HS football position by position breakdown: Scouting the wide receivers

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | 7:36 PM

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As more high school offenses take to the air, WPIAL quarterbacks have seen their passing numbers soar. Three quarterbacks entered the Top 6 on the WPIAL’s all-time yardage list just last year alone.

Someone has to be catching these throws.

The WPIAL saw six receivers reach the 1,000-yard milestone last season led by Gateway’s Courtney Jackson, who finished just 84 yards short of 2,000.

Remarkably, there also were 16 wideouts who caught at least 50 passes, led by Mt. Lebanon’s Aidan Cain with 101. Cain, who has since graduated, set a state single-game record with 27 receptions in Week 1 last season. His 350 receiving yards that week broke a WPIAL record.

Cain is gone, but Jackson returns. He leads this talented list of top wideouts, all holding Division I scholarship offers.

1. Courtney Jackson

Gateway, sr., 6-0, 165

The Syracuse commit was Gateway’s top weapon in last season’s run to the state Class 5A finals. Jackson made 96 catches for 1,916 yards and 24 touchdowns (plus two rushing TDs). He averaged 20 yards per reception and led the WPIAL in yardage.

2. RJ Hart

Imani Christian, sr., 6-3, 200

Hart ranked fifth in the WPIAL last season with 63 catches. Among returning receivers, only Jackson had more. The Ball State commit totaled 978 receiving yards , an average of 15.5 per catch, and scored 11 times for the WPIAL Class A runner-up.

3. Dante Cephas

Penn Hills, sr., 6-1, 175

Cephas lists Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State and Toledo among his FBS offers. Cephas led Penn Hills with 15 touchdowns last season and averaged 21.3 yards per catch. He made 36 receptions for 767 yards.

4. Dino Tomlin

Shady Side Academy, sr., 5-11, 165

Tomlin, a state hurdles champion, had the best yards-per-catch average among WPIAL players with at least 30 catches. He totaled 714 yards and nine TDs on 30 receptions, a 23.8-yard average. He lists more than a dozen college offers, including Pitt.

5. Marcus Barnes

Jeannette, sr., 6-3, 180

Barnes was a key last season when Jeannette won WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles. He led the Jayhawks with 33 catches and 598 yards. He scored 13 times. His lists FBS offers from Army, Air Force and Navy, along with Robert Morris and other FCS schools.

One to watch

Deoveon Crute

Aliquippa, sr., 6-2, 195

Crute had 18 catches for 215 yards last season but could be targeted more in new coach Mike Warfield’s offense. Crute scored four times. He lists a Division I FBS offer from Buffalo, and FCS offers from Duquesne and Morgan State.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Gateway, Imani Christian, Jeannette, Penn Hills, Shady Side Academy