I won't be updating my Top 25 Prospects in Pennsylvania's class of 2017 until sometime around the middle of January, but what I want to do right now is tell our Lions Den members about five players from Pennsylvania's classes of 2017 and 2018 that had breakout seasons this fall. These are players that really were not that well recognized on most Internet recruiting sites going into the 2015 season.
These five players are: LB Forrest Rhyne [6-1, 220] from Waynesboro, ath. Aamir Brown [5-11, 185] from Philadelphia Imhotep Charter and OL/DL Logan McGeary [6-3, 315] from Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle from the class of 2017, plus WR Jahan Dotson [6-0, 162] from Narareth Area High School and WR/DB Ziyon Strickland [5-10, 170] from Sharon from the class of 2018
Rhyne is probably the least known of these Pennsylvania players from the classes of 2017 and 2018 that had breakout performances this past fall. At the conclusion of the 2015 season Rhyne was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 4A all-state selection. Rhyne was also selected the Mid-Penn Colonial Division Defensive MVP. He totaled 151 tackles [51 solo and 100 assists], 33 TFL for over 150 yards and 3 1/2 sacks for 22 yards in ten games this past fall. That placed Rhyne among the top five tacklers in the state through the first ten weeks of the 2015 season before the state playoffs began.
Brown transferred to Imhotep Charter from Philadelphia Neumann-Goretti before the start of the 2015 season. In 2014 at Neumann-Goretti, Brown was a Philadelphia Catholic League AA first-team WR/ath. who produced 1,341 yards of total offense. This past season Brown played WR and RB at Imhotep Charter and had an outstanding game in Imhotep Charter's 40-6 PIAA 3A championship game victory over Erie Cathedral Prep. Brown posted two TDs and over 150 yards of total offense in Imhotep Charter's victory over Erie Cathedral Prep.
McGeary played both OT/DT for PIAA class A state champion Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle. Following the 2015 season McGeary was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's class A all-state selection at DT. McGeary totaled 102 tackles, 22 solo tackles and two sacks for 18 yards this past fall.
Dotson was a big topic of discussion here in the Lions Den last evening when the Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 4A all-state selection was given a verbal scholarship offer from Penn State. Combined for his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2014 and 2015, Dotson totaled 125 receptions for 1,860 yards, averaged 14.9 YPC and posted 25 TD catches. This fall [ 2015] Dotson totaled 66 receptions for 1,179 yards, averaged 17.9 YPC and had 16 TD catches. Michigan besides Penn State is highly interested in Dotson.
Finally there is Strickland. Following the 2015 season Strickland was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 2A all-state selection. He was both an all-conference WR and DB. Strickland totaled 60 receptions for 1,215 yards, averaging 20.3 YPC with 15 TD receptions. On defense he posted 40 tackles, and three interceptions for 75 yards, two of which he returned for TDs.
All five of these Pennsylvania class of 2017 and 2018 players may not have been on many D-1 football recruiting radar screens before the start of the 2015 season, but don't be surprised if all five end up being nationally recruited.
These five players are: LB Forrest Rhyne [6-1, 220] from Waynesboro, ath. Aamir Brown [5-11, 185] from Philadelphia Imhotep Charter and OL/DL Logan McGeary [6-3, 315] from Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle from the class of 2017, plus WR Jahan Dotson [6-0, 162] from Narareth Area High School and WR/DB Ziyon Strickland [5-10, 170] from Sharon from the class of 2018
Rhyne is probably the least known of these Pennsylvania players from the classes of 2017 and 2018 that had breakout performances this past fall. At the conclusion of the 2015 season Rhyne was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 4A all-state selection. Rhyne was also selected the Mid-Penn Colonial Division Defensive MVP. He totaled 151 tackles [51 solo and 100 assists], 33 TFL for over 150 yards and 3 1/2 sacks for 22 yards in ten games this past fall. That placed Rhyne among the top five tacklers in the state through the first ten weeks of the 2015 season before the state playoffs began.
Brown transferred to Imhotep Charter from Philadelphia Neumann-Goretti before the start of the 2015 season. In 2014 at Neumann-Goretti, Brown was a Philadelphia Catholic League AA first-team WR/ath. who produced 1,341 yards of total offense. This past season Brown played WR and RB at Imhotep Charter and had an outstanding game in Imhotep Charter's 40-6 PIAA 3A championship game victory over Erie Cathedral Prep. Brown posted two TDs and over 150 yards of total offense in Imhotep Charter's victory over Erie Cathedral Prep.
McGeary played both OT/DT for PIAA class A state champion Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle. Following the 2015 season McGeary was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's class A all-state selection at DT. McGeary totaled 102 tackles, 22 solo tackles and two sacks for 18 yards this past fall.
Dotson was a big topic of discussion here in the Lions Den last evening when the Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 4A all-state selection was given a verbal scholarship offer from Penn State. Combined for his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2014 and 2015, Dotson totaled 125 receptions for 1,860 yards, averaged 14.9 YPC and posted 25 TD catches. This fall [ 2015] Dotson totaled 66 receptions for 1,179 yards, averaged 17.9 YPC and had 16 TD catches. Michigan besides Penn State is highly interested in Dotson.
Finally there is Strickland. Following the 2015 season Strickland was named a Pennsylvania Sportswriter's 2A all-state selection. He was both an all-conference WR and DB. Strickland totaled 60 receptions for 1,215 yards, averaging 20.3 YPC with 15 TD receptions. On defense he posted 40 tackles, and three interceptions for 75 yards, two of which he returned for TDs.
All five of these Pennsylvania class of 2017 and 2018 players may not have been on many D-1 football recruiting radar screens before the start of the 2015 season, but don't be surprised if all five end up being nationally recruited.
