Clairton’s Lamont Wade Commits to Penn State

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, December 17, 2016 | 8:49 PM

Clairton’s Lamont Wade’s college recruitment has been one of the most publicized and closely followed of any WPIAL player in recent memory. On Saturday night, Wade revealed his decision by saying just two words: We Are. Wade committed to join Penn State, choosing the Nittany Lions over his other finalists, Pitt, West Virginia, Tennessee and UCLA.

Wade is considered either a four or five-star prospect, varying by recruiting services. His 24/7 Sports  composite grade is a four-star player, as he’s ranked as the 50th best player nationally, the second best in Pennsylvania, and the fifth-rated cornerback. As such, Wade becomes the crown jewel of the 2017 class for Penn State, which claimed the Big Ten Championship this season. He joins the top-rated WPIAL recruit from 2016, former Woodland Hills running back Miles Sanders, as a member of the Nittany Lions, proving that the efforts of head coach James Franklin and his staff have paid off in the district.

While the 5-foot-9, 190 pound senior is expected to play in the secondary in college, he was a two-way superstar for the Bears. In addition to his stellar play on defense, Wade produced historic numbers as a running back. He set the Pennsylvania career record for touchdowns, eclipsing another Clairton legend, Tyler Boyd. Wade also surpassed the 7,000-yard rushing mark for his career, including more than 2,300 yards on the ground in 2016.

He was also instrumental in Clairton capturing three-consecutive WPIAL titles, including a 26-6 triumph against Jeannette this season. For his efforts, Wade was also recently named to the MSA Sports Elite Eleven, and was selected as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Additionally, he’s been exemplary in the classroom, with a 3.44 GPA.

Wade will be heading to Happy Valley soon, as he’s expected to enroll early. He graduated from Clairton this semester, with a grade-point average of 3.44.

Tags: Clairton