Westmoreland high school notebook: Recruiting picks up for Jeannette’s Marcus Barnes

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 3:18 PM

Football recruiting is beginning to pick up steam for Jeannette junior Marcus Barnes, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound wide receiver and defensive back.

He has Division I offers to play at Army West Point and Howard and Division II offers from Seton Hill and West Virginia State.

Memphis, Barnes said, also is showing strong interest.

Despite the uptick in attention, Barnes has remained humble.

“It means a lot (to get recruited),” Barnes said. “But I cannot let it get to my head. I have to act as if I don't have any (offers). It's really about getting back to the state championship. Whatever else happens, happens.

“I'll just have to be a great leader and push my team beyond belief if I want to get the same goal as last year.”

Barnes had 44 receptions for 605 yards and 13 touchdowns for Jeannette, which won WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships. He also had seven interceptions.

His father, Johnnie, was a wide receiver for the Steelers and San Diego Chargers.

More recruiting

Franklin Regional senior Nate Leopold will continue his football career at John Carroll, a Division III program in Ohio.

Leopold (6-0, 177) was one of the most versatile players in WPIAL Class 5A last season, playing quarterback, running back, receiver and defensive back. He rushed for a team-high 540 yards and six touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 375 yards. He had 50 tackles and blocked four kicks on defense.

He was recruited as a defensive back but said he could move to offense.

“I loved the campus, the coaches and just everybody at the school,” he said. “It was the best fit both academically and athletically.”

• Greensburg Salem senior Jake Hoyle signed to play linebacker at Seton Hill. Hoyle (6-1, 205) was a dual-threat quarterback for the Golden Lions, passing for 495 yards and rushing for 430 last season. He played only six games after suffering a knee injury.

• Ligonier Valley senior Alex Caldwell will continue his wrestling career at Lindsey Wilson, an NAIA school in Columbia, Ky.

• Greensburg Central Catholic senior Olivia Stawovy will continue her golf career at Point Park. She has helped the Centurions win three consecutive WPIAL team titles.

The few, the proud

With senior running back John Gay IV committing to play at Air Force, Penn-Trafford will have football players at the three FCS-level service academies. Michael Pifer is a junior long-snapper at Navy, and Will Schumacher is a sophomore lineman at Army.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Penn-Trafford