2023 Writers' 6A All State Team

[bucksftball]

Player of the Year: Samaj Jones, St. Joseph’s Prep

Coach of the Year: Art Walker, North Allegheny


Quarterback

Matt Zollers, Spring-Ford – 6-4, 205 junior
Hayden Johnson, Manheim Township – 6-0, 180 senior
Logan Kushner, North Allegheny – 6-1, 200 senior
Samaj Jones, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-2, 210 senior
Payton Wehner, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-0, 180 senior

Running Back

Anthony Leonardi, Central Bucks South – 5-11, 180 senior
Juelz Goff, Central York – 5-10, 195 senior
Jared Porter, Central Dauphin East – 5-9, 170 junior
Trey Tremba, Parkland – 5-11, 200 senior

Wide Receiver

Mason Kuehner, Nazareth – 5-11, 170 senior
Pete Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 200 senior
David Washington Jr., St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-0, 185 senior
Landon Kennel, Manheim Township – 6-3, 200 senior
Mason Scott, Spring-Ford – 6-1, 170 senior

Tight End

Jack Donnelly, Central Bucks East – 6-2, 235 senior

Offensive Line

Cooper Cousins, McDowell – 6-6, 310 senior
Michael Carroll, Central Bucks East – 6-6, 298 junior
Kevin Brown, Harrisburg – 6-5, 250 sophomore
Michael McMonigle, York High – 6-6, 290 senior
Adham Abouraya, Downingtown East – 6-5, 280 senior
Jack Yatchenko, North Allegheny – 6-3, 285 junior

Athlete

Jaheim Bennett, George Washington – 6-0, 175 junior
Michael Scott, Dallastown – 5-9, 160 junior
Tommy Hunsicker, Wilson-West Lawn – 6-2, 185 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Maxwell Roy, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 285 junior
Ryan Epps, Harrisburg – 6-1, 235 senior
Sean Kinney, Nazareth – 6-3, 290 senior
Sean McNulty, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-0, 245 senior
Malachi Ramnath, Central York – 6-3, 220 junior
Eli Rodriguez, Manheim Township – 6-0, 220 senior

Linebacker

Anthony Speca, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 215 senior
Anthony Sacca, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 220 junior
Cole Sullivan, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 205 senior
Michael Gaul, State College – 6-1, 205 junior
Alex Sauve, Cumberland Valley – 6-0, 205 senior

Defensive Back

Saxton Suchanic, Central York – 6-3, 180 junior
Ziyyon Bradell, Abraham Lincoln – 6-0, 180 junior
Omillio Agard, St. Joseph’s Prep – 5-11, 165 senior
Quincy Brannon, Harrisburg – 5-11, 175 junior

Specialist

Matthew Parker, Central York – 6-2, 200 junior

Athlete

Shawn Lee Jr., Harrisburg – 5-11, 180 junior
Tyree Alualu, North Allegheny – 5-11, 220 senior

 

[tulla]

So no SJP offensive lineman or running back--even though there were four named for the latter category--were listed and Nick McGlynn somehow didn't make the cut at linebacker--even though five were named. I guess SJP wasn't nearly as talented as everyone's been saying.

 

[Stalker]

So no SJP offensive lineman or running back--even though there were four named for the latter category--were listed and Nick McGlynn somehow didn't make the cut at linebacker--even though five were named. I guess SJP wasn't nearly as talented as everyone's been saying.

Not that anyone is paying any more attention to these "ALL" teams than 'team rankings' through the year; getting 6 of 43 available is a sizeable chunk at 14% of total wouldn't you say, followed by Central York-5, Pitt CC-4, Harrisburg-4, Manheim Township-3, North Allegheny-3,
This gives us something to piss and moan about besides the bowl games!

 

[bucksftball]

There are some very puzzling inclusions and omissions as usual. Realistically, there are very few writers that see all players from across the state, and reputation, whether earned or not, plays a huge factor. Picked one player that I was curious about, watched his season highlights from Twitter, and it was very underwhelming. So not sure someone could vote for them based on that even if they had watched film. But, at the end of the day, it's not the players' fault, I'm sure everyone on the list is talented, had great seasons, etc... There are a lot of great players around the state and some are going to be left out.

