripped 6'4" 255-pound physique. While he has good straight line speed for his size, he probably lacks the explosiveness to be an elite college end. But inside, he can use his quickness to potentially do major damage, especially when he gets bigger and stronger. Excellent wrestler. Moved to the Pittsburgh area a few years ago to escape the mean streets of Chicago. Chose PITT over Ohio State, Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan and West Virginia. Bottom line: Has the frame, natural strength, and toughness to eventually become a very good player at the next level.
11. C.J. Brown, Seneca Valley HS (Harmony) QB- One of the more underrated kids in the state and one of the most under-publicized, mainly because he committed so early. Good size at 6'3" and 190 pounds, and should fill out nicely with time. Has a strong, accurate arm, smarts, and very good athletic ability. Says he prefers to stay in the pocket, but as a running threat he can really move with both good speed and elusiveness. Has everything it takes to eventually be a very good college quarterback who can kill you with both his arm and his feet. Chose to play at MARYLAND. Bottom line: Once he undergoes some fine tuning, he could be a nightmare for ACC opponents.
12. E.J. Banks, Montour HS (McKees Rocks) CB- High school quarterback and safety, who could have led certain offenses at the college level. Only 5'11" and 180 pounds, but has very good speed, athleticism, and toughness. Despite size, he is a fearless player who is an effective and hard tackler. Chose NOTRE DAME, where they will first try him at cornerback, even though he has no experience at the position. Others offering include Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State, LSU, Florida State, Miami and Clemson. Bottom line: Very good athlete with toughness and instincts. If the Irish can find a position for him, he could be very good.
13. A.J. Fenton, McDowell HS (Erie) LB- Old school player with toughness and aggressiveness. As a junior, he was a very accomplished running back running over everybody in his way. As a senior he moved to quarterback where he ran over even more players. On defense, he shows good speed, athleticism and instincts. Only 6'1 1/2" and 215 pounds so he will need more size. Chose WISCONSIN over Pitt, Illinois, Syracuse, Stanford, Maryland and others. Bottom line: A tough, naturally born football player with excellent athleticism and very good speed. Has the ability to be an all-star caliber player in college.
14. Tom Savage, Cardinal O'Hara HS (Springfield) QB- Big quarterback size at 6'4" and 220 pounds, plus the frame to add more weight. Has a cannon for an arm and can make all the passes, though his delivery needs some work. A pocket passer with sneaky speed who can take off and run well if need be. Injuries have prevented him from playing a lot of games. Performs better in camps and combines than in actual games, and he didn't have a great senior season. Chose RUTGERS over Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Miami, Florida State, Illinois, Georgia, LSU and others. Bottom line: Was considered a top 5 prospect in the class as a junior. Has all the tools, but the level he eventually reaches has to be questioned since so far he has not taken advantage of his elite physical skills.
15. Jaleel Clark, Parkland HS (Allentown) WR- Doesn't have elite speed or quickness, but he has great 6'4" 200 pound size, great hands, and can really go after the ball when it's in the air. Had a huge junior season, but didn't put up the same numbers as a senior. Even if he doesn't end up a star, he should at least be consistently good over his career. Very good basketball player. Needs to work on his grades. Chose MISSOURI over Pitt, Penn State, Minnesota and UConn. Bottom line: Has the great size and is going to an offense that knows how to get the most out of their receivers.
16. Justin Renfrow, William Penn Charter School (York) DE- Good size already at 6'4" and 260 pounds. Was also looked at as a tight end, but will play defensive end at the next level. Doesn't have a lot of explosion, but has enough athleticism to play at end on the strong side. Will be more of a run stopper and a bull rusher from that position. Also has the lean frame to add a lot of weight and move inside to tackle. Chose VIRGINIA over the likes of West Virginia, UConn, North Carolina, Duke and Stanford. Bottom line: May not have the high ceiling that will make him a star, but he has enough physical attributes to make him a very good player for the Cavaliers.
