PRZPA Team Preview, West Mifflin

<p>West Mifflin is poised for another formidable season in 2024. Although they graduated two scholarship-level players—Rico Steele, who signed with Bowling Green, and Braeden Walker, who signed with IUP—they return a wealth of talent. Under the leadership of Head Coach Rod Steele, the Titans posted an impressive 5-1 conference record in 2023, finishing second in their league with an overall record of 7-5. With a strong mix of Division I veteran talent, experienced lettermen, and promising underclassmen, the Titans aim to make a deeper playoff run this year. They will also be looking to avenge regular-season losses from 2023 against tough opponents McKeesport, Elizabeth Forward, Thomas Jefferson, and Avonworth. The Titans kick off their season against Elizabeth Forward on August 23 at 7 PM, a rematch against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/averyhawkins/status/1821174302454022497?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Jaiden is a quality FBS-caliber offensive lineman who recently committed to Akron for his collegiate career. Brown-Demery brings a nasty demeanor to the gridiron, and his physicality is often too much for the average defensive lineman. He's a powerful OL who mauls defenders right from the snap. Jaiden gives great effort until the whistle blows and regularly pancakes his opponents. Brown-Demery is a big reason fellow FBS prospect [player_tooltip player_id='914053' first='Armand' last='Hill'] has so much running room carrying the football. He consistently drives defenders off the ball, creating big running lanes. Defensively, it's nearly impossible to create any push against him due to his powerful lockout. Jaiden lives in the offensive backfield, and his tackling ability is downright scary for his opponents. West Mifflin will continue to heavily rely on Brown-Demery's abilities on both offense and defense this year. He chose the Akron Zips over Wisconsin, Bowling Green, West Virginia, Pitt, Toledo, Temple, Duke, Kent State, UMass, Monmouth, and Slippery Rock.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/armandhill_2/status/1791522262132117644?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Hill is probably the biggest weapon returning this season for West Mifflin. His ranking as a top 15 player in the class of 2027 on this platform is legitimate based on his playmaking abilities. Armand is electric with the ball, setting up his blocks well and maintaining speed when changing directions, a mark of an FBS athlete. He's super elusive, and the first defender rarely stops him in the open field. Inside or outside the tackles, he only needs a sliver of daylight to turn a run into a touchdown. He's not just elite as a RB but also looks dominant when lined up in the slot as a receiver. Hill is a mismatch for any LB attempting to cover him out of the backfield on passing plays. Defensively, he might be even more impressive as a CB. Armand is elite in man coverage, whether pressing or playing off technique. His ball skills are dominant, and his ability to intercept the ball and return it for a score is impressive. Armand is definitely a Power 4 caliber athlete with offers from Penn State, Akron, West Virginia, Pitt, Bowling Green, UNLV, Maryland, and Michigan.</p>    <p>Tyrone is another gifted specialist returning for the Titans in 2024. He's fast off the line in the slot and runs precise routes. West Mifflin utilizes him effectively on reverses and downfield throws when a big play is needed. Leonard is a reliable target who can make defenders miss after the catch. Tyrone is especially dangerous in the slot on corner routes but is also sometimes split outside. He has innate coverage skills as a defensive back and transitions well when running with receivers on fade routes. I'm expecting more opportunities for him to contest passes with [player_tooltip player_id='914053' first='Armand' last='Hill'] on the other side of the field. One of his best qualities is his ability as a punt and kick returner. With both him and Hill back deep, it's best for opponents to strategically kick it out of bounds against the Titans.</p>    <p>Richie is a speedy, tough player who can be used in various ways. He was clocked at 4.5 in the forty at Seton Hill's prospect camp this summer, so the speed is there. West Mifflin has utilized Fix as a RB, WR, OLB, and SS during his time with the Titans. His versatility on offense, effectively running the football and catching passes, will be crucial for West Mifflin in '24. He's a patient rusher with the speed to score once the ball is in his hands. He gives great effort when stalk blocking as a WR or RB and is the first to pick up a block on interception returns. Richie is a standout on kickoff coverage and will be a special teams leader this year. He's quick to trigger in run pursuit as a nickel or strong safety and is a reliable tackler in space. He has man coverage ability and is competitive in contesting throws his way. Fix also has a knack for forcing fumbles and will be needed to turn the ball over for the Titans in 2024.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ethanthomas_77/status/1720985569545568656?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Thomas is an OL/DL with great size at 6'4, 320 lbs and is surprisingly nimble on his feet. He does a good job of running his feet upon contact, which usually opens huge holes in the run game. Ethan has good bend in his stance and plays with a lower pad level than his height would suggest. He's another scholarship-level prospect who has the ability to put defensive linemen on skates when he blocks them. He's an adequate pass protector with a strong punch and competes hard. Thomas is a capable OT who also showcases the ability to play OG, especially in goal-line formations. West Mifflin is blessed with multiple physical linemen who can dominate the trenches. Good luck trying to move him on defense because his strength in engaging and disengaging is above average. Ethan is yet another DL offenses must account for when game planning. Thomas currently has one offer from PSAC program Slippery Rock, but that number will grow.