Complete Mid-Season Prospect Guide, Philadelphia Catholic League
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Archbishop Wood (1-2) Wins vs. Northeast (14-6) Losses vs. Malvern Prep (3-21), Haverford School (11-35) We all know of the offseason coaching changes that Archbishop Wood endured this summer. The changes subsequently led to many prospects transferring out of the…
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Continue ReadingArchbishop Wood (1-2)
Wins vs. Northeast (14-6)
Losses vs. Malvern Prep (3-21), Haverford School (11-35)
We all know of the offseason coaching changes that Archbishop Wood endured this summer. The changes subsequently led to many prospects transferring out of the program, leading many outside of the school to question whether or not they’ll be able to compete in a way they have in the past. The Vikings still deploy multiple Power Five prospects along with a solid supporting cast. The offseason exodus was blown out of proportion, I think the team might be more hurt by the class of 2022 Vikings that graduated. Either way, there is football to be played. Wood opened against the Malvern Prep Friars, only one of the hottest teams in Pennsylvania that has wins against LaSalle, Imhotep, and Roman along with their dominant 21-3 win over the Vikings. Wood would bounce back against their new “rival” in Northeast, where many former Wood prospects would transfer. In the week after their first victory, Wood went down to yet another Inter-Academic foe in The Haverford School, losing by a wide margin. The Vikings want to silence all the noise and earn their second victory this week.
Top Three Pre-season Ranked Prospects
This trio of prospects is as good as any in the Philadelphia Catholic League. The Vikings deploy two Power Five prospects in their trenches, while also having one of the more athletic pass catchers in the state at tight end.
Three top 20 prospects, we will begin with Eric Gardner Eric Gardner 6’1″ | 250 lbs | DL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA , the second highest ranking senior defensive linemen in the state. Gardner is tied for fourth on the team in tackles while leading the Vikings in TFLs with 3 in 3 games.
Markus Dixon Markus Dixon 6’5″ | 230 lbs | TE Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA can be counted on to make a huge game-changing play any time he’s on the field. Dixon’s production hasn’t been stellar, yet you have to take into account the quarterback situation, something I feel like I’ve said for the past 2-3 years. Even still, Dixon is averaging 24 yards per catch this year, accumulating just under 150 yards receiving in three games, with two touchdowns to boot. The Clemson commit is just getting started.
Can’t go without speaking about one of the hottest names in recruiting coming out of not only Philadelphia but the state as well. Heywood had one of the better offseasons of any linemen prospect in the state, securing offers out of Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, and UConn before suiting up for the start of his junior year. Heywood has since received letters from Maryland, Boston College, Kentucky, and Pitt. Plug in the tape and see what all the hypes about, you’ll understand immediately why this young man’s stock is through the roof. He’s 6’7 and moves like a tight end, yet is powerful enough to punish his opponent opposite him. Heywood has quality run and pass blocking reps from both tackle spots, something most tackles his age can’t say. Kudos to Power Five programs for identifying and pulling the trigger on this kid early. Heywood certainly projects to the offensive line at the next level, yet the Vikings ask that he play both ways, something that’s difficult to not ask of a kid who is this size if I’m being honest. I’m excited to see this kid in person this season.
Highlights
Top Risers
- Ryan Wilson Ryan Wilson 6'1" | 200 lbs | DB Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA
- Malachi Generette Malachi Generette 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA
- Cole Evans Cole Evans 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA
- Jason Baldwin
- Yasin Lowry
- Cameron Giscombe
Ryan Wilson Ryan Wilson 6'1" | 200 lbs | DB Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA is having a solid year for the Vikings. He’s got his hands in everything, making the most of all reps and roles the coaching staff implements him in. Wilson has secured 8 total tackles in three games, a solid number for a DB, while doing all he can to get this offense off the ground. Wilson is the leading rusher for the Vikings, toting the rock 36 times for 147 yards and a score in three games. Wilson has also helped out in the passing game, coming in second in receiving behind stud Markus Dixon Markus Dixon 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA .
When I think of Malachi Generette Malachi Generette 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA the prospect, I first think of Generette the defensive back. Although Generette had come up big with an interception on defense and some PBUs, Generette has proven valuable in the Viking rushing attack. Generette is second behind Wilson in rushing, averaging just under 4 yards a carry so far this year. The senior eclipsed the 70-yard mark in Week One against Malvern Prep, a solid feat considering how stout that Friar defense can be.
The Vikings deploy two more excellent linemen alongside Heywood and Gardner, that being Jason Baldwin Jr. and Cole Evans Cole Evans 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA . Both prospects are certainly top 300 prospects in their respective classes, especially Cole Evans Cole Evans 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA , who ranks high amongst our ranks. Big congratulations are in order for Cole Evans Cole Evans 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA , who announced his commitment to Army way back in June.
Unranked Standouts
- Frankie Mawson
- Luke Shaeffer
Luke Shaeffer currently leads the team with 17 solo tackles, 19 total. I can’t dig up much in terms of a Twitter or Hudl for Luke, yet I’ll have my eyes peeled for his name moving forward. Frankie Mawson is the new quarterback under center, a first-year starter who I also can’t find much information on. I do see a solid outing in the box score for Frankie against Northeast, completing 7 of his 10 throws for 147 yards and a score.
Father Judge (2-3)
Wins vs. Archbishop Ryan (38-6), Frankford (49-14)
Losses vs. Olney (9-12), Pope John Paul (21-22), Penn Charter (6-28)
Don’t let the 2-3 record fool you, the Father Judge Crusaders are trending in the right direction. The season began with two brutally close losses against solid teams in Olney and Pope John Paul, the loss to Olney was by a mere three points, whereas the loss to PJP came in overtime. The 0-2 start hardly had the team down, as they went on to win the next two contests against Archbishop Ryan and Frankford. During the 2-game winning streak, the Crusaders outscored their opponents by a whopping 87-20 margin. Both sides of the football showed up, they did so in their losses as well, as the team could have easily been an undefeated 4-0 heading into their bout against Penn Charter. Penn Charter proved to be too much for Father Judge to handle, which is understandable considering how much talent the PC program deploys. Very interested to see how the Crusaders match up against Roman Catholic.
Top Three Pre-season Ranked Prospects
Eric Smith Eric Smith 5’10” | 190 lbs | RB Father Judge | 2024 State PA acts as the highest ranking Crusader. The star running back has been on a bit of a slow start toting the rock, yet his impact can still be felt on defense and special teams. Although Smith places third on the team in rushing, Smith has returned one punt for a touchdown while securing 9 total tackles and 1 TFL on defense. We have yet to see the best out of Smith, which is saying something considering his contributions thus far.
Sean Broderick Jr. Sean Broderick Jr. 6’3″ | 250 lbs | OL Father Judge | 2024 State PA has looked special early on. The top 100 junior doesn’t have all his tape on Hudl quite yet, although box scores have indicated that Broderick has 27 total tackles to his name while leading the Crusader defense with two sacks and five TFLs on the year. He’s looking exactly how we expected him to look thus far.
The real riser of the group has to be Nymeir Appling Nymeir Appling 6’2″ | 185 lbs | WR Father Judge | 2024 State PA . The kid has been on a tear as of late and just might be the most valuable Crusader through five games. Appling, as a DB, is tied for fifth in tackles with 16. Appling has shown off his pass-coverage prowess too, reeling in three interceptions in three consecutive games while also adding 2 PBUs to his total, all lead the team. Appling also leads the team in receiving by a wide margin, having caught 13 receptions for 160 yards in five games. He’s caught a touchdown as well. The DB/WR is truly showing his worth as a prominent two-way player in the PCL. His stock is going to climb.
Highlights
Top Risers
- Jake Marquis Jake Marquis ATH Father Judge | 2023 State PA
- Christopher Coulter Christopher Coulter 6'0" | 245 lbs | OL Father Judge | 2024 State PA
- Justin Nikolopoulos Justin Nikolopoulos 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Father Judge | 2023 State PA
Jake Marquis Jake Marquis ATH Father Judge | 2023 State PA continues to be a mystery man in Philadelphia, I have to get to a game to see this kid work because every time I dive into Father Judge, his name comes up. Outside of Appling, no Crusader should rise as high as this kid will based on his stats alone. Marquis has run the ball 54 times for 378 yards, scoring five touchdowns in the process. All this with Marquis carrying the rock just twice Week One. Marquis has run for no less than 85 yards in each of the four contests he’s participated in. Marquis also has recorded a whopping 32 total tackles on the year, along with one sack, 1 PBU, and one blocked punt. This kid is having one hell of a senior year. I hope I can see him ball in person sometime soon.
