Western Pa.-connected Colorado State offers WPIAL offensive linemen

By: Chris Harlan
Sunday, May 19, 2019 | 7:22 PM

Western Pennsylvania football fans probably know Colorado State as the alma mater of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter.

But the school is becoming much more familiar across the region.

The Mountain West program recently offered scholarships this week to offensive linemen Kevin Meeder and Josh Kaltenberger of Seneca Valley and Jake Lugg of North Allegheny. If the juniors were to commit there, they’d join West Allegheny graduate Kieran Firment, who’s a redshirt sophomore on Colorado State’s roster.

Why would a school 1,400 miles away show such interest in WPIAL players?

The Colorado State offensive coordinator and line coach is Dave Johnson, a Penn Hills graduate who later played and coached for West Virginia. He also spent nine seasons at IUP early in his coaching career (1987-96).

Kaltenberger (6-5, 285) lists 17 Division 1 offers. Joining Colorado State are Fordham, Dartmouth, Yale, Western Michigan, Lehigh, Liberty, Columbia, Robert Morris, Youngstown State, Buffalo, Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green, Ball State, Toledo and Miami, Ohio.

Colorado State is the 14th FBS or FCS school to offer Meeder (6-4, 280) a scholarship. The Rams join Fordham, Akron, Central Michigan, Ohio, Bryant, Robert Morris, Youngstown State, UMass, Monmouth, Buffalo, Ball State, Bowling Green and Toledo.

Lugg (6-4, 275) lists offers from Harvard, Brown, Richmond, Akron, Air Force, Old Dominion, Central Michigan, Youngstown State, Buffalo, Yale, Dartmouth and Bowling Green.

Humbled to have received an offer from Colorado State University!!? pic.twitter.com/pk2FkYku9K

— Kevin Meeder (@KevinMeeder) May 18, 2019