 

[RoverNation05]

Linebackers
A - 94 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 sacks
B - 107 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT
C- 48 tackles, 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 INT
D- 73 tackles, 18 TFL, 8 sacks
E- 67 tackles, 10 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT
F- 76 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks
G - 130 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, INT
So from this group you need to leave two off of the All State team. Who are you leaving behind?

Running Back
A - 223 carries, 1,623 yards, 31 TDs
B - 56 carries, 526 yards, 6 TDs
C - 198 carries, 1,807 yards, 26 TDs
D - 214 carries, 2,006 yards, 20 TDs
E - 61 carries, 515yards, 3 TDs
F - 216 carries, 1,844 yards, 25 TDs/30 catches, 408 yards, 4 TDs
G - 81 carries, 630 yards, 10 TDs
You can only pick for of these players to make the All State team, which four are you picking?

 

[tulla]

There are some very puzzling inclusions and omissions as usual. Realistically, there are very few writers that see all players from across the state, and reputation, whether earned or not, plays a huge factor. Picked one player that I was curious about, watched his season highlights from Twitter, and it was very underwhelming. So not sure someone could vote for them based on that even if they had watched film. But, at the end of the day, it's not the players' fault, I'm sure everyone on the list is talented, had great seasons, etc... There are a lot of great players around the state and some are going to be left out.

I'm not complaining about the selections--just noting the contrast between what many have been saying, i.e., this year's SJP team is extraordinarily talented and might beat a team made up of all the best players from District x, Distract x and y, or all the districts, and the list that was produced. But I get the real value of selecting players from lots of schools and lots of areas, especially the ones that don't get a lot of attention. It doesn't hurt a guy like McGlynn not be selected, but maybe it helps a kid from, say, Cumberland Valley.

Another note: naming five all-state QBs in a single classification seems at least a bit absurd.

 

[RoverNation05]

So the biggest issue I think SJP has in getting guys on the team is, I’m not sure how many members of the associated press cover D12 football. Do any of the Philly papers have a dedicated Hs football beat writer, or so they just sometimes use stringers and wire reports? With nobody to cover the team, nobody watches them play consistently, nobody can nominate or support players to the field.

They also only play a couple of competitive games every year, so most of their starters don’t play that much and don’t get the on field production they gets them on All State teams. Do they get on college radars? Yes. But being the best recruit in the state does not necessarily mean having an all state year - it’s ability vs production. Back when I used to do an All State team on here, I got in a big argument with somebody about leaving Olamade Zaccheus off, and my rationale was - he didn’t have 100 yards in any game, he never carried it more than 12 times, and he finished the year with like 500ish yards. On ability, was he one of the five best running backs in Pa that year, of course. But did he have one of the five best seasons, absolutely not.

In terms of their selection, I’m surprised they didn’t have a lineman, that feels like a miss. Alex Haskell has the best numbers on the defensive line, if anybody has a gripe it’s him. I also think Smith compares favorably to the linebacking years I listed

 

[bucksftball]

Linebackers
A - 94 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 sacks
B - 107 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT
C- 48 tackles, 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 INT
D- 73 tackles, 18 TFL, 8 sacks
E- 67 tackles, 10 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT
F- 76 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks
G - 130 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, INT
So from this group you need to leave two off of the All State team. Who are you leaving behind?

Running Back
A - 223 carries, 1,623 yards, 31 TDs
B - 56 carries, 526 yards, 6 TDs
C - 198 carries, 1,807 yards, 26 TDs
D - 214 carries, 2,006 yards, 20 TDs
E - 61 carries, 515yards, 3 TDs
F - 216 carries, 1,844 yards, 25 TDs/30 catches, 408 yards, 4 TDs
G - 81 carries, 630 yards, 10 TDs
You can only pick for of these players to make the All State team, which four are you picking?

Well this is part of the problem at the high school level. Almost all journalists are local and don't see out of area games until the playoffs and most also don't have access to game film outside of the highlights that players post. So my answer to your question, which I know is a cop-out, and part of the problem, is "it depends." It depends on who they accumulated those stats against. Does the LB dominate games and change the way you play offensively? Or do they rack up 20 tackles a game against 3-4 terrible teams whose line never climbs to the next level? Are their TFLs explosive plays leading to 2nd and 15, or are they 75% loss of a 1/2 yard ?

