Spring Showcase University Skill Standouts

Code PRZWV30 for a discount on your subscription at checkout!   Four area high schools from northern West Virginia and Pittsburgh, PA, participated in the 3rd Annual Spring Showcase at the Highlands Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. Host school Linsly welcomed Weir, University, and Westinghouse (PA) to join them in front of college coaches for a spring evaluation, with many prospects standing out. Here are the skill prospects from University in attendance who caught our eye at the Spring Showcase.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">QUARTERBACKS</h2>    The University Hawks will have two great options behind center this season, the first of which is 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1324951' first='Jack' last='Byrer']. Byrer ranks as a LB prospect right now, and seeing him in person, he's built like one but has arm talent as well that shouldn't be overlooked either. He got banged up last season and is flying under the radar for now, but is definitely a name that D2 programs around the state should look at closely this upcoming season at a variety of positions. Byrer threw the ball well during the Spring Showcase and has athletic upside, making him a versatile prospect for colleges.     The second University quarterback to know is 2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1271395' first='Harrison' last='Helbig'], who currently ranks in the Top 5 for his position. Helbig has a very high ceiling as a quarterback prospect if he continues to take steps forward each of the next two seasons. He has a great frame for the position that he's still filling out, and is a towering presence for a rising junior quarterback. Helbig got some good experience last season as a sophomore and will be battling his teammate, Byrer, for the QB1 spot. Even at his size, Helbig is a very quality athlete who can use his legs to move the pocket and take off and run effectively at times. His ceiling is very high as a prospect and is a name who will likely rise in our rankings in the future.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">RECEIVERS/DEFENSIVE BACKS</h2>    A 2026 prospect who is likely to have a breakout senior year is University's [player_tooltip player_id='1137708' first='Glenn' last='Brown']. Brown ranks as an ATH right now after seeing time at quarterback last season, but will most likely play receiver at the next level. He's deserving of a rankings bump soon with a flip to WR coming during the summer rankings update. Brown is very athletic and is a glider as a runner with quick feet and very good quickness. He has very good change of direction ability and does a nice job making defenders miss after the catch as well. Brown's release off the line is explosive, and he's able to accelerate to top speed very quickly.     Any time you get to see 2027 University WR [player_tooltip player_id='1326514' first='Hayden' last='George'] in action, he impresses. That was again the case at Tuesday's Spring Showcase, especially during 1-on-1s and the 7-on-7 portion of the camp. His skill set as a quick and polished route runner allows him to excel in camp settings, where we've seen him show out before in the past. George has an innate ability to find space in zone coverage and has the speed and quickness to separate in man coverage. He's very tough to defend for defenses with no real good solution on how to prevent him from breaking open.     2027 University DB [player_tooltip player_id='1616215' first='Kyle' last='Weaver'] had a sneaky good season for the Hawks in 2024, which placed him inside the Top 75 of his class. He has the potential to climb even higher if he takes another step forward as a junior this fall after showing some very good flashes as a young defensive back last year. Weaver is a safety prospect with athletic upside that allows him to be versatile in his alignment and ability to play man coverage in the slot. He can patrol the back end of the defense just as well as when walking up closer to the line of scrimmage to face guard slot receivers.     One of the more well-known prospects in West Virginia for the 2028 class is University ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1292038' first='Brody' last='Kehler']. If you didn't know him from his work as a freshman on the football field last season, Kehler made sure you couldn't forget after winning a state championship as a wrestler earlier this year in his first year of high school. High-level athletic bloodlines run in the Kehler family, with older brother Brock heading off to WVU to wrestle. The younger Kehler will make his name known as one of the top athletes in the state for four years, with a high football ranking coming later this summer when our 2028 class makes their debut.     2026 University DB [player_tooltip player_id='1605316' first='Kayden' last='Coles'] flashed potential as a junior last season for the Hawks, and we're looking for him to take a step forward during his senior year. He's raw as a corner but has some athletic traits that will allow him to develop in that area. If Coles has a good senior season, he should receive some D2 opportunities as a defensive back with upside who is capable of leveling up his game more.     [player_tooltip player_id='894990' first='Khalil' last='Coleman'] is a 2026 University prospect who many haven't heard about yet, but is worth mentioning among the Hawks' talented skill group. He's a smaller defensive back but is quick and flies around the field. Coleman's skill set translates well at Nickel or free safety with good short-area quickness when playing tighter to the line of scrimmage and has slot receiver potential on offense as well. He should see some varsity opportunities this season in a talented defensive backfield.     A young 2028 receiver prospect from University to know is [player_tooltip player_id='1545676' first='Branden' last='Custer']. I thought he looked good at the Spring Showcase, facing some older talent, and made the most of his opportunities. Custer had one of the final highlight plays of the night during the 7-on-7 portion of the camp with an impressive after-the-catch play, making several talented Westinghouse defenders miss in space for extra yardage. He's light on his feet with good cutting and change of direction ability for his age. Custer has a good early mind for the position with a natural feel that will pay dividends once he waits his varsity turn behind some very talented receivers in the program.     [player_tooltip player_id='1616222' first='Brady' last='Goodenow'] ranks as an early Top 5 specialist in the 2027 class, and you could see why we're high on him after Tuesday's camp. He's making strides as a placekicker with a high ceiling as a prospect while learning from one of the best specialists in the county in 2026 P [player_tooltip player_id='1137053' first='Jimmy' last='Gregg']. Goodenow stole the show during the specialist portion of camp, showing power and range on several kicks. You'd feel good about trying him from 45 and in during a real game setting, especially from straight on. He'll become more consistent from the hashes and at longer range with more experience over the next two years, but keep an eye on this 2027 kicker as he has a bright future ahead.     2027 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1673556' first='Gavin' last='Radford'] from University was someone we were unfamiliar with before the Spring Showcase, but caught our eye early on. He looks the part as a future standout on the varsity team as he waits his turn behind a bevy of talented skill players in the Hawks' program. Radford's patience will pay off in time, as he has the tools to develop into a dynamic slot receiver and flashed that throughout Tuesday's camp. He has the speed and quickness to build on over the next two years to become a notable prospect in the 2027 class once he has some varsity game film to show.

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