17. Jordan Hill, Steelton-Highspire HS (Harrisburg) DE/DT- One of the biggest risers from the preseason list when he was ranked No. 27, mostly because of questions concerning his level of competition. As a 6'3" 260 pound junior middle linebacker, he destroyed Class A competition. To make matters worse for opponents, he can also really run. Now, he is 280 pounds and can still run extremely well for his size. Had an excellent season leading Steelton-Highspire to their second consecutive Class A state championship. Will have to play with his hand down at the next level, and that, along with the fact that the competition level from Class A to college is so steep, could mean he takes a little longer than usual to develop. However, with his combination of size and speed, he's well worth the wait. Committed to Rutgers, but changed his mind and eventually chose PENN STATE. Bottom line: Don't worry about the level of competition. Highly athletic 280 pound players don't fall off of trees and they don't need a lower level of competition to dominate.
18. Curtis Drake, West Catholic HS (Philadelphia) WR/QB/CB- High school quarterback that may get some looks at that position in certain situations, but only in a handful of offenses could he be effective full-time. At 6'0" 175 pounds, he isn't big, but he has very good speed and athleticism. Has a good arm, though his mechanics need work. His ability to run with the ball makes him an interesting wide receiver prospect, though he could always find himself at corner in the future. Was offered by Georgia Tech and Northwestern to play quarterback, but chose to stay closer to home and picked PENN STATE. Bottom line: A big time athlete that is too good not to make a major contribution for the Nittany Lions. They now just have to find a position that gets him on the field.
19. Gary Gilliam, Hershey School (Harrisburg) TE/DE- Came out of nowhere over the summer and raised eyebrows with his 6'7" 245 pound frame and very good athleticism. Has a very high ceiling and if it ever comes together for him, look out. Projects equally well at either position, but a 6'7" defensive end is a gift from God, so wherever he ends up, look for the school to definitely give him a look there. Also a good basketball player. Chose PENN STATE over Pitt, Virginia, UConn and Temple, among others. Bottom line: Doesn't get a lot of publicity, but a 6'7" 245 pound athlete is the kind of player you want to try to develop.
20. Jordan Hall, Jeannette HS (Jeannette) RB- Once the second banana to superstar Terrelle Pryor, he took over as a senior and performed extremely well. Very good speed and athleticism. Only 5'9" and 180 pounds so it's not known if he can ever be an every down back. Even if he isn't, he would be a nice change of pace back, receiving threat, and return man. Chose to join Pryor at OHIO STATE, with other offers coming from Pitt, Penn State, Michigan and Notre Dame. Bottom line: Competition at Ohio State is extremely tough, but he has the ability to eventually contribute due to his speed, athleticism, and pure football ability.
21. Nick Kindler, Trinity HS (Camp Hill) OT- Big 6'6" 275-pound lineman with a huge frame to add a lot more weight. Very good run blocker who is just plain nasty. The type that will block an opponent then while the play is still going on, will jump on his head a few times for good measure. Showed his toughness by playing his junior season with a torn ACL. Moves better once he had his knee repaired, but may never have the feet for left tackle. Chose WEST VIRGINIA over Boston College, Illinois, Virginia, Rutgers, Maryland and UConn. Bottom line: A big, tough as nails mauler who should develop into a very good right tackle for the Mountaineers.
22. Jack Lippert, Central Dauphin HS (Harrisburg) DE- Another prospect that probably should have gotten more offers than he did. Injuries in his junior season, however, were making some schools take a wait and see approach. When healthy as a senior, he showed how good he can be. A little shorter than usual for end at 6'3", but is a lean and strong 245 pounds. Also has good speed and quickness. Plays with a high motor. Has enough explosion to rush the passer at the next level, though he probably won't be a dominant pass rusher. "A great looking kid," says Butler. "He's a good one." Chose PITT over Boston College, Temple and Buffalo. Bottom line: Under-recruited player who lacks a little physically to be dominant, but he has enough going for him that he should be a productive college player.
23. Kadeem Custis, Neumann-Goretti HS (Philadelphia) DE- Big 6'4" 275 pound defensive end with intriguing potential. A real diamond in the rough due to this combination of size, skill and athleticism. Raw, but has a very high ceiling. Also has a mean streak. Surprised many by staying home to play for TEMPLE. Also was offered by West Virginia, N.C. State, Duke, UConn, Maryland, East Carolina and Pitt. Bottom line: There aren't many athletic big kids like this in the MAC so he has a chance to eventually dominate the conference.
