Penn Hills’ Snell benefits from offseason development
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Friday, July 19, 2019 | 4:51 PM
The Tribune-Review and the TribLive High School Sports Network are profiling each member of the 25-player Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star team. The players will be recognized July 23 during a HSSN Media Day live broadcast at Kennywood Park.
Trips to camps at Pitt and Penn State last month were eye openers for Penn Hills senior wide receiver and safety Aakeem Snell.
“Going to both of those camps gave me a chance to see where I stand in my offseason development and also in the recruiting process,” said Snell, who achieved a goal of a 4.6 40-yard dash at both camps.
“It showed me that I needed to work a little bit harder and what I need to do to be a better player.”
Had a ball at Penn States white out camp⚪️?? performed well and was able to run a 4.63 pic.twitter.com/RE0Fjxutlj
— Aakeem snell (@ARS_2313) June 22, 2019
Snell said instruction from defensive coaches at both camps as well as ongoing work with former Woodland Hills, Notre Dame and NFL defensive back standout Darrin Walls has helped his technique as a defender in the secondary.
“It’s been a more productive summer than any other in my high school career,” Snell said. “I’ve been to more camps this year than last year. Overall, I feel I’ve been working harder because I know how big this season is for me.”
Snell hopes to increase his role for a Penn Hills team that has its sights set on repeating as WPIAL and PIAA champions in Class 5A.
“The coaches have told us to keep our heads down and work,” he said. “We have (the goal of repeating) in the back of our minds. We lost some players, but the ones about to come in were there for the season last year and saw everything that went on. I think everyone is going to be prepared to step in and play like they should.”
Snell said his offseason productivity has helped on both sides of the ball, from being a better blocker and pass-catching threat in the Penn Hills offense to being an improved tackler and a defensive back that no one wants to test.
Last season, Snell hauled in a pair of touchdowns in the Indians passing game. On defense, he picked off three passes and broke up numerous others.
For his defensive efforts, he garnered Class 5A Northern Conference honorable mention recognition.
Snell has several Division I offers under his belt, including ones from Mid-American Conference schools Toledo, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Central Michigan.
His mission is to add to that list. He’s on Pitt and Penn State’s radar, but he hasn’t picked up an offer yet from either.
Snell said he sees many of the area’s top players in the Class of 2020 making verbal commitments, but he wants to let the process play out and make his decision when the time is right. He said if that means after the season, so be it.
“I want to talk with my family and others to make sure everything is in place before I make my decision,” Snell said. “I don’t want to rush anything. I want everything to fall into place. It’s motivation for me to get to the point where I can commit to the school that I want. It’s one of the biggest decisions I can make.”
Aakeem Snell file
School: Penn Hills
Class: Senior
Ht/wt: 6-3/185
Positions: WR/S
Stars: Two
Division I offers: Toledo, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Ohio,
2018 statistics: 4 catches, 67 yards, 2 TDs; 42 tackles, 3 interceptions
Trib HSSN Preseason All-Stars
Daniel Deabner, Thomas Jefferson
Josh Kaltenberger, Seneca Valley
Joshua Rawlings, Woodland Hills
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
Tags: Penn Hills
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