I like what I see from ranked linemen Christopher Coulter Christopher Coulter 6'0" | 245 lbs | OL Father Judge | 2024 State PA . He’s got three games up on Hudl, each tape including great reps at left guard where Coulter shows off real power out of his stance. Excellent second-level climber, Coulter is a staple guard that has had a huge hand in why the rushing attack has been productive each week.
Unranked Standouts
- Tyler Yerkov
- Tearran Peete
Tyler Yerkov and Tearran Peete are new names to the site. Tearran Peete doesn’t have much tape to evaluate, yet his Hudl says he’s a 6’5, 210-pound senior TE/MLB, whose stats through five games look pretty solid. Any prospect with this size and production deserves some light to be shed. Peete is currently third on the team in tackles with 28 total sticks in five games, an impressive number.
Tyler Yerkov, the acting quarterback for the 2022 Crusaders, has had a productive season in what I believe is his first year behind center. A junior, Yerkov is completing over 50% of his passes, throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns in five games. Yerkov looks to be a threat with his legs too, rushing 46 times for 134 yards and four scores. He’s another prospect I’d love to know more about so we can represent him correctly on the site.
La Salle College (1-3)
Wins vs. North Penn (37-28)
Losses vs. Malvern Prep (0-35), Bishop McDevitt (7-56), Haverford School (7-21)
The majority of us are just not used to seeing the Explorers lose games this way. It’s a testament to their success in recent years. La Salle College HS has started the year losing three of its four games, many of the losses by a wide margin. There are a ton of new faces, along with a ton of talent that has moved on to the next level. There are going to be growing pains for a program starting a true freshman at quarterback. Yet take a step back and realize that the Explorers didn’t schedule cupcakes to start their year. La Salle’s early schedule was a legitimate gauntlet, dealing with North Penn in Week One and looking great in that contest. The following losses came to Malvern Prep and Bishop McDevitt, two contests the Explorers flat out couldn’t compete in. Then a somewhat surprising loss to the Haverford School has many wondering what exactly is going on. I think the slow start has been blown a tad out of proportion. Considering the number of seniors lost, new faces, and schedule, It’s not hard to imagine a slow start like this. I just think the team can compete in these games, not lose the way they have. I wouldn’t count these kids out, there is still a ton of talent at almost every position.
Top Three Pre-season Ranked Prospects
Highlights
We begin with none other than top dog Darold Dengohe Darold Dengohe 6’3″ | 280 lbs | DL LaSalle College | 2023 State PA . The James Madison commit already has a three-sack game logged this season, putting him on top of the sack and TFL leaderboards for the team. Dengohe is one of the more consistent players in the PCL, no matter if the team is trending up or downwards, you can count that you’ll get the best out of this kid. Hearing that Dengohe is also playing through injury, something that doesn’t surprise me. When the Explorers inevitably get back on track, Dengohe will be a huge factor as to why.
Kieran Campbell Kieran Campbell 6’3″ | 230 lbs | DL La Salle College | 2024 State PA has gotten more looks inside the interior of the defensive line, alongside Dengohe at times, away from his usual defensive end spot. An interesting approach, one you understand when thinking of the potential duo through the trenches. Campbell is still getting his share of pass-rushing reps around the edge, yet the Explorers might be valuing his presence inside a bit more. It’s nice to see Kieran get reps everywhere, speaking from a scouting perspective. The more reps in different places, the more questions can be answered by coaching staffs at the next level.
Michael Carroll Michael Carroll 6’6″ | 290 lbs | OL Central Bucks East | 2025 State PA is getting a nice blend of right guard and left tackle reps thus far, a good mixture of roles that Carroll can develop under. Here’s hoping that Carroll, an underclassman, is soaking in all there is to learn from the two very different positions. Nonetheless, Carroll is looking solid so far. He’s exploding out of his stance, finding his assignment, and making his presence felt in the run game. He’s showing a mean streak too, we know how tough you have to be in the trenches, always exciting seeing young players develop a chip on their shoulder.
