Western Pa.’s top football prospects for the Class of 2025

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 | 11:20 PM

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For college coaches recruiting the WPIAL, linebacker has become a position of strength.

That proved true for the 2024 class after Central Catholic teammates Anthony Speca and Cole Sullivan signed Wednesday with Big Ten schools. Speca is Penn State bound. Sullivan is a Michigan recruit. Among their peers, Aliquippa linebacker Cameron Lindsey signed with Pitt, and South Park’s Zach Ludwig chose Michigan.

Looking ahead to 2025, there are more talented linebackers on the horizon.

Here are 10 recruits to watch over the next year.

1. Alex Tatsch

Latrobe

6-3, 210, linebacker

Tatsch saw his recruiting stock rise faster this fall than anyone else in the WPIAL. He added 15 of his 17 college offers since September, a list that grew to include Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia along with Stanford, Southern Cal, South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin and others. A versatile outside linebacker, Tatsch made a team-high 79 tackles this season along with four sacks and four interceptions. He helped Latrobe reach the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals. Recruiting website Rivals.com rates him as a four-star prospect and as the 18th-best outside linebacker nationally. His other offers come from Cincinnati, Akron, Maryland, Duke, Liberty, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Marshall and UConn.

Watch Alex Tatsch highlights

2. Tiqwai Hayes

Aliquippa

6-0, 190, running back

Hayes committed this fall to Penn State, which offered him a scholarship in his freshman season. He chose the Nittany Lions from a top eight that also included Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. Already a three-year starter, Hayes was instrumental in Aliquippa winning three straight WPIAL titles and two state championships. He has 6,078 career rushing yards and proved his durability by handling 245, 252 and 253 carries in his three seasons. Rivals rates him as a four-star prospect and the 22nd-best running back nationally. In this year’s state finals, he rushed 18 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns.

3. Dayshaun Burnett

Imani Christian

6-4, 220, linebacker

Burnett revealed Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Kentucky and Rutgers as his top five schools earlier this month. However, he also announced a Wisconsin offer a few days later, so there could be room for new schools to join his favorites list. Burnett is a standout edge rusher who also showed off his athleticism by playing running back, receiver and quarterback. Rivals ranks him 20th nationally among outside linebacker recruits as a four-star prospect. In all, he has attracted more than a dozen offers, including from Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, Virginia Tech, Akron, Temple, Toledo and UConn.

4. Bradley Gompers

Central Catholic

6-5, 205, linebacker

A broken collarbone kept Gompers sidelined in the regular season, but in the playoffs he showed why college coaches are after him. He made a team-high 17 tackles in the WPIAL finals. Pitt, West Virginia, Boston College, Cincinnati and UNLV have offered scholarships. He has the athleticism to play wide receiver or tight end but probably projects as an outside linebacker in college. He played safety this fall for the Vikings. Rivals, which rates Gompers as a three-star prospect, classifies him as an “athlete” because he’s multi-positional. He ranks 28th nationally in that category.

5. Brady O’Hara

North Catholic

6-6, 240, tight end/offensive line

O’Hara committed to Penn State in September over offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Marshall and UConn. He was recruited as a tight end, but O’Hara acknowledged college coaches might move him to offensive tackle. Rivals rates him as the 39th-best offensive tackle recruit in the country and a three-star prospect. He played tight end and defensive end for North Catholic this fall and caught a pair of 75-yard touchdown passes.

6. Antwan Black

Laurel Highlands

6-1, 170, defensive back

Black intercepted three passes this season and returned two for touchdowns. His longest was a 78-yarder, showing the coverage skills that made him a Power 5 recruit. He lists offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan State, Akron and Toledo. Rivals rates him as a three-star prospect.

7. Mickey Vaccarello

Peters Township

6-3, 210, linebacker

Peters Township has a dominant defense, and Vaccarello’s knack for breaking into the backfield is one reason why. He led the team with 29 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks, helping the Indians win the WPIAL Class 5A title. He holds offers from Boston College, Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse.

8. John Wetzel

Latrobe

6-1, 195, defensive back

Latrobe now has more than one major-college recruit on defense. Wetzel, a safety, returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns this season. He received his first college offers this month from Boston College and Cincinnati.

9. Luke Kosko

Thomas Jefferson

6-4, 210, quarterback

Kosko could see his stock rise in the spring and summer when quarterbacks can showcase their skills at college camps. He has the size and strength for the job and already lists offers from Charlotte and Marshall.

10. Xxavier Thomas

Central Catholic

5-10, 170, defensive back

Thomas, whose brother, Rodney, plays in the NFL, committed Wednesday to Penn State. The cornerback had four interceptions this season and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He also had an offer from Yale, his brother’s alma mater.

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: Aliquippa, Central Catholic, Imani Christian, Latrobe, Laurel Highlands, North Catholic, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity