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The Recruiting Zone

Find out what colleges are recruiting Aidan Allison, Donald Barksdale, Jadon Phillips, Andrew Devola, and Tal Stoltzfus now!


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Q&A with Greensburg Central Catholic strong safety Aidan Allison​


Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes, football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“I have been talking with several coaches and have been invited to colleges for a visit.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“See above.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“See above.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“I have a few more college trips planned. It's been a very busy month.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“Ohio State.”


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Q&A with Steel Valley athlete Donald Barksdale​


Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes I want to play sports in college, such as football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Bowling Green, Robert Morris and Central State.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“All of them really, they’ve all been staying in touch.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, me and my family [have] been to 6 different schools this offseason.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“So me and my family we always take a trip down to Florida almost every year, so, yeah.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“Yes, Penn State.”


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Q&A with Hickory cornerback Jadon Phillips​


Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes, football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Pitt, Penn State, Kentucky.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“Kentucky.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, to Pitt. Penn State, and Kentucky.”

Do you have plans for more trips soon?
“Not as of right now.”

What camps are you planning to do this summer?
“Kent State Mega Camp, Penn State, Pitt and Kentucky.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“No.”


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Q&A with Franklin Regional defensive tackle Andrew Devola​


Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I want to play football in college.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Lots of local FCS schools such as RMU, St. Francis and Duquesne have reached out.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“I wouldn’t say any school has been recruiting me the hardest but RMU has been recruiting me the longest. I attended one of their regular season games last year as a junior.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“I’ve been to Seton Hill, RMU, Duquesne and Case Western on visits.”

Do you have plans for more trips soon?
“I plan on going back to some of those colleges again in the summer along with hopefully other schools as well.”

What camps are you planning to do this summer?
“I’m working on my camp schedule right now, as of currently I will be at Duquesne’s camp and RMU’s mega camp over the summer.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My favorite colleges have always been Wisconsin and Penn State.”


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Q&A with Conestoga Valley defensive lineman Tal Stoltzfus​


Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I do plan to play in college. It is either between football or wrestling. I still haven’t decided yet. Possibly would do both.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Gettysburg College reached out to me a while ago and I went on a visit. This was for wrestling.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“Gettysburg has been the only team really talking.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, Gettysburg.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“No I do not.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“I never really did anything besides local teams like Penn State.”


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PA Preps High School Football Talk

Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about football now!


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Q&A with Greensburg Central Catholic strong safety Aidan Allison
How did the high school football season go overall?
“It went great and it was exciting for our team to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 11 years. We want the championship.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“After the season I began working out with my trainer Rocco Yauger, focusing on speed and explosiveness. Team lifts also began in January. It's track season now. So I've been busy sprinting, which will help when camps start.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I expect our team to do better than last year. We have great coaching that will be mixed with more experience. We have a really strong team from coaches to athletes.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Clairton. They always have really good talent.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Drahcir Jones.”

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Q&A with Steel Valley athlete Donald Barksdale
How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went good, everything about it was great but hard at the same time, nothing is easy.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’m planning on getting bigger [in my] upper body and fast[er] for the upcoming season going into my senior year.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Great, I feel as if everyone stays locked in and ready to play when the Friday night lights come on, we are going back to back.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Wash High will be the hardest on the schedule.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Sincere Smith on Westinghouse my sophomore year.”

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Q&A with Hickory cornerback Jadon Phillips
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Working on my strength.”

What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Press-Man coverage.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“State champs.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Sharon.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Juju Johnson.”

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Q&A with Franklin Regional defensive tackle Andrew Devola
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been lifting both with my team and on my own for at least 6 days a week since the season was over and I’ve been getting in field work whenever I’ve had extra time between work and practices.”

What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel I’ve improved most on upper body power and punch though I need to work on it more still.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel that our football team will exceed all expectations that the local stations and score predictors will have for us.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We have one of the hardest schedules in 5A football, we have teams like PCC and USC non- conference but then we still have powerhouses like Gateway, PT, Woody and Latrobe in our conference as well.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest competition I think that I will face off against is most likely one of the D1 lineman from USC or PCC. I do not know which yet.”

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Q&A with Conestoga Valley defensive lineman Tal Stoltzfus
How did the high school football season go overall?
“Our past season went above our expectations. Going into the season we knew we had potential but we were able to express it to the fullest. We were excited to win our first playoff game in almost 14 years as well.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“The team has been lifting three times a week mostly during advanced PE or after school. I have been and am continuing to wrestle three days a week and I am training with Daryl Daniels once a week.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have a very competitive team this year willing to put in the work. I am very excited and think we can surprise a lot of people.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think it will be Exeter as we beat them last year in a really fun game. I know they have coaches and players coming back looking for revenge.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I can’t say I know anyone right now.”

