Platinum "33" Team...
Posted: December 27th, 2005, 1:49 pm
PLATINUM "33" TEAM...
Midstate imprint obvious on annual statewide list
A whopping eight midstate players are on this year's roster, which at first blush seems way too down home for a statewide list. Ah, maybe, maybe not.
First of all, three of the players are from Bishop McDevitt: running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Aaron Berry and offensive lineman Jason Kates. OK, you expected that.
The rest are names you know: Mechanicsburg quarterback Zach Frazer, Lebanon defensive lineman Jared Odrick, Milton Hershey defensive lineman Alim "Abe" Koroma, Harrisburg linebacker Jeremiha Hunter and kicker Collin Wagner of State College.
So, with eight players from around here (yes, State College is "around here" these days), that leaves only 26 others to introduce.
And here they are:
QUARTERBACKS:
Downingtown East's Pat Devlin was an easy choice. Devlin, the Miami recruit, has had a career like no other in state history, at least in one regard. He owns the state's career passing-yardage mark, 8,162.
He is joined by another state-record holder, Frazer, who set the single-season yardage mark a year ago with 3,674 using a corps of athletic and experienced receivers. This year, his yardage number was cut nearly in half at 1,716.
But Frazer's biggest asset, other than his 6-4, 220-pound frame, is his innate ability to read defenses and make good decisions. What he'll need to do next at Notre Dame is back away from his 200-mph throws and learn how to feather the ball when that's what needed.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
All Division I-A bound at some point, and that hasn't always been the case with the state's top receivers.
Berry was the primary target of McDevitt's Jeremy Ricker, and it showed: Berry caught 68 passes for 1,278 yards and 21 touchdowns, the latter number a midstate single-season record.
He is joined by a fleet group: Duquesne's Elijah Fields, West Catholic's John Maddox, Woodland Hills' Wes Lyons and Malvern Prep's Trey Womack. Maddox and Womack have committed to West Virginia and Virginia, respectively; the rest have yet to commit.
RUNNING BACKS:
McCoy's pick is a natural. He is one of just a handful of players to rush for more than 6,000 yards (6,640 to be exact) and might have been able to break the state career rushing record if he had not broken his ankle first, a season-ending injury that occurred in the fourth game.
But that wasn't to be. Instead, McCoy, who led the state in rushing the two previous seasons, yielded the rushing title to Maryland recruit Da'Rel Scott. Scott, the state's reigning Class AAA 100-meter dash champion, racked up 2,440 yards in just 11 games.
The other running backs are western Pennsylvanians, West Allegheny's amazingly diverse Dorin Dickerson and McKeesport's not-used-enough Travis McBride. Dickerson played four positions -- running back, wide receiver, quarterback and kick returner -- while McBride was an option halfback who excelled at defensive back.
McBride has committed to Penn State as a D-back.
Franklin Area's Nate Byham seems to be far and away the No. 1 tight end in the state, and the Pitt recruit follows a line of players from the southern end of District 10.
We took a bit of a flier on the other tight end. Bishop Carroll's Jeff Minemyer has the size at 6-7 and 260 pounds, but he looks raw and probably will need a little work. That's probably what Rutgers was thinking when it took the Husky.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:
All together now: Gee, they sure are big. Actually, this is one of the smallest O-Line groups we've had on the Platinum 33. Kates, the 325-pounder from McDevitt, is the only one who cracks the 300-pound mark.
The rest are almost all headed to Pittsburgh. Franklin Regional's excellent John Malecki and Johnstown's Scott Corson have both committed to the Panthers.
St. Joseph's Prep's Jim McKenzie, committed to Syracuse, has a very strong reputation. The other offensive lineman, Chris Hanna of Gateway, has yet to commit.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:
OK, these guys are big ... just not as big as the offensive linemen, which is the way it's supposed to be.
The emphasis here is on quickness, and you've got that in Koroma, the smallest of the group at 6-2, 275.
Koroma has two future Penn State teammates on the team, Neshaminy's Tom McEowen and Odrick, another raw talent who will need time to develop. Pittsburgh got Baldwin's Jason Pinkston, while Boston College landed North Penn's Josh Neubert.
LINEBACKERS:
A great group. We got a look at McKeesport's Anthony Leonard and were suitably impressed with his aggression and skill. The kid loves to play.
Ditto Woodland Hills' Greg Webster and the excellent Thomas Jefferson duo of Nate Nix and Jason Kolodziej. Webster and Nix are headed for Pittsburgh; Kolodziej, the smallest of the linebackers at 6-0, 235, has yet to commit.
Unfortunately, we did not get a live look at Bethlehem Liberty linebacker Andres Morales because of his suspension for the PIAA Class AAAA final against McKeesport, but we'll take the recruiters' word (Missouri, Pitt, others) that he's pretty good.
Hunter moved up a notch from Manheim Central to Harrisburg and found out that AAAA football is a bit faster and bigger. Earlier this season he noted the difference and said it was preparing him for Division I football. Where? That we do not know.
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
Everything you expect: Athletic. Fleet. Smart.
Woodland Hills' Darrin Walls was battered by injuries, but the Notre Dame recruit is unquestionably one of the state's top athletes. Likewise, Franklin Regional's Brad Phillips missed a portion of his team's playoff run to the Class AAA state championship, but the Northwestern recruit came back for the state title game and showed why he's going to college free.
Westmont Hilltop's Brad Kanuch has impressive speed, as evidenced by his PIAA Class AA 200-meter title (he was second in the 100); he's yet to make a college verbal. Aaron Smith of Gateway is versatile and smart, and that ability scored him a scholarship to Pittsburgh. He is one of eight Pittsburgh recruits on the Platinum 33.
