2024 Rankings Update: Top Ten District 7 (WPIAL) Prospects
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After this most recent rankings update, we will begin breaking down the top prospects from each of the 12 districts in Pennsylvania. After our most recent 2023 update just a couple weeks back, District 7 put through 30 total…
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Continue ReadingAfter this most recent rankings update, we will begin breaking down the top prospects from each of the 12 districts in Pennsylvania.
After our most recent 2023 update just a couple weeks back, District 7 put through 30 total prospects into the top-100 of a 700-name list. Almost a third of the 2023 Top-100 consisted of WPIAL players, a number only topped by District 12 players. Now, with our most recent 2024 update, District 7 has come away with 10 total prospects in the Top-40 alone. Safe to say the district is well represented on our site, as it should be.
Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA | 6’3, 200 | ATH | Belle Vernon Area
Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA has taken over the top spot at the “ATH” position this update. When looking at Pennsylvania through the lens of “Who is the best football player?” Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA should be at the top of the discussion. When looking for the best “football player”, you would first look for how many ways does the prospect affect the game. You can make the case that Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA could be ranked the best RB, WR, or DB. There aren’t too many players in the state regardless of class that can make this argument for themselves other than Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA . Elite athleticism, elite vision with the ball in his hands. A quality trait that I admire of the young man is his ability to create something out of nothing. There are many players in the state that can be deemed “elusive” or “playmakers”, Martin is all of that without needing much blocking, scheming, or open field/space. The young man is so natural on the football field, the awareness at each alignment or position is incredible, something the top coaches in the country covet. Martin is currently holding offers from Florida State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M as well as a myriad of other elite programs.
Full sophomore Season Highlights Check them out (2 games missed)
🔥🔥 https://t.co/PvIohWYDaf— Quinton Martin (@Quintonanthony_) November 30, 2021
Anthony Speca Anthony Speca 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2024 State PA | 6’3, 220 | LB | Pittsburgh Central Catholic
When trying to find your ideal quarterback of your offense, one of the first traits you’d like to see is poise. When I break down Anthony Speca Anthony Speca 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2024 State PA ’s tape, I see poise but at the linebacker position, a word not often used to describe play at the position. Watching Speca work, I see a player that is so instinctual, so ready for anything the offense throws his way, he always seems poised as the quarterback of the defense. Hardly any false steps, any hesitation, any thinking going on when watching his tape. The kid is a machine that carries elite play recognition ability. Incredible shedding ability, whether it’s quick hands, or quick lateral movements or balance, he can shed or out maneuver attempting blockers with ease at times. There are plenty of outstanding run-stopping linebackers in the state, that isn’t necessarily hard to find. What makes Speca special is his legitimate ability to diagnose and recognize passing concepts and patterns, which leads me to believe he could have a future at safety at the next level. One thing is for sure, the young man is going to be special at the next level. Speca is currently holding four SEC offers as well as numerous ACC and BigTen offers.
ANTHONY SPECA
6’2 1/2” 225lbs – ILB
2024 Central Catholic
FULL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/CllvGm3mZY@flem021 @210ths @wpialsportsnews @Big56Conference @Evolve2tenths @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247— Anthony Speca (@aspeca6) November 23, 2021
Cameron Lindsey Cameron Lindsey 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Aliquippa | 2024 State PA | 6’2, 205 | LB | Aliquippa
Penn State was first to pounce on this Aliquippa stud, dating back to last year. Since then, UMass, Toledo, West Virginia, Syracuse and many more programs have reached out to the State Champion linebacker expressing interest in the form of offers. Lindsey’s tape immediately shows off his athleticism to cover the Curl zones in the middle of the defense, taking back two interceptions for scores right out of the gate. Next you see the ability to shoot gaps and stuff runs while moving laterally. Lindsey’s tape covers the entire spectrum. I personally am waiting to see what his new physique will look like this Fall. His tape and production prove that his size shouldn’t be questioned, the countless offers from elite programs proves that as well. Yet I wonder what this kid’s ceiling could be, the outstanding sophomore season wasn’t an outlier. I’m excited to see just how high this kid can climb up our boards.