24. Devin Street, Liberty HS (Bethlehem) WR- Only caught five passes as a junior but as a senior he finally got his chance and exploded, helping Liberty become Quad A state championship. Great athlete with equally excellent 6'4" 180 pound size. Track star with blazing speed. Showed in summer camps that he also has great hands. "He's really a big time athlete. That's what you got there," says Butler. Chose PITT over Rutgers, Boston College, N.C. State and UConn, among others. Bottom line: Needs to fill out some, and he still is very raw, but his hands, speed and height are ideal for the position.
25. Malik Generett, William Penn School (Philadelphia) WR- Size is the name of the game for Generett as he is a legitimate 6'4" and 200 pounds. Obviously that's his biggest asset, but he also has great hands and good athleticism. Not very fast, but can make the hard catch look easy. When the ball's in the air, he will fight to the death for it. Had a very good senior season. Chose UCONN over Akron. Bottom line: Big receivers are all the rage in college football and with his size, agility and hands he could make a difference early in their receiver corps. His lack of top end speed and running ability may be all that prevents him from being a dominating college receiver.
26. Cory King, Lakeview HS (Stoneboro) OT/OG- Giant 6'5" 315-pounder with a very high ceiling. Needs to shape up his body by losing weight and then building back up with muscle, but he is naturally big and strong. Surprisingly quick feet for a player his size. Very tenacious blocker. If he played at a bigger and more well known school, he may have gotten a lot more offers. Played both guard and tackle at Lakeview and is capable of playing both equally well in college. Chose PITT over Minnesota and Bowling Green. Bottom line: The Panthers need a lot of help on the offensive line and once he gets his body in shape, he could be very good.
27. Paul Carrezola, Neshaminy HS (Langhorne) TE- Solid all around tight end who is already 255 pounds. His 6'2" height, however, is not ideal for the position, but while it may hurt him in some aspects, he also uses it to get great leverage in blocking. Not a blazer, but has good hands, runs hard, and knows how to play the position. Also an excellent blocker. Chose RUTGERS over Pitt, Iowa, N.C. State and UConn. Bottom line: Won't wow you, but he should be a good all around college tight end.
28. Blake Graham, Northeast Catholic HS (Philadelphia) OT/DT- Another raw lineman with a very high ceiling, but also has the good size already at 6'5" and 280 pounds. Very big frame with little fat. Can move well and projects equally well on either side of the ball. "He has all the tools," says Butler. "And all kinds of talent." Has major eligibility questions or he would be highly coveted. As it stands now, he is still fighting to make the grade. Bottom line: It's all about the grades because he has a lot of talent. If he can sneak through, some program could find a late gem.
29. Ryan Schlieper, North Allegheny HS (Wexford) OT- At 6'5" and 280 pounds, he has a nice frame, but needs to add a little more weight. Has the quick feet to play guard, but will be tried first at tackle, the position he played at NA. Very good run blocker. Also smart and well coached. Chose Maryland originally, but changed his commitment to PITT late in the process. Bottom line: High character, well-coached kid who should excel in the Big East.
30. Juantez Hollins, Aliquippa HS (Aliquippa) OG- Raw 6'4" 260 pound athlete with potential, mainly because of his good feet and athleticism. Needs to get much bigger, but he's somewhat lean right now, so adding good weight should not be a problem. Had the reputation by some for being somewhat lazy in the past, but his effort was much more consistent as a senior. Chose PITT over Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo. Bottom line: The Panthers have had great success with Aliquippa players and he has the size and natural ability to eventually become another good player for the Panthers.
31. Adam Gress, West Mifflin Area HS (West Mifflin) OT- Grew from a 240 pound tight end last year to a 6'7" 295 pound tackle this season. Tough kid, but needs to get much stronger and keep improving his technique. Better pass blocker than run blocker. Has come a long way physically, but you would hope a player his size would dominate as a senior, and he didn't. Chose PENN STATE over Michigan, West Virginia and Rutgers. Bottom line: You can't teach his size, and that's why he got some impressive offers early over the summer. However, he still hasn't dominated like was expected.
32. Pat Eger, Thomas Jefferson HS (Clairton) OT- Great wingspan on his a big 6'6" frame, but must add a lot of weight to his 260 pound body. Moves extremely well. If he can gain a good 40 pounds while keeping his speed and great foot speed, he could be special. Plays hard and is well coached by former Pitt lineman Bill Cherpak. Was a big part of the Jaguars back to back Class AAA state championship teams. Chose WEST VIRGINIA over Maryland, Miami, OH and Buffalo. Bottom line: A perfect fit for the Mountaineers and has the ability to be their next excellent western PA lineman.
