2026 Western PA: The Best of The Best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today I'm highlighting kids before camp season, who I believe are the best of their class. Ranging on both sides of the ball, the hogs, playmakers, backs, ballhwaks, thumpers, and more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["256526"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6817b27ba937a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='256526' first='Colsen' last='Gatten'] does everything you want a LB to do. He has great eyes, constantly making great reads and breaks on the ball. In run defense or when it's time for Gatten to make a tackle, he does, he lays the wood too, imposing his will on offensive players. Gatten is a good athlete with smooth hips, making changing direction look easy. For a LB, he is a good size for the position, and has good playing strength. Gatten is a 3-star recruit who holds offers from numerous ACC, Big 10, and SEC programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["399270"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6817b27ba93d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='399270' first='David' last='Davis'] is a crafty football player. He's an overall athlete who excels at many different roles. His film is littered with various clips of different positions and roles in all 3 phases of the game. Davis is a speedy player who can outrun most defenders he faces. On special teams, you can see him returning punts and kicks with relative ease. Davis is one of the best athletes in the state for good reason, excelling at whatever position he's in. Penn State will no doubt dominate in his last season of high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1338079"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6817b27ba941d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1338079' first='Lawrence' last='Timmons'] is a special athlete. Whether it's at WR, RB, or DB, Timmons is always around the football. As a RB, he excels in zone run plays, only needing to hit a gap to take it to the house. At WR, he has talented ball skills, especially when it's time to high point the ball. When he's at DB, he's smooth and patient. Timmons can lay the boom a little bit too, specifically highlighting a big hit and recovering the fumble caused by it. Timmons is a 3-star recruit currently committed to Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1155897"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6817b27ba945c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1155897' first='Peter' last='Bonnet'] is a force on the offensive line. The 6'5', 285-pound OT is physical off the line, not really needing to move all too much because defenders are on their backs after initial contact with Bonnet. When Bonnet is in space, he moves well for someone as big as he is. Bonnet has alignment versatility, having plays at left tackle and right tackle. Bonnet holds multiple D1 offers, including Akron, Fordham, Fresno State, Dartmouth, Penn, Cornell, and Miami of Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["388160"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6817b27ba949a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='388160' first='Da'Ron' last='Barksdale'] is a pretty fun player. Barksdale is a versatile and rangy DB, playing deep safety occasionally, boundary corner, and also in the slot. Barksdale is a feisty tackler, quick and fires like he shot out of a cannon. Barksdale loved ripping the football out. Every other play on his highlight reel consisted of a stripped ball it felt like. Barksdale has prototypical size and physicality to be an excellent Nickel DB at the next level. Barksdale holds multiple offers, the biggest of the bunch being West Virginia, Pitt, and Syracuse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->