Western Pa.’s top 10 football prospects for the Class of 2020
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Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | 8:18 PM
1. Michael Carmody
Mars
6-5, 290, offensive tackle
Carmody is in the midst of basketball season for top-ranked Mars, but his college future is on the offensive line. Rivals ranks Carmody as a four-star recruit and the 29th-best offensive tackle nationally. He is rated second overall among Pennsylvania recruits. Nearly two dozen schools have offered him a scholarship including Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia, along with Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State and others.
2. Nikhai Hill-Green
North Catholic
6-2, 215, outside linebacker
Hill-Green added Big Ten offers from Michigan and Purdue in recent weeks. He has played running back and wide receiver for North Catholic, but his future is defense. Rivals ranks Hill-Green as a three-star prospect and the 28th-best outside linebacker nationwide. His growing list of scholarship offers also includes Vanderbilt.
3. Dayon Hayes
Westinghouse
6-3, 215, defensive end
Hayes maybe isn’t as well known as some others in Western Pennsylvania, in part because he plays in the City League. But that should change. The all-City League selection announced a Pitt offer Saturday after the Panthers’ junior day. He also lists FBS offers from Ball State and Toledo.
4. Jack Salopek
Norwin
6-3, 175, quarterback
Salopek’s recruiting stock rose last summer when Pitt became the first school to offer him. He also holds an offer from UMass. He passed for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns this past season. The three-star Rivals recruit ranks as the second-best quarterback in the state behind Manheim Central’s Evan Simon.
5. Josh Rawlings
Woodland Hills
6-6, 235, tight end
Why wouldn’t colleges want a big-bodied tight end from Woodland Hills (i.e. Rob Gronkowski)? Rawlings has more than a dozen FBS offers, including Virginia, Akron and Toledo. His most recent came from Florida International. Rivals ranks him as a three-star prospect.
6. A.J. Beatty
Central Catholic
6-5, 250, defensive end
Beatty ranks among the WPIAL leaders in scholarship offers. He already lists 14 FBS or FCS offers with Mid-American Conference schools Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green among them. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit.
7. Zuriah Fisher
Aliquippa
6-3, 230, linebacker
Fisher was the second-leading tackler on Aliquippa’s state championship defense with 72 stops and five sacks. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit. His first FBS offer came from Syracuse in May. He since has added Bowling Green, Ohio and Kent State.
8. A’meer Allen
Central Catholic
6-4, 270, defensive line
9. A’maar Allen
Central Catholic
6-3, 250, defensive line
Central Catholic has twin brothers on the defensive line with A’meer and A’maar Allen. A number of schools want them as a packaged deal. Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Kent State have extended offers to both. A’meer lists a FIU offer.
10. Jake Lugg
North Allegheny
6-4, 275, offensive line
Lugg, the brother of Notre Dame tackle Josh Lugg, lists a scholarship offer from Nebraska. The younger Lugg, who doesn’t quite have his older brother’s 6-foot-7 size, projects as an interior lineman in college. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit.
THREE FOR 2021
Derrick Davis
Gateway
6-0, 175, linebacker/safety
Davis quickly is becoming a national recruit. Since Jan. 1 he has added scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Syracuse, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech.
Elliot Donald
Central Catholic
6-2, 230, defensive tackle
Donald, the nephew of L.A. Rams star Aaron Donald, has burst onto the recruiting scene. His scholarship list already includes Pitt, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Kent State, Rutgers and Toledo.
Dorien Ford
Baldwin
6-5, 265, defensive end
Ford certainly has the size coaches are wanting. He lists FBS offers from Ball State and Toledo.
Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.
Tags: Aliquippa, Baldwin, Central Catholic, Gateway, Mars, North Allegheny, Norwin, Westinghouse, Woodland Hills
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