33. Steve Greene, Bishop Carroll HS (Ebensburg) OG- Small class behemoth at 6'4" and 300 pounds. Needs to really firm up his body, though, and work on his technique. Right now simply gets uses brute force to smash physically inferior opponents. He's a hard worker, though, and has enough to work with that with college coaching, he could be good. Chose UCONN over Minnesota, Temple, South Florida, Marshall, Central Florida and Delaware. Bottom line: Should be at least a solid guard for the Huskies later in his career, and maybe even more.
34. B.J. Stevens, Gateway HS (Monroeville) DE- One of the more underrated prospects in the state. Doesn't have the ideal size for the position at 6'1" and 235 pounds, but he is a relentless and excitable pass rushing demon. Strong for his size and runs like a running back. Brother, Jordan, plays for MIAMI, OH, and he has decided to join him. Committed early and could have waited for a lot more offers, but still got them from N.C. State, Indiana and Minnesota. Bottom line: Very good player who could dominate in the MAC.
GOOD PROSPECTS
35. Christian Kuntz, Trinity HS (Camp Hill) WR- Big athlete that intrigues with his skill set. At Trinity, he played running back in the Wing-T, but at 6'4" and 190 pounds, he has very nice size for wide receiver. In addition, he has very good straight line speed and athletic ability. Doesn't have a lot of wiggle, but will run over or around you if need be. Will have to learn the position, but if he doesn't pan out there, he could add weight and be a very good tight end or linebacker. Must also recover from a torn MCL, which cost him the second half of his senior season. Committed to PENN STATE over UConn, Akron and Buffalo. Bottom line: A good, solid football player who has what it takes to contribute in college.
36. Curtis Feigt, Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg) DE- Possibly the biggest sleeper in the state, and certainly one of the most intriguing. The native of Berlin, Germany didn't play organized football until he was 15 and in his sole year playing U.S. high school football, he didn't dominate. But he did hit the summer camp circuit this season and impressed with his 6'5" 265 pound size, quick feet, good speed, and athleticism. Was offered by WEST VIRGINIA after they just watched him for 20 minutes. Bottom line: He is obviously raw, but if the Mountaineers can harness that natural talent, he could be a real find.
37. Jonathan Coleman, Radnor HS (Radnor) WR- A Bronx native who, as part of a national program that helps youth from troubled neighborhoods find more advantageous places to go to school, was relocated to Radnor. This year was his first ever playing organized football and he used his great 6'4" 205-pound size, along with very good athleticism, to show he has a lot of potential. Chose to play at BOSTON COLLEGE. Bottom line: Was given an opportunity and because of his talent and his hard work, he will now be playing big time football.
38. Tevrin Brandon, Bethlehem Catholic HS (Bethlehem) CB- His small 5'10" 161-pound size is a problem, but good quickness and blazing speed makes it less so. Once he gets bigger and learns the position better, he could be a good college cover corner. Also can return kicks and punts. Chose UCONN over Maryland and Temple. Bottom line: Not big, but you can't teach 4.3 speed. Has a chance to help the Huskies on defense and on special teams.
39. David Osei, Abington HS (Abington) C- Excellent high school wrestler who also got offers for that sport. At 6'4", he has had to keep his weight down to 250 pounds to wrestle, but now that he's done with that sport, he will need to put on a lot more weight. Obviously he has the great leverage and quickness of a top wrestler. Committed to RUTGERS. Bottom line: A real sleeper who could use his top wrestling skills to be a very good lineman in the Big East.
40. Chris Houston, Bishop McDevitt HS (Harrisburg) CB- Smallish cover corner at just 5'10" and 175 pounds, but a speed demon track star with top notch athleticism also. Finished second in the state as a junior in the 100 meters. Excellent student. Duke and Army have offered. Bottom line: Under recruited player who has the elite speed and superb grades.
