2025 Rankings Update: Top 100, New Additions, Part 3
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Michael Gaul PA #35 LB #7 HEIGHT 6'1" WEIGHT 215 POS LB CLASS 2025 View Player Boost Profile Download Image Michael Gaul Class 2025 Position LB Height 6'1" HS State College | PA 2025 Rankings Update: Top 100, New…
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Continue ReadingMichael Gaul Michael Gaul 6’1″ | 215 lbs | LB State College | 2025 State PA placed inside the top 100, yet not high enough. Gaul got the call from Toledo and Virginia Tech a couple of days after releasing this list. 6’1, 195-pounds, and all-conference 2nd-Team linebacker, Michael Gaul Michael Gaul 6’1″ | 215 lbs | LB State College | 2025 State PA had himself a year, securing 120+ tackles, 9 TFLs, and 4 PBUs on defense, all as a sophomore. I may have not given Gaul enough credit as an offensive weapon, his tape has him accounting for seven scores along with his immense production on offense. Had I had another chance, I may have asked around a bit further, my grade is seemingly far too low. Excited to watch this kid grow nonetheless. His role and production at State College are only going to expand.
Highlights
Here’s another athlete out of OLSH on the western side of PA. Not sure how this program feeds the total number of weapons at their disposal. Ethan Garnder starts off his sophomore tape showcasing his ability to stretch the field. He’s a downfield producer, yet he comes down with vertical shots in a myriad of ways. He can stay in stride and catch accurate balls that lead him into the endzone, displaying good tracking ability. He can also contort his body and come down with tough contested catches that show off his body control at the point of the catch. Usually, when we talk about a kid’s speed, it equates to his prowess on the offensive side of the ball. I like Gardner’s speed on the defensive side of the field. Great catch-up speed. Can stay stride for stride even if the target gets a good release on him. Tracking skills translate to DB. Has a ways to go from a technical standpoint at corner, but his pure speed and ball skills keep him in position to make plays as a sophomore. Potential special talent.
Top 100 debut for DB/WR Darian Smith Darian Smith 5’11” | 170 lbs | DB Downingtown West | 2025 State PA out of Downingtown West HS. Can sink his hips, stay balanced and attack balls thrown his way when out at corner. Excels on the boundary, understands how to use the sideline as leverage. Plays out-breaking routes well, again showing a good understanding of how to utilize leverage pre-snap. Mainly used in off-coverage, Smith is able to backpedal and read passing concepts headed his way. Good hand-eye coordination to disrupt the vision of wideouts. Same hand-eye coordination comes up when making plays on the ball, multiple interceptions on tape. Excels with cushion but has some bump-and-run action close to the LOS. Reps in run-support and in special teams come later in his tape.
Highlights
Here’s a 6’4, 200-pound linebacker who is debuting inside the top 100 as a sophomore. I’m excited to keep my eyes on this young man moving forward. 85 tackles recorded, 13 TFLs, 3 PBUs registered for the honorable mention All-Conference linebacker. Weak-side OLB with great edge-setting skills against the run. Vaccarello is a tough matchup for tackles, considering he closely matches the size of many tackles across from him. Combine the burst he has off the edge and you have a pass-rushing type prospect who excels in weak-side sets. The sack numbers aren’t there, yet Vaccarello registers numerous stops against the run. This is legitimate senior tape out of a sophomore. Strong arms coupled with finesse off the snap often leads to Vaccarello getting his shoulders in the gap. Great penetrator and run defender who has upside to turn his 13 TFLs into 13 sacks next Fall.
Highlights
Another stud out of the Penn-Trafford defense ends up ranked high on our rankings. This time it’s Domenic Smith Domenic Smith 6’1″ | 210 lbs | LB Penn Trafford | 2025 State PA . I might describe him as an “old-school” linebacker. 6’1, 210-pounds. Smith is your traditional gap-shooting middle linebacker who plays with controlled aggression. A heat-seeker to the football, Domenic Smith Domenic Smith 6’1″ | 210 lbs | LB Penn Trafford | 2025 State PA reads the blocking, trusts his instincts, and sifts through traffic to come up with plenty of form tackles. The run-stuffer takes consistent smart angles to the football, not relying on pure athleticism to get to the ball carrier. There’s an efficient way Smith works that leaves me satisfied with his prospects of manning the middle of the defense. We will get to his future projection at another time, as many collegiate suitors might want to see his game expand. Yet for now, Smith’s production is too great to ignore.
Highlights
Unionville’s Nolan Holt Nolan Holt 6’4″ | 220 lbs | DL Unionville | 2025 State PA was a very late addition to the rankings and might deserve a higher spot now that I look back at his tape for a third and fourth time. 6’3, 215-pound EDGE/IDL prospect who is going to flesh out his role in the Unionville defense in the coming years. Can align in almost every gap, I don’t say this often, especially when breaking down sophomore tape. Holt excels later in reps, showing off great vision into the backfield coupled with solid rip ability when shedding. Holt has huge upside, yet he has a ways to go early in his reps. A better get-off combined with real shedding technique could propel this young man into the top 50 of this class. All this being said and yet a ton of production and penetration on tape. Good, active motor which is great to see out of an underclassman.