2023 Top 100, Commitment Report; ACC & BIG12

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 Redzone congratulate each and every one of these young men and wish each nothing but the best along their long journey ahead.   BIG12 Conference [player_tooltip player_id="27735" first="Rodney" last="Gallagher"] | 6’0, 160 | ATH | Laurel Highlands | West Virginia [player_tooltip player_id="27736" first="Josiah" last="Trotter"] | 6’2, 220 | LB | St. Joseph’s Prep | West Virginia [player_tooltip player_id="87079" first="Jahiem" last="White"] | 5’9, 190 | RB | William Penn (York) | West Virginia [player_tooltip player_id="103987" first="Cooper" last="Young"] | 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. [player_tooltip player_id="27735" first="Rodney" last="Gallagher"] 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. [player_tooltip player_id="27736" first="Josiah" last="Trotter"] being the first to make his plans known, announcing early in April. Amongst 16 hard commits, [player_tooltip player_id="87079" first="Jahiem" last="White"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="103987" first="Cooper" last="Young"], 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 [player_tooltip player_id="103987" first="Cooper" last="Young"] is currently the only linemen to verbally commit thus far. https://twitter.com/CooperYoung44/status/1536002735874748417?s=20&t=TjEArnEAeGoM7DOdVPhIGA   Atlantic Coast Conference [player_tooltip player_id="87844" first="Kenny" last="Johnson"] | 6’2, 190 | WR | Dallastown Area | Pittsburgh [player_tooltip player_id="64016" first="Braylan" last="Lovelace"] | 6’1, 190 | LB/ATH | Leechburg | Pittsburgh [player_tooltip player_id="140949" first="Markus" last="Dixon"] | 6’5, 230 | TE | Archbishop Wood | Clemson [player_tooltip player_id="27745" first="Gabriel" last="Arena"] | 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 [player_tooltip player_id="87844" first="Kenny" last="Johnson"], along with Top-10 PA linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="64016" first="Braylan" last="Lovelace"]. [player_tooltip player_id="87844" first="Kenny" last="Johnson"]’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.[player_tooltip player_id="64016" first="Braylan" last="Lovelace"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="140949" first="Markus" last="Dixon"] is the lone Pennsylvania prospect who has committed to Clemson thus far, the top-ranked Pennsylvania tight-end after [player_tooltip player_id="97607" first="Joey" last="Schlaffer"]. 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 [player_tooltip player_id="27745" first="Gabriel" last="Arena"]’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. https://twitter.com/_GabrielArena_/status/1522669347109548034?s=20&t=TjEArnEAeGoM7DOdVPhIGA