Carter Lance, Penn Hills football players make college plans

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, February 4, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Carter Lance would like to stand out when he hits the practice field for Duquesne’s football team this summer. The Penn Hills senior defensive lineman’s misfortune gave him ample time to devise a recovery plan.

Lance tore his meniscus in the third game of the season and missed the rest of the year. To help work on his conditioning and build his skills, Lance plans to join the Indians’ track and field team this spring.

“I get cleared in three weeks,” Lance said. “Since I’m going to college, I don’t want to be out of shape. I’m going to join the track team and run to get my endurance back up. I want to move at a good pace and get an opportunity to play early.’

The winter has been a busy season for Penn Hills football players announcing college commitments. Julian Dugger is already at Pitt, while Kelsey Hundley committed to Richmond early in the cycle.

Lance and D’Andre Cochran recently announced their commitments to Duquesne and Lock Haven, respectively.

“We’ve been talking about this since we were in the eighth grade, and all wanted to play in the NFL,” Lance said. “Seeing everyone commit to college is taking the next step to their dream. I want to see my brothers have nothing but success, be it in football or anything else.”

Penn Hills coach Charles Morris also said there will be a few more players making their college choices over the next few weeks.

Morris said the Indians have done an excellent job of keeping up with their academics.

“It’s a testament to their hard work and their hard work in the classroom,” Morris said. “We helped enforce it with the team with progress notes, study tables and checking grades daily. You have to have a certain GPA and a lot of things have fallen into place and you are seeing more guys get scholarship money.”

Cochran will head to a Lock Haven team that finished 5-6 in the PSAC last season. Cochran will play in the defensive backfield for Lock Haven.

“Lock Haven got a steal,” Morris said. “His leadership, consistency, playmaking, athleticism and quickness are all strong.”

Lance will be stepping into a competitive environment at Duquesne. The Dukes won the NEC last season before losing to the Youngstown State in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Lance said he appreciates the coaching staff sticking with him.

“They are one of the only schools that stayed loyal to me after I tore my meniscus,” Lance said.

Tags: Penn Hills