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/saeonjr_/status/1768757377371709692?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Saeon is a 250 lbs OL/DL with the physical makeup to cause damage in the trenches. He's an effective puller who can drive defenders to the ground upon contact. He generates good power from his low pad level when he competes on offense or defense. Coleman's versatility as an interior or exterior defensive lineman enhances West Mifflin's ability to shut down rushing attacks. He's good at setting the edge and redirecting after the ball carrier in run pursuit. Saeon's strength in shedding blockers is evident multiple times on film from 2023. His strength in the weight room translates well to gameplay on both sides of the football. He's another player who can provide pressure on the QB when he pass rushes. I'm looking for Saeon to continue his progression as a playmaker on both sides of the ball in 2024.</p>    <p>Sincere is an underclassman who gained valuable starting experience as a freshman in ‘23. He's versatile, having logged reps at OLB, Nickel, and Safety last season. He's a solid open-field tackler who excels at defeating blockers in run pursuit. I particularly like the tempo he competes at, urgently seeking the ball carrier on defense. Degree displayed his speed several times by chasing down ball carriers who broke out on long runs. Sincere has good ball skills for his age, intercepting and contesting passes thrown near him. The Titans also utilized his abilities on special teams, where he consistently made plays on kickoff coverage in 2023. He has natural instincts in man coverage, which will continue to improve as he matures. I'm excited to see his progression in year two on varsity.</p>    <p>Jose is another effective WR/DB returning for West Mifflin. At 6'2, he has the height and ball skills to contest downfield throws. He transitions well in zone coverage, utilizing the shuffle technique in cover 3, and maintains good topside positioning in coverage. He's competitive in man coverage, logging an interception and multiple PBUs last season at CB. He's physical both in tackling and in stalk blocking on offense at WR. If he consistently played with a bit more bend in his pad level, he'd see even more production at DB. At WR, he's a definite downfield threat capable of scoring touchdowns and catching jump balls with his 6'2 frame. He's also a very productive special teams player, unsung as a hold-up corner on punt returns. With Perez's size, I'm very intrigued to see what he accomplishes in 2024.</p>     <p>Two athletes who display potential, ability, and quality depth for West Mifflin are Jaivion Clifford and [player_tooltip player_id='1181787' first='Jordae' last='Cobbs']. Jaivion has a burst when he carries the football and shows toughness on defense as a LB. Watching him run the football has me intrigued about his potential as a slot WR. Clifford also has the strength and athleticism to be an effective tackler on special teams. Jordae, listed as a TE/DE, impressed with a long run as a fullback against Quaker Valley in '23 on his film. While still developing physically, he has the potential to be a good DE with his 6'3, 185 lbs build. Cobbs will likely continue playing some H-back on offense and DE on defense this year. I'm also interested to see how he performs catching the football from the flex Y position. Both prospects are hoping to get more reps this year for West Mifflin.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jarellemason_/status/1803628253891961311?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Two 2028 prospects who will make waves on varsity this season are [player_tooltip player_id='1369381' first='Zahir' last='Ismaeli'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1040182' first='Jarelle' last='Mason']. Ismaeli has displayed potential in the spring and summer and is slated to be the QB1 this year for West Mifflin. He has a strong arm and showcases accuracy when completing his passes. Zahir competed hard in the 2tenths 7-on-7 league and at WVU's 7-on-7 camp this summer, showing great promise as a signal caller. He makes the right reads and doesn't seem intimidated as a young starter. Jarelle also shows a lot of potential as a WR, catching multiple touchdowns for the Titans at WVU's 7-on-7 event. The chemistry Mason has with Ismaeli will develop into a serious attack over the next four years. He looked good coming off the ball versus press coverage and runs good routes for being so young. With a 5'11, 182 lbs frame, he's also capable of being an effective RB, either carrying the ball or catching out of the backfield. Mason also flashed the ability to contest passes at safety on defense this summer. I have a feeling we'll be talking about both of these freshmen specialists in 2024.</p>

West Mifflin is poised for another formidable season in 2024. Although they graduated two scholarship-level players—Rico Steele, who signed with Bowling Green, and Braeden Walker, who signed with IUP—they return a wealth of talent. Under the leadership of Head Coach Rod Steele, the Titans posted an impressive 5-1 conference record in 2023, finishing second in their league with an overall record of 7-5. With a strong mix of Division I veteran talent, experienced lettermen, and promising underclassmen, the Titans aim to make a deeper playoff run this year. They will also be looking to avenge regular-season losses from 2023 against tough opponents McKeesport, Elizabeth Forward, Thomas Jefferson, and Avonworth. The Titans kick off their season against Elizabeth Forward on August 23 at 7 PM, a rematch against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year.