WPIAL 2026 Hidden Gems Finale: Slept On Stars

As the nights get colder and the WPIAL postseason kicks off, we've reached that point in the year where the film starts to tell the truth. The hype dies down, and the real ball players rise. Western Pennsylvania never runs short on talent but it's not always the stars or the viral names who drive programs forward. Every year there are those kids who don't have the shiny offer lists or social-media push but who show up on tape again and again making real football plays.   Over the past few months, I've spent time watching film from across the Wpial. I've watched how these kids move, how they compete, and how they respond when the game tightens. And from all that, these five 2026 prospects separate themselves as true hidden gems, players whose games translate far beyond the stat sheet.    When it comes to pure playmaking ability, SJ moorefield belongs in any conversation about the most dynamic offensive weapons in Western Pennsylvania. The Gateway standout doesn't just produce, he changes the geometry of the field every time he touches the football. He's that rare athlete whose combination of acceleration, body control, and creativity turns simple concepts into explosive plays.   From the slot, Moorefield is electric off the release. He's light-footed and sudden, manipulating leverage with small head fakes and tempo changes before exploding out of his break. Once he's into his route, defenders are already in recovery mode. He can stretch the field vertically, throttle down on curls, or separate on in-breaking cuts with ease. He's got the hips and loose lower half of a high-level track athlete, but he pairs it with receiver polish, every cut is clean, every catch looks rehearsed.   With the ball in his hands, he's special. Gateway's staff designs touches for him because they know what happens in space: chaos for the defense. Jet sweeps, bubble screens, orbit motions, direct snaps it doesn't matter. Moorefield's short-area burst and lateral fluidity make him a nightmare in one-on-one situations. He has elite stop-start ability, plants his foot and explodes like a running back, and has that deceptive glide that allows him to slip through traffic untouched.   What separates Moorefield from most wideouts, though, is how complete his game is. He isn't just a gadget guy. He tracks deep balls with confidence, wins through contact, and has a knack for making acrobatic, body-contorting grabs in tight coverage. His hands are strong and consistent, and his ability to adjust to off-target throws makes quarterbacks look better. When the ball's in the air, he believes it's his and more often than not, he's right.   In a region loaded with explosive talent, SJ Moorefield is one of those players who forces defensive coordinators to game-plan around him. Every touch is a potential highlight, every rep looks like it matters. He has the burst, hands, and competitive DNA of a next-level playmaker, one whose best football is still ahead of him.        Few players in Western PA have raised their stock more this fall than Norwin's do-it-all playmaker, [player_tooltip player_id='1882689' first='Josh' last='Lenart']. He's not just productive he's relentless. Watching him live against Central Catholic's offensive line, which features multiple Power Five talents, confirmed what the tape already showed: Lenart's motor runs hotter than anyone on the field. He diagnoses plays instantly, takes disciplined angles, and has that classic linebacker trait you can't coach he just finds the football.   At 6'1” with a strong build and great closing burst, he consistently knifes into the backfield, sheds blocks with violent hands, and finishes plays with bad intentions. Sideline to sideline, he's a blur. But what separates him is his leadership and complete football IQ. He's the heartbeat of a Norwin team that flipped its culture this season, earning a playoff berth and playing disciplined, hard-nosed ball.   Offensively, Lenart's versatility shines lining up as an H-back, tight end, and even taking snaps at quarterback. He's physical at the point of attack, dependable with the ball in his hands, and always willing to do the dirty work. The D2 offers are there, but this is an FCS-caliber kid who could easily contribute early in his college career. Coaches dream about players like Lenart because they know exactly what they're getting: production, grit, and leadership.     [player_tooltip player_id='1871099' first='Donte' last='Wright'] is the kind of athlete who seems to control the rhythm of a game, fast when he needs to be, patient when he should be, and always one move ahead of defenders. He's a true do-it-all weapon for the Bears, but the more you watch, the clearer it becomes that his long-term future points toward the running back position.   Offensively, Wright plays with rare explosiveness and control. His acceleration through the hole is instant, and his balance through contact is exceptional. He runs with a natural low pad level, keeps his base wide, and shows the ability to absorb hits without losing speed. His vision and feel for spacing are advanced, he presses the line with patience, reads flow, and cuts decisively when daylight appears. Once he clears the first wave, he's gone. His top-end burst separates him from pursuit, and his change of direction is elite for his age.   