Western Pa.’s top 10 football prospects for the Class of 2020

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | 8:18 PM

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1. Michael Carmody

Mars

6-5, 290, offensive tackle

Carmody is in the midst of basketball season for top-ranked Mars, but his college future is on the offensive line. Rivals ranks Carmody as a four-star recruit and the 29th-best offensive tackle nationally. He is rated second overall among Pennsylvania recruits. Nearly two dozen schools have offered him a scholarship including Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia, along with Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State and others.

2. Nikhai Hill-Green

North Catholic

6-2, 215, outside linebacker

Hill-Green added Big Ten offers from Michigan and Purdue in recent weeks. He has played running back and wide receiver for North Catholic, but his future is defense. Rivals ranks Hill-Green as a three-star prospect and the 28th-best outside linebacker nationwide. His growing list of scholarship offers also includes Vanderbilt.

3. Dayon Hayes

Westinghouse

6-3, 215, defensive end

Hayes maybe isn’t as well known as some others in Western Pennsylvania, in part because he plays in the City League. But that should change. The all-City League selection announced a Pitt offer Saturday after the Panthers’ junior day. He also lists FBS offers from Ball State and Toledo.

4. Jack Salopek

Norwin

6-3, 175, quarterback

Salopek’s recruiting stock rose last summer when Pitt became the first school to offer him. He also holds an offer from UMass. He passed for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns this past season. The three-star Rivals recruit ranks as the second-best quarterback in the state behind Manheim Central’s Evan Simon.

5. Josh Rawlings

Woodland Hills

6-6, 235, tight end

Why wouldn’t colleges want a big-bodied tight end from Woodland Hills (i.e. Rob Gronkowski)? Rawlings has more than a dozen FBS offers, including Virginia, Akron and Toledo. His most recent came from Florida International. Rivals ranks him as a three-star prospect.

6. A.J. Beatty

Central Catholic

6-5, 250, defensive end

Beatty ranks among the WPIAL leaders in scholarship offers. He already lists 14 FBS or FCS offers with Mid-American Conference schools Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green among them. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit.

7. Zuriah Fisher

Aliquippa

6-3, 230, linebacker

Fisher was the second-leading tackler on Aliquippa’s state championship defense with 72 stops and five sacks. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit. His first FBS offer came from Syracuse in May. He since has added Bowling Green, Ohio and Kent State.

8. A’meer Allen

Central Catholic

6-4, 270, defensive line

9. A’maar Allen

Central Catholic

6-3, 250, defensive line

Central Catholic has twin brothers on the defensive line with A’meer and A’maar Allen. A number of schools want them as a packaged deal. Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Kent State have extended offers to both. A’meer lists a FIU offer.

10. Jake Lugg

North Allegheny

6-4, 275, offensive line

Lugg, the brother of Notre Dame tackle Josh Lugg, lists a scholarship offer from Nebraska. The younger Lugg, who doesn’t quite have his older brother’s 6-foot-7 size, projects as an interior lineman in college. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit.

THREE FOR 2021

Derrick Davis

Gateway

6-0, 175, linebacker/safety

Davis quickly is becoming a national recruit. Since Jan. 1 he has added scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Syracuse, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech.

Elliot Donald

Central Catholic

6-2, 230, defensive tackle

Donald, the nephew of L.A. Rams star Aaron Donald, has burst onto the recruiting scene. His scholarship list already includes Pitt, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Kent State, Rutgers and Toledo.

Dorien Ford

Baldwin

6-5, 265, defensive end

Ford certainly has the size coaches are wanting. He lists FBS offers from Ball State and Toledo.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Aliquippa, Baldwin, Central Catholic, Gateway, Mars, North Allegheny, Norwin, Westinghouse, Woodland Hills