2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the tight ends

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, August 16, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top tight ends for the 2024 season.

1. Brady O’Hara

North Catholic

Senior, 6-6, 250

O’Hara took a pass 75 yards for a touchdown in North Catholic’s season opener a year ago. Three weeks later, he did it again, scoring another 75-yard touchdown. The Penn State commit is built like a tight end, but also showed the quickness for the position. He had a team-high 16 catches, 308 yards and two touchdowns last season. Pitt, Northwestern and Wisconsin were among his other college options when he committed last summer to the Nittany Lions. O’Hara was voted first-team all-conference in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny.

Watch Brady O’Hara highlights

2. Adam Gehm

Seneca Valley

Junior, 6-6, 230

Gehm is another big-bodied receiver with enough quickness to cause defenses some trouble. He scored two touchdowns last season, converting red zone chances of 8 and 3 yards. He finished the season with eight catches and 85 yards. He has college offers from Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Syracuse, Toledo and Wisconsin. Coaches voted him second-team all-conference in Class 6A.

Watch Adam Gehm highlights

3. Kaleb Platz

Montour

Senior, 6-2, 225

Platz, a three-year starter at tight end, caught 24 passes for 232 yards and six touchdowns over the past two seasons combined. He proved to be a red zone threat last fall, catching touchdowns of 12, 11, 8 and 7 yards. He also is a standout middle linebacker, making a team-leading 110 tackles last season. His college offers include Akron, Cornell, Maine, Mercyhurst, New Hampshire, Robert Morris, Toledo and UMass.

Watch Kaleb Platz highlights

4. TJ Sabatucci

Canon-McMillan

Junior, 6-2, 225

Canon-McMillan as a team had only five passing touchdowns last season and Sabatucci caught two. He pulled in a pair of 7-yard TDs in a win over Mt. Lebanon. Voted first-team all-conference in Class 6A, Sabatucci finished with four catches for 39 yards and was a reliable blocker in an offense that rushed for 20 touchdowns. He is also a disruptive defensive end for the Big Macs. His first FBS offer came this week from Miami (Ohio).

Watch TJ Sabatucci highlights.

5. Ethan Shearer

Central Valley

Junior, 6-0, 225

Whether lined up as an H-back or a traditional tight end, defenses must keep track of Shearer. As Central Valley’s receptions leader last season, he had 21 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Though not as big as some on this list, he’s a strong blocker and excels at linebacker, where he made 97 tackles. He has offers from Eastern Michigan and Miami (Ohio).

Watch Ethan Shearer highlights

One to watch

Tyler Hatton

West Allegheny

Sophomore, 6-4, 240

The highlight of Hatton’s freshman year was a 17-yard touchdown catch against Aliquippa. In a West A offense that relied on the run, he finished the year with three catches in limited playing time. His number of catches and snaps could both increase this season. He already has college offers from Robert Morris and UNLV, where WPIAL alum Brennan Marion is offensive coordinator.

Watch Tyler Hatton highlights

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Position breakdowns

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K

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Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Central Valley, Montour, North Catholic, Seneca Valley, West Allegheny