2022 Season Preview: Bishop Canevin Crusaders
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The 2021 Bishop Canevin Crusaders went through the WPIAL Eastern Conference with ease. The Crusaders went into their first playoff game with an 11-1 record, a 12-game run of dominant football. Some regular-season victories were won by as much as…
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Continue ReadingThe 2021 Bishop Canevin Crusaders went through the WPIAL Eastern Conference with ease. The Crusaders went into their first playoff game with an 11-1 record, a 12-game run of dominant football. Some regular-season victories were won by as much as 50 to 60 points. BC beat up on teams that flat out couldn’t match up talent-wise. The talent pool was deep, so much so that a State title run seemed imminent for the program. Imani Christian, OLSH, Jeannette, and GCC, programs with solid foundations were run through seemingly effortlessly. The playoffs brought along Cornell and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Much like the regular season, these two were no match for the BC offense. Yet, on December 3rd, Bishop Canevin ran into the eventual 1A champions and took a somewhat surprising loss to the Bulldogs of Redbank Valley. The Crusader defense only gave up more than two scores twice all year, both occurrences ended up being the only two losses of the season. The 2022 Crusaders are in prime position to replicate the run they went on last Fall.
Key Departures: Keshawn Harris, Willie Banks, Eli Wilson
Bishop Canevin’s leading prospect and highest ranking senior is do-it-all athlete Xavier Nelson Xavier Nelson 5’9″ | 160 lbs | ATH Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA . You could make the case that Xavier Nelson Xavier Nelson 5’9″ | 160 lbs | ATH Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA was the best upperclassman at the program even with the class of 2022 being present. A real threat to score with any touch. Can be split out anywhere at wideout, and can act as a vertical threat or take hitches and slants 70+ to the house if need be. Nelson should act as the team’s offensive safety blanket. Hard to go wrong feeding this playmaker. Can’t forget how seasoned his play is at the corner as well. That same playmaking ability translate to the defensive side of the ball as well.
Lesae Lacks Lesae Lacks 5’9″ | 160 lbs | ATH Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA provides a skillset similar to Xavier Nelson Xavier Nelson 5’9″ | 160 lbs | ATH Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA ‘s. Both are prospects who overcome their size deficiencies with production and versatility. Lacks averaged just under 20-yards a catch last Fall. Lacks can be trusted to get open downfield and provide big chunks of yardage if need be. Lacks can also provide quality DB reps, where he stands out from the bunch is his prowess at both kick and punt return. Lacks recently picked up his first offer out of Westminster College.
Keyshawn McCaskill Keyshawn McCaskill 6’3″ | 190 lbs | DB Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA is a prospect who will immediately catch your eye if you see him in a camp setting. McCaskill is a prospect that stands at 6’3 with real defensive back skills. There’s something to be unlocked with this kid, something that I think is worthy of a little more attention from college coaches. You can’t teach size. McCaskill has reps all around the defense, I am intrigued to see what role he plays this Fall. Will he play in the box at safety? What’s the volume of reps at CB or S? Excited to find out.
Here’s a sleeper for those who might be unfamiliar with BC. Travis isn’t sleeping on anyone at Waynesburg, with the University offering him a roster spot this past July. Another crucial piece to the puzzle, Braden can contribute in a myriad of alignments for Bishop Canevin. Championship teams need prospects like this, kids that will do it all on the field. If BC needs Travis to play tight end, he can do so. If he’s needed to play a linebacker spot, he can do so. If they want him to blitz off the edge or even rush with his hand in the dirt, he can do so.
Highlights
Nico Margittai Nico Margittai 6’5″ | 320 lbs | OL Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA is the first linemen representing the Crusaders thus far in this preview. Nico Margittai Nico Margittai 6’5″ | 320 lbs | OL Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA ‘s rank reflects his recent D3 success, yet I still believe the kid could be ranked a tad bit higher based on his size and tackle versatility. I don’t think BC would think twice about lining up Margittai at either tackle spot. The young man could even be kicked inside and power through DTs to help run block. Juniata and Waynesburg are high on the 6’5, 300-pound linemen.
A WL name I’m intrigued by, not enough film to give a proper evaluation.
One rep into Jason Cross’ tape, the young man is heaving a 50-yard bomb for a score. The next rep, he’s running downfield step-for-step with a wideout and securing an interception. Next rep the kid is escaping the pocket and scampering for a 30-yard run. Then he’s causing turnovers at his safety spot. I bet you get the point. Jason Cross is a top 10 athlete in his class and currently acts as the highest-ranked athlete at Bishop Canevin. A junior without 6’2 junior without offers. Excited to see this kid live for the first time.
Bishop Canevin deploys a ton of prospects who play multiple positions, all of whom can be schemed up to produce. There is no need to scheme up ways to get this kid, Marquis Carter, the ball. He’s a traditional back, give him the ball and watch him work. If the BC passing attack ever stalls, they have a great safety valve in Carter to hand the ball off to every down. Carter excels through the trenches, something you don’t see too often from backs under 190 pounds. Carter is tough, balanced, and patient through the gaps. He’s got burst to get out of his patient phase and gain chunks of yardage at a time. The kid has homerun speed too. All else fails, feed this kid the rock, and BC will be okay.
Another sleeper. Bishop Canevin is going to need to maximize this kid’s potential, and other role players alike, if they want another shot at the 1A Title. We have had Joshua Scheible Joshua Scheible 5’11” | 265 lbs | DL Bishop Canevin | 2024 PA on radar for some time and I’m hearing that the young man has put in the work this offseason to become a difference maker inside both trenches. I will surely have my eye on Scheible, we could see a potential stock riser here.
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Bishop Canevin might have the most impactful group of sophomores of any team I previewed thus far.
Beginning with top 50 prospect Braiden Sudor Braiden Sudor 6’0″ | DL Bishop Canevin | 2025 State PA , I can’t help but expect a larger role this Fall, that should lead to more production. The young man’s freshman tape leads you to believe he could be a future name to know in the state. I think he can prove his rank is more than just a future projection.
After is the unassuming Jayden Lindsey Jayden Lindsey 5’8″ | 135 lbs | ATH Bishop Canevin | 2025 State PA . I have had the opportunity to see Lindsey up close on two different occasions. He impressed in both. Throw this kid’s measurables out the window. I don’t care to hear about his size, I care to hear how far along he is from a technical standpoint. I care to hear if he’s coachable. He checks off those boxes. Every time I see the kid he’s gotten better and better in some way. I expect to see the best version of Lindsey Week One.
The 2025 quarterback rankings are loaded, so don’t be turned off by a 13 spot for Kole Olszewski Kole Olszewski 5’11” | 175 lbs | QB Bishop Canevin | 2025 State PA . This kid’s tape surprised the hell out of me. I am not positive about how the quarterback snap will be shared this Fall between Kole and Jason Cross, either way, BC will be in solid hands. I am excited to see how better Olszewski got over the offseason. He already showed promise as a Freshman. How much did he improve?
Last but not least is ATH Donavan Mitchell Donavan Mitchell 5’7″ | 170 lbs | DB Bishop Canevin | 2025 State PA , a prospect who can easily bounce back into the top 50 if he produces and contributes the way we expect him to. There are a ton of mouths to feed already, any initial contribution put forth by Mitchell to win football games could be huge for the program.