2023 Top 100, Commitment Report; ACC & BIG12
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Many prospects inside our recently updated 2023 rankings are beginning to make their future collegiate intentions known. In this piece, we will highlight hard/verbal commitments to the ACC and BIG12 conferences, specifically Top-100 prospects out of Pennsylvania. We at Prep…
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Continue ReadingMany prospects inside our recently updated 2023 rankings are beginning to make their future collegiate intentions known. In this piece, we will highlight hard/verbal commitments to the ACC and BIG12 conferences, specifically Top-100 prospects out of Pennsylvania. We at Prep Redzone congratulate each and every one of these young men and wish each nothing but the best along their long journey ahead.
BIG12 Conference
Rodney Gallagher Rodney Gallagher 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Laurel Highlands | 2023 State PA | 6’0, 160 | ATH | Laurel Highlands | West Virginia
Josiah Trotter Josiah Trotter 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB St. Joseph's Prep | 2023 State PA | 6’2, 220 | LB | St. Joseph’s Prep | West Virginia
Jahiem White Jahiem White 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB William Penn (York) | 2023 State PA | 5’9, 190 | RB | William Penn (York) | West Virginia
Cooper Young Cooper Young 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Downingtown West | 2023 State PA | 6’5, 300 | OL | Downingtown West | West Virginia
Eight total prospects have committed to ACC or BIG12 football thus far. Half of those prospects have committed to just one team inside the BIG12, that being West Virginia University. In previous pieces on the site, I have written about the traction West Virginia has gained in Pennsylvania, the list above not including former PA standout, James Heard. West Virginia is bringing in real talent out of the state, so far landing 4 Top-25 prospects, with the potential for more in the foreseeable future.
Rodney Gallagher Rodney Gallagher 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Laurel Highlands | 2023 State PA is currently the highest-ranking recruit, regardless of state, to verbally commit to WVU. We know about Gallagher’s multi-position prowess at Laurel Highlands, but we suspect WVU has plans for the dual-sport athlete at the wide receiver position. He will join Virginia’s Tory Johnson Jr. as the only two wideouts to commit amongst 2023 prospects.
Next, we have the top LB in the state, who is also the highest-ranking linebacker to verbally commit to WVU thus far. He is amongst New Jersey’s James Heard and North Carolina’s Ben Cutter as the three current linebacker commits. Josiah Trotter Josiah Trotter 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB St. Joseph's Prep | 2023 State PA being the first to make his plans known, announcing early in April.
Amongst 16 hard commits, Jahiem White Jahiem White 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB William Penn (York) | 2023 State PA was the first to commit, announcing this move mid-way through December last year. White’s fully invested in all things WVU, helping recruit potential future Mountaineers on almost every social media platform. Georgia’s Jordan Louie will join White in the running back room, two similarly ranked backs.
Last but not least is Cooper Young Cooper Young 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Downingtown West | 2023 State PA , the most recent Top-25 prospect to commit to WVU. The 2023 WVU linemen class has a ways to go before being considered solidified, as Cooper Young Cooper Young 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Downingtown West | 2023 State PA is currently the only linemen to verbally commit thus far.
https://twitter.com/CooperYoung44/status/1536002735874748417?s=20&t=TjEArnEAeGoM7DOdVPhIGA
Atlantic Coast Conference
Kenny Johnson Kenny Johnson 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Dallastown Area | 2023 State PA | 6’2, 190 | WR | Dallastown Area | Pittsburgh
Braylan Lovelace Braylan Lovelace 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Leechburg | 2023 State PA | 6’1, 190 | LB/ATH | Leechburg | Pittsburgh
Markus Dixon Markus Dixon 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA | 6’5, 230 | TE | Archbishop Wood | Clemson
Gabriel Arena Gabriel Arena 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Bishop McDevitt | 2023 State PA | 6’5, 285 | OL | Bishop McDevitt | Virginia Tech
The last four commits are a bit more spread out than the first four. The University of Pittsburgh has secured two big names in top-ranked wide receiver Kenny Johnson Kenny Johnson 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Dallastown Area | 2023 State PA , along with Top-10 PA linebacker Braylan Lovelace Braylan Lovelace 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Leechburg | 2023 State PA . Kenny Johnson Kenny Johnson 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Dallastown Area | 2023 State PA ’s reign as the top wideout has come without much competition, as Johnson’s dominance year in and year out has pushed away arguments for any other prospect. Johnson will be joined by Zion Fowler out of Jersey City, New Jersey. Fowler’s skillset is similar to Johnson’s. Fowler verbally committed shortly after the Fall season ended back in October of 2021. Braylan Lovelace Braylan Lovelace 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Leechburg | 2023 State PA also announced his verbal commitment to Pitt just one week ago. Braylan is one of the best linebackers the state has to offer, especially on the west side of Pennsylvania, a side Pitt obviously has a grip off. Lovelace is currently the only 2023 linebacker to choose Pitt.
Months ago, I would have figured that Clemson would draw more Pennsylvania prospects than what’s currently projected. Archbishop Wood’s Markus Dixon Markus Dixon 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA is the lone Pennsylvania prospect who has committed to Clemson thus far, the top-ranked Pennsylvania tight-end after Joey Schlaffer Joey Schlaffer 6'5" | 215 lbs | TE Exeter Township | 2023 State PA . He and Florida’s Olsen Patt Henry will provide off-the-charts athleticism to the TE/WR position for years to come, both coming in weighing around 220, standing above 6’3.
The 2023 offensive line class has come along rather nicely for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Before Gabriel Arena Gabriel Arena 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Bishop McDevitt | 2023 State PA ’s verbal to VA Tech, the Hokies already heard verbal commitments from Tennessee’s Lance Wiliams and Virginia’s Hannes Hammer. Arena came in and added to what’s already a solid group of big men, making his future intentions known just 5 days after Hammer. Add potential four-star Layth Ghannam in the mix and you’ve got a group that Virginia Tech can be proud of. Arena will fit in nicely.
Start Jumpin!!!🔥💯🦃🤘 pic.twitter.com/ka4BQyUEJt
— Gabriel Arena (@_GabrielArena_) May 6, 2022