Gateway’s Secondary and It’s Up-And-Coming Star

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-40952" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/oh-e1596564405657-300x293.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="293" /> In this piece, we will be taking a look at the star-studded secondary at Gateway High School in Pittsburgh, PA. We know of the highly-touted and 2nd-ranked senior prospect out of Gateway High. [player_tooltip player_id="27188" first="Derrick" last="Davis"], who’s top seven schools include Ohio State, Clemson, and LSU, leads the secondary as one of the premier talents the state has to offer. However, alongside Davis, are two prospects who are just as deserving of the spotlight. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27377" first="Shane" last="Thrift"] -  6’0", 175lb, DB/WR, C/O 2021</strong> We start with senior [player_tooltip player_id="27377" first="Shane" last="Thrift"], the 3-star recruit who has verbally committed to The University of Delaware. Thrift isn’t a second fiddle to Davis in any way. He paved his own path to a D-1 offer and doing so while being targeted early and often at Gateway. Don’t let his overall thin build fool you, Thrift likes to get physical and looks to punish pass catchers that challenge him. Thrift can play both safety and corner positions but really plays as a natural corner. His great straight-line speed, good awareness, and lanky long-limbed frame make him an ideal press-corner prospect. Not to mention he is almost 6’1" to match. This kid does a lot of the dirty work for Gateway and fought his way to earning a spot on Delaware’s secondary. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27561" first="Patrick" last="Body"] Jr. - 6’2", 185lbs, DB/WR, C/O 2022</strong> Then there is the junior [player_tooltip player_id="27561" first="Patrick" last="Body"] Jr., the 6’2" 185 pound defensive back who has already fielded offers from multiple D-1 programs. Body is one of the more exciting players to watch in the state because of his ceiling as a prospect. He currently sits as our 9th best junior prospect in all of the state but has every intention and all the ability to be the top prospect in the state this time come next summer. Body has the ideal height-weight combination and shows he can carry even more weight with how well he moves. The up-and-coming star displays great anticipation and hands as a defender. He’s a hard-hitting play-maker who sifts in and out of zones seamlessly. He excels as a press-corner, great upper body strength and elite hand placement make him a dominate line of scrimmage prospect. The best part about Body’s game is how technically sound he is on defense. He does a great job staying square in his backpedal and keeping his pad level low throughout. His hips are as fluid as they come and his read-react ability helps him break on the ball and create pass break-ups quite often. He, much like his senior counterpart, is everything a coach would want in a defensive back. Not to mention Body contributes on offense as well. Gateway is a must watch this coming season, so long as we have a season with potential COVID-19 related shutdowns across the nation. &nbsp;