By CHRIS DOKISH
This is a very early, unofficial look at the top 10 players in Pennsylvania for the recruiting class of 2008. This list could—and probably will—change before the Preseason Top 50 comes out this spring, but this is the top group right now. The following players will be high school seniors in the fall of 2007 and are potentially members of the 2008 recruiting class.
1. TERRELLE PRYOR, Jeannette HS (Jeanette) - Not only the best prospect in the state, he may also be the best prospect in the country. At 6’6” and 225 pounds, he will definitely be a quarterback because he will only go to a school that promises him an opportunity at the position. And forget these ridiculous red-shirt possibilities. You don’t bring in the No. 1 prospect in the country to sit on the bench. Look for it to be Pitt, Penn State, or Ohio State, and he is far from naming a leader. What each team’s quarterback situation looks like after this season could go a long way in his final choice. While those close to him are adamantly denying rumors that Ohio State is his early leader, that doesn’t mean he won’t end up with the Buckeyes. Pryor does like Ohio State, as well as Pitt and Penn State. Pitt is the local school and family ties may be enough to keep him close to home. He really likes Penn State football as well, and has been to many of their games, but it remains to be seen how their lack of a top basketball program will hurt. It may even help since he will have a better chance to play more.
2. SHAYNE HALE, Gateway HS (Monroeville) - Right now, the very competitive No. 2 spot goes to this 6’4” 230 pound linebacker. A physical specimen that already has the physique of an NFL linebacker. Good speed, but excellent game speed. Very strong, athletic, and active. Pitt, West Virginia, Tennessee, Michigan, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Wisconsin and Ohio State are just some of the top programs that have offered. Penn State hasn’t offered yet, but when they do, look for them, Pitt, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Michigan to be the contenders.
3. CHRISTIAN WILSON, Montour HS (Pittsburgh) - Great size-speed combo at 6’3 ½” and 225 pounds. Very athletic. Has been injury-plagued in his career but when at full speed, he is a big time player. Likes running back, but he may be too tall for the position. Is also getting offered at H-back and linebacker. His highly impressive early list of offers include Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Clemson, Ohio State, Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Auburn. There are over 20 total at this early stage and Florida and Georgia are among another large group of top programs that are inquiring. His coach, Lou Cerro, thinks Pitt, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan are the strongest contenders and a paring of the list will happen this spring.
4. JONATHAN BALDWIN, Aliquippa HS (Aliquippa) - Very athletic and quick wide receiver prospect with a superb 6’6” 220 pound frame. Also a major basketball prospect with an offer from Marquette, but in football he already has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Georgia Tech. His father played at Pitt, and Aliquippa has sent many players to Pitt, but Baldwin currently names Michigan is his early favorite.
5. LUCAS NIX, Thomas Jefferson HS (Jefferson Hills) - Excellent left tackle prospect that could also get many looks for defensive tackle. Very polished offensive tackle prospect with excellent 6’5” 280 size, and the frame to add much more. Had a great junior year for one of the best programs in PA. Explosive, tough and quick feet. His head coach, Bill Cherpak, played at Pitt, and the school sends most of their top prospects to Pitt. On top of that, Nix’s older brother Nate is a redshirt freshman linebacker at Pitt this year with a bright future. The younger Nix has been a regular on the Pitt campus for two years and because of that the Panthers are considered a heavy favorite. Michigan, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Purdue and Virginia are among the others who have offered already.
6. ANDREW SWEAT, Trinity HS (Washington) - Hayle gets all the publicity but he is going to have to have a great year to hold off Sweat for the title of PA’s best linebacker. At 6’2 ½” 225 pounds, Sweat will only get bigger, which is not good news for the rest of the state, because he can do everything else. Extremely active, quick, strong, and instinctive, Sweat is only going to get better. Pitt, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa are among the impressive offers right now.
7. JARRED HOLLEY, Easton HS (Easton) - Cover corner with excellent skills. Stands 5’11” and 170 pounds now, so he needs to get a little stronger, but speed and athleticism is not a problem at all. Terrific player at a highly coveted position. Also an excellent student and a high character person. Early offers include Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, NC State, Virginia and Rutgers.
8. A.J. ALEXANDER, Altoona Area HS (Altoona) - If speed kills then Alexander is a cold blooded assassin. One of the faster players in the country, this high school quarterback will be a wide receiver and return man in college. Not very tall, but has a solid body at 5’11” and 180 pounds. Pittsburgh, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Rutgers and Iowa are among the early offers.
9. DAVID POSLUSZNY, Hopewell HS (Aliquippa) - The younger brother of former Penn State legend Paul Posluszny, he could project as a linebacker or safety. He prefers safety but at 6’2” and 200 pounds, he could grow into a linebacker like his brother. Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia and Wisconsin are his early offers. If Penn State eventually offers, and it seems probable, then they become a strong contender, obviously. However, if he wants to make his own mark, look for Notre Dame to be a favorite.
10. MARK WEDDERBURN, Cardinal O’Hara HS (Springfield) - Big 6’5 ½” 225 pound tight end prospect. Obviously needs to gain a lot of weight, but he also has the frame to do it. Very quick and athletic, playing basically as a wide receiver most of the time. His older brother, Floyd, was an offensive lineman at Penn State. Early offers include Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Boston College and Rutgers.
