2021 Fall Team Preview: Archbishop Wood

Welcome to 2021’s Team Preview series! We will highlight programs that are poised to make noise this fall. Ranked players, up-and-coming underclassmen, or watch list prospects, if you’re team has them, we will cover! <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/08/EmPLMEkW4AAdDld-crop-1309x860-1629491058.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-188109" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/08/EmPLMEkW4AAdDld-crop-1309x860-1629491058-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> [player_tooltip player_id="140887" first="C.J." last="Quesada-Rivera"] | 6’3, 290 | OL | 2022 | R/106 [player_tooltip player_id="95283" first="Johnny" last="Pergine"] | 5’11, 215 | LB | 2022 | R/142 [player_tooltip player_id="140861" first="Andrew" last="McHugh"] | 6’1, 175 | DB | 2022 | R/184 [player_tooltip player_id="140897" first="Gilbert" last="Kinsey"] | 6’4, 185 | WR | 2022 | R/278 [player_tooltip player_id="92781" first="Akire" last="Lilley"] | 5’8, 180 | ATH | 2022 | R/287 [player_tooltip player_id="137041" first="Trey" last="Holsman"] | 6’0, 170 | QB | 2022 | R/381 Interesting senior class, as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="137041" first="Trey" last="Holsman"] and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="140861" first="Andrew" last="McHugh"] are the lone prospects originally from Wood. The rest of the ranked seniors were formerly a part of Bishop McDevitt’s senior class. The Catholic League defensive player of the year has to be the biggest addition to this class, plenty of leadership and production will come out of stud linebacker  [player_tooltip player_id="95283" first="Johnny" last="Pergine"]. We are expecting a huge season out of offensive lineman Quesada-Rivera who we actually have ranked above Pergine. No senior is ranked in the top-100, Pergine and Quesada-River could change that with stellar final campaigns. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-110928 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/treyholsman-real-crop-1074x705-1613779588-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="27734" first="Semaj" last="Bridgeman"] | 6’2, 215 | LB | 2023 | R/7 Eric Gardener Jr. | 6’0, 240 | DL | 2023 R/20 [player_tooltip player_id="140949" first="Markus" last="Dixon"] | 6’5, 230 | TE | 2023 | R/23 [player_tooltip player_id="140968" first="Tyrese" last="Whitaker"] | 6’3, 230 | DL | 2023 | R/24 [player_tooltip player_id="140970" first="Jaleel" last="Davis-Shabazz"] | 6’0, 185 | DB | 2023 | R/60 [player_tooltip player_id="66058" first="Cole" last="Evans"] | 6’2, 290 | OL | 2023 | R/111 [player_tooltip player_id="140969" first="Khadir" last="Rowe"] | 6’1, 230 | LB | 2023 | R/201 [player_tooltip player_id="164150" first="Mekhi" last="Wharton"] | 6’5, 205 | QB | 2024 | R/30 [caption id="attachment_39241" align="aligncenter" width="138"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-39241" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/yTz1Nwxh.jpg-medium-138x300.jpeg" alt="" width="138" height="300" /> Photo: @MAJ7___[/caption] The cream of the crop resides in the stacked junior class. Archbishop Wood features five top-100 players, with four being in the top-25. These four juniors are critical to the overall success of this team. [player_tooltip player_id="140968" first="Tyrese" last="Whitaker"] and Eric Gardener Jr. will join forces and make the case for one of Pennsylvania’s scariest defensive lines. I got to see [player_tooltip player_id="27734" first="Semaj" last="Bridgeman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="140949" first="Markus" last="Dixon"] without pads at a 7-on-7 event earlier this year. I can say their athleticism is as advertised. All four are coveted recruits by some of the top football programs in the country. We’ve also got our eyes on stud sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="164150" first="Mekhi" last="Wharton"]. Many scouts have raved of his talent, which we believe to be special. He is ranked as a top 30 recruit in his class.