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Q&A with Conestoga Valley defensive lineman Tal Stoltzfus

How did the high school football season go overall?
“Our past season went above our expectations. Going into the season we knew we had potential but we were able to express it to the fullest. We were excited to win our first playoff game in almost 14 years as well.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“The team has been lifting three times a week mostly during advanced PE or after school. I have been and am continuing to wrestle three days a week and I am training with Daryl Daniels once a week.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have a very competitive team this year willing to put in the work. I am very excited and think we can surprise a lot of people.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think it will be Exeter as we beat them last year in a really fun game. I know they have coaches and players coming back looking for revenge.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I can’t say I know anyone right now.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I do plan to play in college. It is either between football or wrestling. I still haven’t decided yet. Possibly would do both.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Gettysburg College reached out to me a while ago and I went on a visit. This was for wrestling.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“Gettysburg has been the only team really talking.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, Gettysburg.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“No I do not.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“I never really did anything besides local teams like Penn State.”

Q&A with Franklin Regional defensive tackle Andrew Devola

What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been lifting both with my team and on my own for at least 6 days a week since the season was over and I’ve been getting in field work whenever I’ve had extra time between work and practices.”

What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel I’ve improved most on upper body power and punch though I need to work on it more still.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel that our football team will exceed all expectations that the local stations and score predictors will have for us.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We have one of the hardest schedules in 5A football, we have teams like PCC and USC non- conference but then we still have powerhouses like Gateway, PT, Woody and Latrobe in our conference as well.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest competition I think that I will face off against is most likely one of the D1 lineman from USC or PCC. I do not know which yet.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I want to play football in college.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Lots of local FCS schools such as RMU, St. Francis and Duquesne have reached out.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“I wouldn’t say any school has been recruiting me the hardest but RMU has been recruiting me the longest. I attended one of their regular season games last year as a junior.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“I’ve been to Seton Hill, RMU, Duquesne and Case Western on visits.”

Do you have plans for more trips soon?
“I plan on going back to some of those colleges again in the summer along with hopefully other schools as well.”

What camps are you planning to do this summer?
“I’m working on my camp schedule right now, as of currently I will be at Duquesne’s camp and RMU’s mega camp over the summer.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My favorite colleges have always been Wisconsin and Penn State.”

Q&A with Hickory cornerback Jadon Phillips

What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Working on my strength.”

What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Press-Man coverage.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“State champs.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Sharon.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Juju Johnson.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes, football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Pitt, Penn State, Kentucky.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“Kentucky.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, to Pitt. Penn State, and Kentucky.”

Do you have plans for more trips soon?
“Not as of right now.”

What camps are you planning to do this summer?
“Kent State Mega Camp, Penn State, Pitt and Kentucky.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“No.”

Q&A with Steel Valley athlete Donald Barksdale

How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went good, everything about it was great but hard at the same time, nothing is easy.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’m planning on getting bigger [in my] upper body and fast[er] for the upcoming season going into my senior year.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Great, I feel as if everyone stays locked in and ready to play when the Friday night lights come on, we are going back to back.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Wash High will be the hardest on the schedule.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Sincere Smith on Westinghouse my sophomore year.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes I want to play sports in college, such as football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Bowling Green, Robert Morris and Central State.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“All of them really, they’ve all been staying in touch.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes, me and my family [have] been to 6 different schools this offseason.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“So me and my family we always take a trip down to Florida almost every year, so, yeah.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“Yes, Penn State.”

Q&A with Greensburg Central Catholic strong safety Aidan Allison

How did the high school football season go overall?
“It went great and it was exciting for our team to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 11 years. We want the championship.”

What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“After the season I began working out with my trainer Rocco Yauger, focusing on speed and explosiveness. Team lifts also began in January. It's track season now. So I've been busy sprinting, which will help when camps start.”

How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I expect our team to do better than last year. We have great coaching that will be mixed with more experience. We have a really strong team from coaches to athletes.”

What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Clairton. They always have really good talent.”

Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Drahcir Jones.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes, football.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“I have been talking with several coaches and have been invited to colleges for a visit.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“See above.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“See above.”

Do you have plans for any trips soon?
“I have a few more college trips planned. It's been a very busy month.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“Ohio State.”

Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

I feel like ecp is like that with all sports. When I was there from 93-97 it was basketball. My 4 years at prep they won a state championship and lost 2. One being to koby Bryant and lower meron my junior year. My freshman year they were loaded jed Ryan (Penn), booker Coleman (Wisconsin) Julian blank (la salle).
don't forget this buzzer beater haha

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Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

I feel like ECP goes on these little mini runs in wrestling where they’re great - your era, the Starocci/Deboe/Van Dee/Crosby teams, the Kevin Darkus run back in the day.

Jeffries I think beat Jamarr in the Manheim final and Jamarr returned the favor at Ironman maybe? They ended up at 130 and 135 for the postseason in ‘96 and I think both won state titles? And Loper and Bryan Snyder also had some battles, that I think continued into college, where they were both All Americans. Snyder is absolutely haunted by the old overtime without system - he lost in rideouts as a sophomore in quarterfinals, then as a junior he and Loper were clearly the two best guys at 125, but met in semis, and rode him out to win 1-1 in OTRO and went on to win a state title. Great, super high level match between two of the best kids in the mid ‘90s. Then in college, famously, Snyder was a two-time NCAA finalist and lost in OTRO BOTH TIMES (!!). No human being closer to winning multiple NCAA titles without having any than Bryan. All time great guy, who will be the next head coach at Nebraska when Mark Manning retires, he’s been the top assistant there forever. Got to corner Burroughs at the Olympics, he’s done just fine for himself. But man was that Loper match in ‘96 an ominous sign of things to come.