"THE CHOPS".
Midstate imprint obvious on annual statewide list
A whopping eight midstate players are on this year's roster, which at first blush seems way too down home for a statewide list. Ah, maybe, maybe not.
First of all, three of the players are from Bishop McDevitt: running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Aaron Berry and offensive lineman Jason Kates. OK, you expected that.
The rest are names you know: Mechanicsburg quarterback Zach Frazer, Lebanon defensive lineman Jared Odrick, Milton Hershey defensive lineman Alim "Abe" Koroma, Harrisburg linebacker Jeremiha Hunter and kicker Collin Wagner of State College.
So, with eight players from around here (yes, State College is "around here" these days), that leaves only 26 others to introduce.
And here they are:
QUARTERBACKS:
Downingtown East's Pat Devlin was an easy choice. Devlin, the Miami recruit, has had a career like no other in state history, at least in one regard. He owns the state's career passing-yardage mark, 8,162.
He is joined by another state-record holder, Frazer, who set the single-season yardage mark a year ago with 3,674 using a corps of athletic and experienced receivers. This year, his yardage number was cut nearly in half at 1,716.
But Frazer's biggest asset, other than his 6-4, 220-pound frame, is his innate ability to read defenses and make good decisions. What he'll need to do next at Notre Dame is back away from his 200-mph throws and learn how to feather the ball when that's what needed.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
All Division I-A bound at some point, and that hasn't always been the case with the state's top receivers.
Berry was the primary target of McDevitt's Jeremy Ricker, and it showed: Berry caught 68 passes for 1,278 yards and 21 touchdowns, the latter number a midstate single-season record.
He is joined by a fleet group: Duquesne's Elijah Fields, West Catholic's John Maddox, Woodland Hills' Wes Lyons and Malvern Prep's Trey Womack. Maddox and Womack have committed to West Virginia and Virginia, respectively; the rest have yet to commit.
RUNNING BACKS:
McCoy's pick is a natural. He is one of just a handful of players to rush for more than 6,000 yards (6,640 to be exact) and might have been able to break the state career rushing record if he had not broken his ankle first, a season-ending injury that occurred in the fourth game.
But that wasn't to be. Instead, McCoy, who led the state in rushing the two previous seasons, yielded the rushing title to Maryland recruit Da'Rel Scott. Scott, the state's reigning Class AAA 100-meter dash champion, racked up 2,440 yards in just 11 games.
The other running backs are western Pennsylvanians, West Allegheny's amazingly diverse Dorin Dickerson and McKeesport's not-used-enough Travis McBride. Dickerson played four positions -- running back, wide receiver, quarterback and kick returner -- while McBride was an option halfback who excelled at defensive back.
McBride has committed to Penn State as a D-back.
Franklin Area's Nate Byham seems to be far and away the No. 1 tight end in the state, and the Pitt recruit follows a line of players from the southern end of District 10.
We took a bit of a flier on the other tight end. Bishop Carroll's Jeff Minemyer has the size at 6-7 and 260 pounds, but he looks raw and probably will need a little work. That's probably what Rutgers was thinking when it took the Husky.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:
All together now: Gee, they sure are big. Actually, this is one of the smallest O-Line groups we've had on the Platinum 33. Kates, the 325-pounder from McDevitt, is the only one who cracks the 300-pound mark.
The rest are almost all headed to Pittsburgh. Franklin Regional's excellent John Malecki and Johnstown's Scott Corson have both committed to the Panthers.
St. Joseph's Prep's Jim McKenzie, committed to Syracuse, has a very strong reputation. The other offensive lineman, Chris Hanna of Gateway, has yet to commit.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:
OK, these guys are big ... just not as big as the offensive linemen, which is the way it's supposed to be.
The emphasis here is on quickness, and you've got that in Koroma, the smallest of the group at 6-2, 275.
Koroma has two future Penn State teammates on the team, Neshaminy's Tom McEowen and Odrick, another raw talent who will need time to develop. Pittsburgh got Baldwin's Jason Pinkston, while Boston College landed North Penn's Josh Neubert.
LINEBACKERS:
A great group. We got a look at McKeesport's Anthony Leonard and were suitably impressed with his aggression and skill. The kid loves to play.
Ditto Woodland Hills' Greg Webster and the excellent Thomas Jefferson duo of Nate Nix and Jason Kolodziej. Webster and Nix are headed for Pittsburgh; Kolodziej, the smallest of the linebackers at 6-0, 235, has yet to commit.
Unfortunately, we did not get a live look at Bethlehem Liberty linebacker Andres Morales because of his suspension for the PIAA Class AAAA final against McKeesport, but we'll take the recruiters' word (Missouri, Pitt, others) that he's pretty good.
Hunter moved up a notch from Manheim Central to Harrisburg and found out that AAAA football is a bit faster and bigger. Earlier this season he noted the difference and said it was preparing him for Division I football. Where? That we do not know.
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
Everything you expect: Athletic. Fleet. Smart.
Woodland Hills' Darrin Walls was battered by injuries, but the Notre Dame recruit is unquestionably one of the state's top athletes. Likewise, Franklin Regional's Brad Phillips missed a portion of his team's playoff run to the Class AAA state championship, but the Northwestern recruit came back for the state title game and showed why he's going to college free.
Westmont Hilltop's Brad Kanuch has impressive speed, as evidenced by his PIAA Class AA 200-meter title (he was second in the 100); he's yet to make a college verbal. Aaron Smith of Gateway is versatile and smart, and that ability scored him a scholarship to Pittsburgh. He is one of eight Pittsburgh recruits on the Platinum 33.
"THE CHOPS".