Peter Gonzalez Peter Gonzalez 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2024 State PA | 6’2, 195 | WR | Pittsburgh Central Catholic
The rank comes as a projection of where we think Peter Gonzalez Peter Gonzalez 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2024 State PA is in recruiting circles, as well as where we believe Gonzalez will end up after this Fall season. There were very high expectations for the young man this past Fall. Gonzalez might not have been happy with his overall performance, I sure as hell was. We have to put into perspective that this kid was just a sophomore yet making plays and scoring on a loaded Pittsburgh Central Catholic team that can attack a defense on the ground or through the air. Gonzalez enters as a top five wide receiver for the first time in his young career. We would all love for production to rise but that will come in time, it’s certainly not something that would stop elite programs from offering. I’ve had the chance to see Gonzalez up close and personal years ago, he was the best athlete on the field. I think no differently now, I am excited to see his upperclassmen tape this Fall.
Ryan Cory Ryan Cory 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA | 6’4, 290 | OL | Pine-Richland
Ryan Cory Ryan Cory 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA slots as the WPIAL’s best 2024 linemen, as well as the classes third best linemen overall. The All-Conference guard is powerful enough to lock out his arms against defenders of equal size and strength. Huge testament to the kid’s upper body strength, as well as his hand placement off the snap. One of the more well put together linemen prospects you can find in this class, let alone district. Hard to poke holes in this kid’s game. At guard, Cory has the foot speed and balance to navigate the trenches, steer accordingly, or move to find his next assignment at the second level. His height/weight combination is sufficient. His open field athleticism is on display when screen plays are called. There’s toughness and anger to his game, something that is a must when projecting a kid to the Power Five level. No projection is needed, that status has been validated thanks to offers from schools like Maryland, Oregon, Cincinatti, Pitt and much much more. Ryan Cory Ryan Cory 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA is one of the safer prospects in this class.
Jackson Pons Jackson Pons 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Norwin | 2024 State PA | 6’1, 185 | ATH | Norwin
Jackson Pons Jackson Pons 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Norwin | 2024 State PA has seen a roller coaster of movement on our rankings since his entry as a freshman early last year. Whenever I see Pons live, he dominates. Yes, questions raise when looking at on-field production, yet much like Peter Gonzalez Peter Gonzalez 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2024 State PA , this rank is more of a “what’s to come” projection. There’s no doubt in my mind that Pons can be one of the elite pass catchers in the state, we just want to see it on the field. The Pons sophomore tape is hardly disappointing, it provides reps from a true two-way player that validates Pons’ “ATH” designation. Pons is one of the state’s best ball locaters, this stands for either side of the football. Elite leaping radius paired with some of the best hands the class can offer, I could see Pons receive a similar rank without his expected defensive back reps. Happy to see Pons’ recruitment begin to heat up, seeing the young man secure offers from Toledo, Bowling Green, and Mississippi State this Spring/Summer. We are excited to see what Norwin and Pons have in store for Pennsylvania HS football fans this Fall.
Julian Dugger Julian Dugger 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA | 6’4, 195 | QB | Penn Hills
Folks on the west side of Pennsylvania have known for some time just how high Julian Dugger Julian Dugger 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA ’s ceiling could and should be. People outside of Western Pennsylvania are finally beginning to catch up. Dugger takes the top quarterback spot this update while also placing as the third best quarterback in the class. This is a huge rise in stock, a rise that has been echoed by a fabulous month of May. Dugger entered the month as one of the state’s best un-offered prospects. He left the month with offers out of UMass, Toledo, and Pittsburgh. Just a little bit of validation for the young man. The lefty is special on the move, throwing on the move, that is. Yes, Dugger is special with his legs alone, but not enough can be said about his arm talent at the position. I came away impressed with some of the placement he put on balls 35-40 yards down field. The absolute best part of Dugger’s game is the fact that there is so much room for improvement. Dugger’s athleticism, combined with his arm talent and height/weight combination have him in prime position to be ranked the state’s top quarterback overall. We just want to see him clean up some of the mechanical issues seen on tape, something that can be done in just one off-season of work. From people in the know, the young man is a hungry and tireless worker. Can’t wait to see how high he can raise his stock.