I would love to pick the state champ project up, maybe the kick in the butt I need. I’ll have some time this summer - the 2013 SJP entry is sitting in a draft folder half done. I need to commit to picking it back up.
My time at prep the wrestling team had the big 3. Aaron waters, Terrance Jeffries and rob loper.

Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

He and Jamarr Billman had awesome matches against each other.
I feel like ECP goes on these little mini runs in wrestling where they’re great - your era, the Starocci/Deboe/Van Dee/Crosby teams, the Kevin Darkus run back in the day.

Jeffries I think beat Jamarr in the Manheim final and Jamarr returned the favor at Ironman maybe? They ended up at 130 and 135 for the postseason in ‘96 and I think both won state titles? And Loper and Bryan Snyder also had some battles, that I think continued into college, where they were both All Americans. Snyder is absolutely haunted by the old overtime without system - he lost in rideouts as a sophomore in quarterfinals, then as a junior he and Loper were clearly the two best guys at 125, but met in semis, and rode him out to win 1-1 in OTRO and went on to win a state title. Great, super high level match between two of the best kids in the mid ‘90s. Then in college, famously, Snyder was a two-time NCAA finalist and lost in OTRO BOTH TIMES (!!). No human being closer to winning multiple NCAA titles without having any than Bryan. All time great guy, who will be the next head coach at Nebraska when Mark Manning retires, he’s been the top assistant there forever. Got to corner Burroughs at the Olympics, he’s done just fine for himself. But man was that Loper match in ‘96 an ominous sign of things to come.

I would love to pick the state champ project up, maybe the kick in the butt I need. I’ll have some time this summer - the 2013 SJP entry is sitting in a draft folder half done. I need to commit to picking it back up.
I feel like ecp is like that with all sports. When I was there from 93-97 it was basketball. My 4 years at prep they won a state championship and lost 2. One being to koby Bryant and lower meron my junior year. My freshman year they were loaded jed Ryan (Penn), booker Coleman (Wisconsin) Julian blank (la salle).
I always looked fwd to reading your state football projects. I was hoping you didn't give up on them. I know you've been doing 6A/4A but could I make a special request for the 2017 ECP team whenever you get time.

Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

Yes Terrance Jeffries was a complete stud on the mat. When I was in highschool at Erie prep we had some great wrestling teams. Terrance Jeffries, rob loper, and Dorian Hegar were all state champs during my time at ECP. Rover any chance you'll resume the state football project? I used to look forward to reading them and was looking fwd to the recent state champs. I believe you left off 2013 St joes prep team.
I feel like ECP goes on these little mini runs in wrestling where they’re great - your era, the Starocci/Deboe/Van Dee/Crosby teams, the Kevin Darkus run back in the day.

Jeffries I think beat Jamarr in the Manheim final and Jamarr returned the favor at Ironman maybe? They ended up at 130 and 135 for the postseason in ‘96 and I think both won state titles? And Loper and Bryan Snyder also had some battles, that I think continued into college, where they were both All Americans. Snyder is absolutely haunted by the old overtime without system - he lost in rideouts as a sophomore in quarterfinals, then as a junior he and Loper were clearly the two best guys at 125, but met in semis, and rode him out to win 1-1 in OTRO and went on to win a state title. Great, super high level match between two of the best kids in the mid ‘90s. Then in college, famously, Snyder was a two-time NCAA finalist and lost in OTRO BOTH TIMES (!!). No human being closer to winning multiple NCAA titles without having any than Bryan. All time great guy, who will be the next head coach at Nebraska when Mark Manning retires, he’s been the top assistant there forever. Got to corner Burroughs at the Olympics, he’s done just fine for himself. But man was that Loper match in ‘96 an ominous sign of things to come.

I would love to pick the state champ project up, maybe the kick in the butt I need. I’ll have some time this summer - the 2013 SJP entry is sitting in a draft folder half done. I need to commit to picking it back up.

Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

He and Jamarr Billman had awesome matches against each other.
Yes Terrance Jeffries was a complete stud on the mat. When I was in highschool at Erie prep we had some great wrestling teams. Terrance Jeffries, rob loper, and Dorian Hegar were all state champs during my time at ECP. Rover any chance you'll resume the state football project? I used to look forward to reading them and was looking fwd to the recent state champs. I believe you left off 2013 St joes prep team.

Great athletes in Pennsylvania that got in their own way and couldn't stay out of trouble.

Benjamin tried to play football at Clarion but I don't remember him doing much. He looked the part but he seemed kinda slow.
He came back after a few years off but was never the same. He was a good ball player at clarion and he also played semi pro ball for the Erie freeze the indoor football arena team. He was one of thier captains in early 2000's. He was unbelievable in highschool player though. Those central teams in 93 94 were the best teams out of the city including the 91 Vincent team.
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