Under the Radar, Overqualified: WPIAL’s 2026 Hidden Gems

District 7 is stacked with talent in the Class of 2026. At just about every position you can find guys already committed or holding heavy offer sheets. But in a talent-rich area like the WPIAL, there's always a group of players who, for whatever reason, get overlooked. These are athletes who have the tools to contribute at the next level, but so far only have a couple of Division II or Division III offers, or in some cases none at all. These are the hidden gems, and programs should buy in sooner rather than later.    A slept on player who needs more shine is Gateway lineman Roberson Louis-Jeune. Few trench dogs stand out the way he does, and he's the type of prospect who can contribute anywhere across the line. On offense, his athleticism jumps off the film as he moves fluidly to the second level and locks onto linebackers. He has the versatility to line up anywhere from tackle to center, giving him a skillset college programs crave. On defense, he plays with violent hands at the point of attack, using a strong push-pull along with a bag of other moves to shed blocks. He finishes plays with a nasty edge and a relentless motor. Still awaiting his first offer, he's one of the most overlooked two-way linemen in the area.     Gabe Krubasky out of Southmoreland completely fits the bill. After his sophomore season he was starting to creep into recruiting conversations, but a torn ACL his junior year slowed everything down. Since coming back he's proven he's just as good, if not better, than before. At 6'2” and 195 pounds with long arms, Krubasky is a true two-way difference maker. Offensively he uses his size and a 34-inch vertical to go up and win contested balls as a boundary receiver. Defensively he carries those same ball skills over to safety, creating turnovers while also being willing to play downhill and close space on ball carriers. When you see him in person, the size, athleticism, and ability to impact both sides of the football make it hard to question whether he belongs at the next level.       Hempfield has quietly gotten off to a 3-1 start this season, and a major reason for that has been quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1077139' first='Dominic' last='Detruf']. He's the type of prospect who checks a lot of the boxes college coaches want to see: size, arm talent, and an underrated ability to extend plays with his legs. His tape from the first few weeks of the season shows flashes of a quarterback who can make all the throws and command an offense, yet he remains one of the more slept-on commodities in the WPIAL right now.       At Pine-Richland, it's easy for a player like Mac Miller to get overshadowed when he shares an offense with names like Oobbi Strader, Jay Timmons, and [player_tooltip player_id='489202' first='Khalil' last='Taylor']. But when you turn on the tape, you quickly realize he's a standout in his own right. Miller runs as hard as anyone in the WPIAL. He bounces off contact, plays with a gritty edge, and by the time the fourth quarter rolls around defenders aren't as eager to step in front of him. He currently holds an offer from Clarion, but it's only a matter of time before more schools take notice of his toughness and production.        Clairton's [player_tooltip player_id='399290' first='Michael' last='Ruffin'] is a player who first grabbed attention in the WPIAL championship game against Fort Cherry. When the Bears lost their quarterback, the best option for a single-A team with limited depth was to hand the reins to Ruffin in the wildcat. He responded heroically, leading his team to within one point of a win. He ripped off explosive plays where nobody could catch him and almost willed his team to victory. When you go back to the film, it becomes even more clear how special his skillset is. Ruffin is a natural strider who can outrun most defenders with verified 4.4 speed, and he combines that with the elusiveness to make defenders miss without slowing down. Whether lined up wide, in the backfield, or running the wildcat, he finds ways to make big plays. He already holds offers from Gannon and Cal U, but his ceiling suggests that list should grow quickly.