Full Sophomore season!! Just the beginning even more to come. @210ths @Evolve2tenths @phqbclub @EdOBrienCFB #humbleoverhype https://t.co/nZfYTkiEpq
— Julian Dugger (@JulesDugger02) February 8, 2022
Jaquon Reynolds Jaquon Reynolds 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Gateway | 2024 State PA | 5’7, 170 | RB | Gateway
Dugger, Chmura and Gateway’s Jaquon Reynolds Jaquon Reynolds 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Gateway | 2024 State PA have had meteoric rises this update. All three were out of the top-50 just a week ago. Happy to finally place them at a more suitable spot. I wouldn’t have argued designating Reynolds as an “ATH”, that’s exactly what he is. Reynolds is the first back on the list, don’t get it twisted, the kid is equally as effective as a pass-catcher as he is touting the rock for Gateway. 1,100 all-purpose yards with 11 scores to boot, Reynolds is a great blend of balance and foot speed. He consistently finds a hole to exploit and doesn’t dance, he’s got one goal in mind and it’s the endzone. Tougher than his 5’7, 170 frame might suggest. Reynolds is one of my Off-Season Champions, thanks to close relations, I’ve been able to see just how hard the young man has worked in the weight room as well as how dominant his performances have been at collegiate camps. Reynolds stock is on a steady incline, recently receiving offers from Bowling Green, UMass, Akron, and Temple.
Cameron Chmura Cameron Chmura 6'3" | 290 lbs | DL North Allegheny | 2024 State PA | 6’3, 275 | DL | North Allegheny
Another huge climb for our 1st-Team All-Camp selection. I’m fully prepared to raise this kid’s stock even further after the Fall season commences. Back before our camp, I was openly baffled to the fact that Chmura had no FBS offers. Happy to see that notion change just days after his incredible performance at our camp. Chmura has been dominant in pretty much every camp setting he’s been in, from what I’ve seen from clips or heard from coaches in the area. I was happy to see his skillset for myself, even happier to finally see Kent State and UMass finally pull the trigger on a true G5/P5 talent. No matter his ceiling, Chmura has earned everything that has come his way thus far. The young man boasts an incredible work ethic that is matched with intensity on the field. North Allegheny has a stud in the making for the next two Falls.
Brad Birch Brad Birch 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Gateway | 2024 State PA | 6’2, 180 | QB | Gateway
Last but certainly not least is quarterback Brad Birch Brad Birch 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Gateway | 2024 State PA , teammate of Jaquon Reynolds Jaquon Reynolds 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Gateway | 2024 State PA and one of the more prolific passers in the state. Birch put up huge numbers during his sophomore campaign, throwing for 2,700+ yards and 36 total scores. If Gateway scored it was most likely due to the talents of either prospect listed above. Birch stands as one of the more confident passers I’ve come across in my short time covering Pennsylvania football. A window doesn’t exist that Brad Birch Brad Birch 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Gateway | 2024 State PA doesn’t think he can squeeze a ball into. The confidence extends throughout the route tree, whether it be to hit out-breaking routes on the opposite side of the field, hit seams that cut between three defenders, or vertical shots 40-50 yards downfield. I can make the easy argument for Birch as having the best arm talent of any quarterback in Pennsylvania. An effortless, volume passer who can actually surprise some with his feet. The top quarterback spot in this class is still up for grabs. I can certainly see a future where Birch retains the top spot that he claimed back when the 2024 list debuted.