Top Risers
- Stevie Davis Stevie Davis 5'7" | 175 lbs | RB La Salle College | 2024 State PA
- Gavin Sidwar Gavin Sidwar 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB LaSalle College | 2026 State PA
- Ryan Sorge Ryan Sorge 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR LaSalle College | 2023 State PA
- Samuel Ross Samuel Ross 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL La Salle | 2023 State PA
- Sean McFadden Sean McFadden 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB La Salle College | 2023 State PA
- Mason Lange Mason Lange 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB LaSalle College | 2024 PA
- Del Jackson
- Cole Kozloxswski Cole Kozloxswski 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL LaSalle College | 2023 PA
- Lukas Donahue Lukas Donahue 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL La Salle College | 2024 State PA
Stevie Davis Stevie Davis 5'7" | 175 lbs | RB La Salle College | 2024 State PA has been a stable weapon for the offense, The back has eclipsed the 300-yard mark in four games, yet he almost accomplished the feat in the Week One contest against North Penn, where Davis ran 31 times for 238 yards on the night. Davis has been relatively quiet since, yet he still acts as the lead back for the Explorers. Davis has caught eight passes this year as well.
Ryan Sorge Ryan Sorge 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR LaSalle College | 2023 State PA has had some moments, catching nine passes for 83 yards in three games played. Nole Henry leads the team in receiving, but Sorge’s 6’3 frame brings a different, tough, skillset to the table, his blocking along the perimeter is valued.
Samuel Ross Samuel Ross 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL La Salle | 2023 State PA is a kid I have been super high on since the offseason. Happy to see his four-game tape turn out the way it has. Ross now acts as the primary pass rusher for the Explorers, a good choice considering his size and speed combination off the edge. Ross’ body looks great, matching up with opposing tackles well while still being athletic enough to show bend around slow tackles. Love the motor and pursuit to the football. He has a ways to go as far as hand usage and set-up moves go, but he’s coming along in this area. His tape shows he can shed off the snap with his hands and find the ball carrier. Ross is tied for second on the team with 2 TFLs, he’s also recorded a wonderful strip-sack for a touchdown.
McFadden, Lange are two front seven prospects I’m fond of, same goes for Cole Kozloxswski Cole Kozloxswski 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL LaSalle College | 2023 PA and Lukas Donahue Lukas Donahue 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL La Salle College | 2024 State PA in the trenches. All four are going to need to take their games to new heights if they want to get out of this rut. All four mentioned are capable of being top 300 prospects in their respective classes. It’s time to show it, they are more than capable. Looking forward to seeing it play out.
We can’t go without speaking about the standout freshman starting at quarterback for the Explorers. That being Gavin Sidwar Gavin Sidwar 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB LaSalle College | 2026 State PA , a much-anticipated quarterback prospect coming out of middle school. Say what you will about the tough go in recent weeks, the young man has done nothing but impress me. Yes, there are areas he needs to improve in. Yes, he’s struggled against top-tier competition. Yet Sidwar still shows promise beyond his years. He’s nowhere near his peak at the position, he just needs things to slow down on the field. The slowing down happens over time, he may have built too much hype after the impressive debut he had against North Penn. I hope the program and fans practice patience with Sidwar, these struggles will more than likely help the kid develop for the future.
Unranked Standouts
- James Dolan James Dolan 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR La Salle College Prep | 2025 State PA
- Nole Henry
- Mehki Johnson
- Michael Fileppo
Last but not least are some newer names to the site. Starting with Michael Fileppo, a senior, 6’1 linebacker that I’m somehow just finding out about. He’s left me no choice but to sing his praises, leading the Explorers in tackles(30) by a wide margin. If he keeps this up, he’ll force the hand of college coaches as well. I’m not positive about his current recruitment status, I bet it’s trending in the right direction though.
I can share the same sentiment for Carson Wakefield Carson Wakefield 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB La Salle College | 2024 State PA , I admittedly haven’t done enough research on the kid to give a proper evaluation. Wakefield is second in tackles behind Fileppo with 19.
Another team leader that I’m just now finding out about. Nole Henry has been the go-to weapon for Gavin Sidwar Gavin Sidwar 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB LaSalle College | 2026 State PA , catching 19 passes for 219 yards and two scores. Henry is the perfect blend between James Dolan James Dolan 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR La Salle College Prep | 2025 State PA and Ryan Sorge Ryan Sorge 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR LaSalle College | 2023 State PA . Henry is an all-around wideout who I think can beat a defense in a myriad of ways. His tape shows it.