WPIAL Preview: Top 10 Northeast Conference 2026 Prospects

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["388165"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='388165' first='Scoop' last='Smith'] is one of the best prospects and athletes in the 2026 class. Smith can do it all on the football field and he is a playmaker for Woodland Hills on both sides of the ball. Every time he touches the ball it is an exciting play waiting to happen. Below is what my colleague Avery Hawkins said about from before:rnrnu0022Scoop has been lighting up defenses ever since the season began. Scoop is performing like the best WR in Western PA, and he's only a sophomore. The underclassman is a dynamic slot receiver who's elusive and has the speed to rip the top off the defense. Even though Smith is small in stature, he's the big dog on the gridiron. Besides his clear dominance from the slot, Scoop is also a very dangerous returner. The '26 prospect is u003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003eCameron Walteru003c/spanu003e ‘s and OC Cam Sadler's top deep threat. His numbers were impressive on Friday, catching 10/210 yds and 3 TDs. For his efforts, his latest FBS offer came by way of Temple across the state in Philly. Smith is a three-sport star who also holds D1 basketball offers and was clocked at 10.7 in the 100-meter dash. Smith also has football scholarship offers from UNLV, Nebraska, and Toledou0022.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b7406"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["855477"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='855477' first='Zykir' last='Moore'] is a talented defensive lineman in the 2026 class. He has all the tools to play well at the defensive line consistently. Below is what a Prep Redzone writer wrote on Moore:rnu0022Here is a name you're going to consistently hear over the next couple of years. Zykir (Ziggy) Moore out of Woodland Hills is an elite prospect who makes plays on both sides of the ball.rnEarlier this month he took a visit to The University Of Pittsburgh. In January Ziggy went down to South Florida to visit USF and also took a trip to WVU.rnHe picked up his second offer yesterday from UMass and already has an offer from Akronu0022.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b7471"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b74b3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["646780"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='646780' first='Aaron' last='Loritts'] played tight end and defensive end last year for North Hills. At tight end he does a good job of blocking on the edge by engaging with the defensive line and pushing them off the ball. He does a really good job blocking linebackers on wide receiver screens and getting them free to make plays. He also caught the ball well at tight end position. At defensive end, he shows a good ability to engage and get off blocks of offensive linemen. Loritts is a talented player at tight end and defensive end.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b74f1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["855326"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='855326' first='Devin' last='Harris'] played quarterback for Penn Hills last year. When he is in the pocket Harris played at a high level last year. He has good mechanics and does a nice job throwing the ball inside the pocket. He throws a good deep ball, with the perfect amount of touch on the ball. When the play breaks down Harris shows good mobility by scrambling to make plays with his feet. Harris is a good combination of a player inside and outside the pocket.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b752e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["647819"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"player_tooltip player_id='647819' first='Ben' last='Yeckel'] played as an offensive and defensive lineman for Shaler last year. He has a good combination of strength, athleticism, and size for both positions. At defensive tackle, he is hard to move off his spot. Offensive lineman cannot move him. At offensive line, he moves well and does a nice job blocking defenders at different angles. He is good at blocking defensive line and blocking at the next level by chasing linebackers. Yeckel is a good player on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b756b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["388163"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='388163' first='Josiah' last='Mathis'] played cornerback last year for North Hills. He has legit cover skills. He does a good job dropping in coverage and making plays on the ball. He has good man-to-man coverage skills and zone coverage skills. Mathis is also a good tackler, especially in the open field. He does a nice job providing run support. Mathis is a talented player at cornerback.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b75a8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1156152"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1156152' first='Adrian' last='Valdez'] played as an outside linebacker and a running back for Fox Chapel last year. At both positions, he shows good athleticism and strength. As a running back he is a good physical runner that is hard to bring down. He then has a good burst and runs through the hole. Valdez has good speed as well and when he gets into the open field he is gone. At outside linebacker, he does a good job of setting the edge and then coming up field to make plays in the open field. Valdez played well on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b761b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1155840"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1155840' first='Maclane' last='Miller'] played running back for Pine-Richland last year. He shows a good burst in the hole and does a nice job of breaking tackles in the open field. Miller also has good speed and shows it off when he runs by defenders. He also did a nice job of lead blocking for other running backs. Several times he blocked against bigger defenders and did a nice job staying in front of them. Miller should be a bigger contributor next season for Pine-Richland.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b7660"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1155865"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1155865' first='Ray' last='Temple'] is a good wide receiver for North Hills. He shows a good ability to make plays at wide receiver. Below is what I wrote about him earlier this year:rnrnu0022He runs good routes and catches the ball well. He also has a diversity of routes he runs well. Temple is good at catching the ball, getting up field and getting as many yards as possible. He is also good on contested catches. Temple is a good player who should be an even bigger contributor next yearu0022.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66172ae2b76be"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1156206"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1156206' first='Matthew' last='Pownall'] played safety last year for North Penn. He did a good job in coverage by playing both zone and man-to-man coverages. In zone coverage, he did a nice job dropping deep and keeping everything in front of him. In man-to-man he showed good skills.  Pownall also did a nice job in run support. Coming up field to make plays in the open field. Pownall is a good safety who makes plays all over the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661891d8ebed4"} /-->