A Look at Pennsylvania’s Top Six Uncommitted Prospects
With just a bit over four months until the December signing period and six months till National Signing Day in February, plenty of players both in Pennsylvania and around the country are still in the middle of their recruitment and…
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Continue ReadingWith just a bit over four months until the December signing period and six months till National Signing Day in February, plenty of players both in Pennsylvania and around the country are still in the middle of their recruitment and haven’t made a college decision. That being said, over the last few months, the college football world has seen an unprecedented amount of early commitments even despite the inability for prospects to take visits to college campuses.
Among our top-20 players, 14 of them are currently committed with players such as Marvin Harrison Jr Marvin Harrison Jr 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR St Joes Prep | 2021 State PA and Kyle McCord Kyle McCord 6'2" | 207 lbs | QB St Joes Prep | 2021 State PA heading to Ohio State, Nakhi Johnson to Pittsburgh, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr Jeremiah Trotter Jr 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB St Joes Prep | 2021 State PA to Clemson. That being said, six of those top 20 players are still uncommitted and are considering offers from programs from across the country. Among those top uncommitted players include Pennsylvania’s top pair of prospects in offensive lineman Nolan Rucci Nolan Rucci 6'8" | 270 lbs | OL Warwick | 2021 State PA and defensive back Derrick Davis Derrick Davis 6'1" | 194 lbs | DB Gateway | 2021 State PA . Here’s where the recruitment Rucci, Davis, and Pennsylvania’s four other top uncommitted prospects stand as we enter the final week and half of July.
OL Nolan Rucci Nolan Rucci 6'8" | 270 lbs | OL Warwick | 2021 State PA – Warwick: Not only is Nolan Rucci Nolan Rucci 6'8" | 270 lbs | OL Warwick | 2021 State PA one of the premier players in The Keystone State but is one of the premier prospects in the entire country. Rucci is a true game-changer on the offensive line and is one of the most complete prospects (6-foot-8, 270-pounds) to come out of Pennsylvania over the last decade and is a prospect who in three to five years could be a sure fire first round pick in the NFL Draft. Rucci has offers from throughout the country from some of the nation’s elite programs but right now it seems to be a battle between Penn State and Wisconsin, which isn’t all that shocking. Penn State, of course is the “hometown” program which has been the favorites to land him throughout his recruitment, however, Wisconsin has a great chance to steal Rucci thanks to their pedigree on the offensive line not to mention the fact that Rucci’s older brother Hayden is an offensive lineman for the Badgers.
DB Derrick Davis Derrick Davis 6'1" | 194 lbs | DB Gateway | 2021 State PA – Gateway: Another prospect that is not only one of Pennsylvania’s elite but one of the top players in the country, Davis like Rucci has been getting attention from college programs throughout his high school career. Also like Rucci, Penn State has always been considered a leader for Davis. That being said, Pittsburgh and Ohio State have also been in on the the state’s top defensive prospect for a very long time and are still very much in this recruiting battle. Other programs that are looking to land Davis include Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and USC. While those other four schools are still in his recruitment. Ultimately, it feels like this has always been a battle between three schools and will come down to one of those three in; Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Ohio State.
DE Elliott Donald – Central Catholic: Pennsylvania’s top defensive lineman will be making a college announcement soon, announcing last week on Twitter, he would be making his decision this upcoming Friday, July 24. The nephew of NFL star Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh has long been considered the ultimate landing spot for Donald due to the family connections (Aaron played his college ball at Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2013). Other schools that are in the mix to land the elite defensive end include LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and West Virginia. Come Friday, expect Donald to pick the hometown Pittsburgh Panthers on Friday.
TE Khalil Dinkins Khalil Dinkins 6'4" | 205 lbs | TE North Allegheny | 2021 State PA – North Allegheny: Dinkins is the son of former Pittsburgh standout Darnell Dinkins who was a three-year starter for the Panthers in the late 90s. Like Donald, Dinkins has been long thought to end up a Panther thanks to being a legacy and his proximity to the program. However, his recruitment began to pick up this past late winter and early spring with offers from programs such as Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Penn State all rolling in for the North Allegheny standout. Dinkins would’ve benefited wonderfully from camps this summer, not to mention like all other prospects, the ability to take visits. While Pittsburgh is still probably the favorite to land Dinkins, it’s still too early to tell just where he may end up playing his college ball.
DT Dorien Ford Dorien Ford 6'4" | 279 lbs | DL Baldwin | 2021 State PA – Baldwin: Another prospect who would’ve benefited like Dinkins from camps this summer, Ford has picked up a few offers this offseason including one last month from Minnesota. Ford is considered by many in the recruiting industry to be a favorite to land at Pittsburgh when his recruitment is all said and done. If he wants to look at other programs, Ford has plenty of offers but it’s still a big question, if that will ever be a possibility this fall for high school recruits. Even if he is able to eventually take visits, it’s always felt like he’s been destined for Pitt and that still seems like the most likely outcome.
DE Robert Jackson Robert Jackson 6'6" | 250 lbs | DL Archbishop Wood | 2021 State PA – Archbishop Wood: Last month, Jackson named his top-10 in his recruitment with Arizona State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia, and Virginia Tech all making the cut for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end. At this point in his recruitment, it still is too early to tell where Jackson may end up. If he gets the opportunity to take visits, programs like Arizona State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Nebraska, Syracuse, Virginia, and Virginia Tech could all have solid chances of landing a commitment from Jackson. If he makes a decision before the opportunity to take visits, it feels like this will come down to one of Pittsburgh, Rutgers, or Temple.