41. Colin Rodkey, Gateway HS (Monroeville) OT- Needs to add weight as he now only checks in at 6'4 1/2" and 265 pounds, but that shouldn't be a problem. Has good feet. Needs to be more consistent with his technique. Has a lot of potential, but now he has to have it all come together. Had a shoulder injury to start the season and has also suffered from severe chronic migraine headaches. Chose INDIANA over West Virginia, Maryland, Duke and N.C. State, among others. Bottom line: He has the natural tools to be a quality starter in the Big 10.
42. Bernard Pierce, Glen Mills School (Concordville) RB- Tough, solidly built 5'11" 200 pound back. Doesn't have a lot of moves and instead prefers to barrel over would be tacklers. Runs hard on every play and is very good at track, running under 11.0 in the 100 meters. Had an excellent senior season. Committed to TEMPLE. Bottom line: Glen Mills is a school for court adjudicated youth so that's always a concern, but if he keeps his head on straight, he could excellent for the Owls in the MAC.
43. Levi Brown, Liberty HS (Bethlehem) DT- Has brute strength and is built like a house at 6'2 1/2" and 315 pounds. Excellent run stuffer. Surprisingly athletic for his size and can dunk a basketball. Has a chip on his shoulder from not being recruited more, though mostly it was because he needed to raise his test scores. Helped lead Bethlehem Liberty to the Quad A state title. Committed to TEMPLE. Bottom line: If the big guy can live up to his potential, there won't be too many interior linemen in the MAC who will be able to control him in the trenches.
44. Shawn Bodtmann, West Scranton HS (Scranton) LB- Old school football player with toughness and very good athletic skills. As a running back at West Scranton, he's a force. The negative, however, is that he is only 5'11" and 205 pounds. In some defenses, that may not matter. Committed to Nebraska over Syracuse and Army, but that offer was pulled recently. Bottom line: Good, solid football player now left looking for an offer late in the process.
45. John Wetzel, Brashear HS (Pittsburgh) OT- Very lengthy 6'7" 270-pounder that needs to add weight and strength. His development has been hindered by the Pittsburgh City League coaching that doesn't have the resources to spend time and develop him. Chose BOSTON COLLEGE over Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Miami, OH and New Hampshire. Bottom line: He is very raw, but he has the natural size. BC finds ways to turn giant linemen into excellent players so at least he will have the great coaching.
46. Tyler Bullock, Mechanicsburg HS (Mechanicsburg) DE- Tough, hardnosed player with a blue collar attitude. Not flashy and doesn't appear to have the elite athleticism that will make him a great pass rusher in college, but he will play hard every down and make his fair share of plays. Currently at 6'3" and 235 pounds, and he will need to get bigger and add more strength. Committed to UCONN. Bottom line: What you see is what you get. Won't be a star, but he will help your team.
47. Jake Reeder, State College HS (State College) TE- Solidly built 6'5" 250-pounder who is a physical, hard charging player. Doesn't have the speed to stretch the field, but he is an excellent blocker, runs precise routes, and has good hands. Had a very good senior season. Committed to BUFFALO. Bottom line: May not be a star, but he has the makings of a very dependable, well rounded contributor.
48. Steve Marck, Pennsbury HS (Fairless Hills) TE- Not great at any one facet of the position, but is a good all around prospect that always performs well. Lacks great size at 6'2" and 230 pounds, but he's a willing and tough blocker, with decent speed and good hands. Brother, C.J., has transferred from UConn to MIAMI (OH) and now his younger brother will join him. Also had offers from Syracuse, Akron and Buffalo. Bottom line: Solid football player who would have gotten even more looks had he been bigger.
49. Ryan Womack, G.A.R. Memorial HS (Wilkes-Barre) RB/S- Very athletic 6'0" 185 pounder who has dominated the northeast part of the state for the past two seasons. Very good speed with long legs that makes him look like he's gliding. Runs hard on offense and is very active on defense. Was all-state the last two seasons, once as a defensive back and once as a running back. Bottom line: Not many coaches come through the area which is too bad because this kid could play major college football.
50. Durrell Johnson, Wyoming Valley West HS (Plymouth) OG- Nice size already at 6'4" and 280 pounds. Very quick off the ball and has good feet, but he must hold his blocks longer. Well coached by the legendary George Curry, the former longtime coach at Berwick. Was all-state the last two seasons. Bottom line: Another sleeper from the Poconos who is highly under recruited.