Clairton moves him around because he's so versatile, slot, jet motion, backfield, and return game, but everything he does translates to the next level as a back. He has soft hands, smooth transitions out of routes, and the ability to make defenders miss in space. He runs routes like a receiver and finishes runs like a power back. That combination of versatility and toughness is why he projects cleanly as a college-level running back who can handle multiple responsibilities in a modern offense.   Defensively, Wright brings that same explosive athleticism and mindset. He's instinctive and physical, playing with great eyes and closing speed. He's aggressive downhill against the run, wrapping up cleanly and finishing through contact. When he drops into coverage, he shows fluid hips and the awareness to track routes and break on the football. There's real defensive upside there, particularly as a nickel or safety who thrives around the ball.     Simply put, [player_tooltip player_id='1871099' first='Donte' last='Wright'] is a game-changer. He's fast, physical, and instinctive, but also disciplined and football-smart. He's the type of player you can build an offense, or a defense, around. His ceiling as a running back is enormous, but his versatility makes him valuable anywhere he lines up. Clairton's had no shortage of great athletes over the years, and Wright fits right in that lineage, explosive, fearless, and built for big moments.     [player_tooltip player_id='647770' first='Landon' last='Honick'] is the kind of receiver who forces you to re-evaluate what you thought you knew about polish at the high-school level. He might not carry the hype of some of Western PA's bigger names, but the tape shows a technician who can win at all three levels of the field and do it with the confidence of a college-ready playmaker.   Honick's game starts with his movement. He glides in and out of his breaks with minimal wasted motion, dropping weight cleanly and exploding out of cuts without losing speed. His stride is long and efficient, allowing him to eat cushion quickly and put corners in conflict. There's a subtlety to how he manipulates leverage, slight head nods, body lean, tempo changes, that gives him consistent separation even against tight coverage. Those details make him one of the most advanced route runners in the 2026 class.   What completes that route craft is his ability to finish. Honick catches everything away from his frame, attacks the football in the air, and has a natural sense for tracking deep throws. He adjusts late, which makes him incredibly hard to defend on fades and posts. His hands are reliable and strong; he rarely lets the ball come to him, instead snatching it out of the air and protecting it through contact. You'll often see him make mid-air adjustments that look effortless but take serious body control and coordination.   That same edge shows up when the ball isn't coming his way. Honick blocks like he has something to prove, striking with balance and driving his feet. Coaches rave about his willingness to do the dirty work and his presence as a tone-setter in the huddle. He carries himself with a quiet chip, that Western PA grit that makes you want him on the field in big moments.   From a projection standpoint, Honick profiles cleanly as a college-ready slot or boundary receiver who can contribute early thanks to his polish and consistency. The speed, precision, and toughness all translate.   In a class full of athletes, Landon Honick should stand out because he's a craftsman. His routes are deliberate, his hands are dependable, and his energy never wavers. He's got the skill set, the toughness, and the mentality to be one of the most reliable receivers to come out of the 2026 WPIAL group. Coaches once again I ask what we are waiting for?      Roberson Louis-Jeune has quietly become one of the most technically refined and impactful two-way linemen in Western Pennsylvania. Every snap shows focus, discipline, and controlled aggression. He fires off the ball with explosive quickness, winning early with precise hand placement and low pad level. His timing and use of leverage stand out, consistently creating disruption before blockers can recover.   On defense, Louis-Jeune combines burst, awareness, and effort at a high level. He diagnoses blocking schemes fast, slips through gaps with clean footwork, and finishes with authority. He plays square to the line, holds ground against doubles, and shows excellent balance when redirecting in pursuit. His motor never fades, and he routinely makes effort plays that change drives.   Offensively, he brings that same level of intent and control. His strike is violent but efficient, and he maintains his base through contact. He recognizes twists and blitzes well, stays composed in space, and finishes blocks through the whistle. He's the kind of player who adds stability to a unit just by how he carries himself, calm, confident, and reliable.   Louis-Jeune wins through technique, toughness, and effort. He is athletic, intelligent, and plays with a mature understanding of the game. Gateway leans on him to set the tone up front, and he delivers week after week. Simply put, Roberson Louis-Jeune is one of the most complete linemen in the 2026 WPIAL class, a true hidden gem whose film speaks louder than any offer sheet.

As the nights get colder and the WPIAL postseason kicks off, we've reached that point in the year where the film starts to tell the truth. The hype dies down, and the real ball players rise. Western Pennsylvania never runs short on talent but it's not always the stars or the viral names who drive programs forward. Every year there are those kids who don't have the shiny offer lists or social-media push but who show up on tape again and again making real football plays.