NSD24: Breaking Down the 2024 Clarion University Haul v. PRZPI
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The full roster grid of every signee brought in on 2/16 by Clarion, provided by Football Welcomes 34 Additions to Program – Clarion Athletics (clariongoldeneagles.com) Top Five Prospects, According to PRZPA Rankings Cameron Thomas PA #134 DB #14 HEIGHT 5'11"…
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Continue ReadingThe full roster grid of every signee brought in on 2/16 by Clarion, provided by Football Welcomes 34 Additions to Program – Clarion Athletics (clariongoldeneagles.com)
Top Five Prospects, According to PRZPA Rankings
No ranked DB headed to play D2 ball is ranked higher than Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 5’11” | 190 lbs | DB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA . The crown jewel for Clarion, this is the first out of eight career updates where Cam Thomas found himself outside of the Top 100. A huge land for the Golden Eagles. Four straight Top 100 selections, now 34 spots out of achieving that mark for a fifth consecutive update. A division one talent headed to play PA D2 ball, nothing new in this state.rn
Evaluation
Gateway’s Jaquon Reynolds Jaquon Reynolds 5’7″ | 170 lbs | RB Gateway | 2024 State PA , who is suiting up for WLU, is the lone back headed to play D2 ball that outranks Penn Hills’ Amir Key Amir Key 5’8″ | 185 lbs | RB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA . Currently places as the 16th best back in PA (2024), Key was once ranked as high as ninth on our lists. Again, Clarion is bringing in two Division One level prospects out of the same program. Amere Hibbler and Khalon Simmons are current freshman backs station at Clarion, bringing in Amir Key Amir Key 5’8″ | 185 lbs | RB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA is yet another special piece to the backfield puzzle.rn
Evaluation
Just six OL committed to D2 programs rank above Pine-Richland’s Jon Smith Jon Smith 6’1″ | 265 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA . Former camp standout, Clarion secures an IOL who narrowly missed landing as a top 50 OL in his class. The Top 50 OL are usually reserved for sure-fire FCS-P5 kids. Smith barely missed that cut. Regardless of where we placed this young man, Clarion is getting a special interior piece that is likely to make an impact early in his career at CU. Josh Steele is an IOL at Clarion that Jon Smith Jon Smith 6’1″ | 265 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA will compete with early, Joey Arnold is another Freshman OL piece besides Smith. Great piece.rn
I’ll take a second look at Jon Smith Jon Smith 6’1″ | 265 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA Jon Smith Jon Smith 6’1″ | 265 lbs | OL Pine-Richland | 2024 State PA ” /> ‘s tape after the show he put on this past Saturday. He deserves that at the very least, especially considering his way too low placement on our rankings. Have a hard time believing there are 70+ linemen better than Smith after watching him dominate interior reps at our camp. A real punch delivered to defensive linemen, enough power to startle and throttle many of the bigger IDL matched up with him. A true 6’0 guard/center, wonderful stature in his stance. Powerful, heavy limbs made him an early winner, wearing down weaker, younger prospects. Not too many losses in memory when thinking back to 1v1s. A ranking boost is in line and I’ll certainly pipe his names to coaches a bit more. All deserved. Champion lineman.
11 2024 Ranked DL are committed to play PSAC/D2 football, all of which are ranked higher than Justice Esser Justice Esser 6’2″ | 225 lbs | DL Meadville | 2024 State PA , not a bad addition. Clarion brings in many Meadville prospects, with Esser being the fourth prospect to represent the group on roster. Clarion lands a fringe Top 10 D2 defensive lineman, one who could battle with the upcoming sophomore class. Reminds me a ton of Eli Drolz who they brought in from Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Highlights
Would love some insight as to where the Clarion staff likes Ty Abram Ty Abram 5’11” | 180 lbs | ATH Westinghouse | 2024 State PA . We labeled the stud Westinghouse senior as an “ATH” as we argued that Abram is equally productive a linebacker as he is a back. I’d figure Clarion likes Abram at ILB, especially when considering the current RB stable at the University, as well as bringing in Amir Key Amir Key 5’8″ | 185 lbs | RB Penn Hills | 2024 State PA in the same class. Either way, this is an underrated addition, It’s understood how much of a fan I am of Westinghouse prospects across the board, Abram fits right in. Currently ranks as a top 75 ATH, would place as a top 55 LB or top 30 RB. 18 ranked ATHs currently outpace Ty Abram Ty Abram 5’11” | 180 lbs | ATH Westinghouse | 2024 State PA .
Other Ranked Signees
Ranking correlates with most recent Senior Class update, 12/19.
398 – JaTawn WIlliams – Greater Latrobe – A top 400 prospect, easily could be looked at as a top addition by the program.
399 – Luke Shaffer Luke Shaffer 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Northern Lebanon | 2024 State PA – Northern Lebanon – Once flirted with the Top 200, still ends his career as a top 400 prospect. Former camp standout.
424 – Isaiah Brown Isaiah Brown OL West Catholic | 2027 PA – Armstrong – Once a Top 100 prospect, Once a Top 10 WR. A healthy Isaiah Brown Isaiah Brown OL West Catholic | 2027 PA is a Division One talent.
435 – Marquis Glass-Jones Marquis Glass-Jones 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR USO | 2024 State PA – USO – Huge upside if Clarion can get the best out of him.
597 – Brock Beppler Brock Beppler 5'9" | 170 lbs | ATH Bishop McCort | 2024 State PA – Bishop McCort
718 – Jermere Jones Jermere Jones 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Chambersburg Area | 2024 State PA – Chambersburg Area – Ranked “low” because of QB projection, would be a Top 500 kid if transitions to DL/EDGE.
822 – Tyler Biggans Tyler Biggans 5'10" | 195 lbs | ATH West Branch Area | 2024 State PA – West Branch Area
871 – Cordae Weems Cordae Weems 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Allderdice | 2024 State PA – Allderdice
13 Ranked prospects represented. AVG Ranked Position… 461