So what do they have left to go on? Do they watch the highlight films at least or just going on reputation / stats? And BTW, I'm trying in a roundabout way to acknowledge that it's not an easy task.

 

[bucksftball]

So the biggest issue I think SJP has in getting guys on the team is, I’m not sure how many members of the associated press cover D12 football. Do any of the Philly papers have a dedicated Hs football beat writer, or so they just sometimes use stringers and wire reports? With nobody to cover the team, nobody watches them play consistently, nobody can nominate or support players to the field.

They also only play a couple of competitive games every year, so most of their starters don’t play that much and don’t get the on field production they gets them on All State teams. Do they get on college radars? Yes. But being the best recruit in the state does not necessarily mean having an all state year - it’s ability vs production. Back when I used to do an All State team on here, I got in a big argument with somebody about leaving Olamade Zaccheus off, and my rationale was - he didn’t have 100 yards in any game, he never carried it more than 12 times, and he finished the year with like 500ish yards. On ability, was he one of the five best running backs in Pa that year, of course. But did he have one of the five best seasons, absolutely not.

In terms of their selection, I’m surprised they didn’t have a lineman, that feels like a miss. Alex Haskell has the best numbers on the defensive line, if anybody has a gripe it’s him. I also think Smith compares favorably to the linebacking years I listed

And I think this leads to the other issue, being a top recruit, which is also often based on "potential", doesn't mean you've had an All-State HS season, whether or not your team needed to use you extensively.

Based on one team in my area constantly having players on this team that are head scratchers... I'd say that there is also some lobbying being done by coaches also.

 

[RoverNation05]

Another note: naming five all-state QBs in a single classification seems at least a bit absurd.

what’s crazy is for most of its history the Big School team, it was first team, second team, third team, with one quarterback each. So three ranked quarterbacks for all of 4A and 3A. Three more in 2A and A, so six quarterbacks in the state. Now it’s five in each of the six classes.

 

[RoverNation05]

Well this is part of the problem at the high school level. Almost all journalists are local and don't see out of area games until the playoffs and most also don't have access to game film outside of the highlights that players post. So my answer to your question, which I know is a cop-out, and part of the problem, is "it depends." It depends on who they accumulated those stats against. Does the LB dominate games and change the way you play offensively? Or do they rack up 20 tackles a game against 3-4 terrible teams whose line never climbs to the next level? Are their TFLs explosive plays leading to 2nd and 15, or are they 75% loss of a 1/2 yard ?

So what do they have left to go on? Do they watch the highlight films at least or just going on reputation / stats? And BTW, I'm trying in a roundabout way to acknowledge that it's not an easy task.

So the linebackers are the five guys from the All State team, plus a kid from Parkland I threw in, and the kid with 46 tackles is Nick McGlynn, who “somehow didn’t make the cut” according to Tulla

Anthony Speca, PCC - 94 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 sacks
Michael Gaul, State College - 107 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT
Nick McGlynn, SJP - 48 tackles, 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 INT
Jake Beindelman, Parkland - 73 tackles, 18 TFL, 8 sacks
Anthony Sacca, SJP - 67 tackles, 10 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT
Cole Sullivan, PCC - 76 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks
Alex Sauve, Cumberland Valley - 130 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, INT

 

[bucksftball]

So the linebackers are the five guys from the All State team, plus a kid from Parkland I threw in, and the kid with 46 tackles is Nick McGlynn, who “somehow didn’t make the cut” according to Tulla

I think we could take the top LBs from all of the 6A leagues and come up with a few dozen players (at least) in the range of 100 tackles and 10+ TFLs. Surprised that McGlynn has that few, even with all of the blowouts, but certainly would make it harder for a writer to vote for him with those numbers.

 

[DripDrop]

I thought sjp was already made up of the PA all stars. NJ too.

 

[RCH13co18]

I watched Mcglynn against IMG and against us he scored off 2 pick 6s. Just from the eye test. I didn’t see many MLB that played better. He’s scheduled to attend Army. After watching IMG game I thought that was a misprint.

 

[tulla]

I watched Mcglynn against IMG and against us he scored off 2 pick 6s. Just from the eye test. I didn’t see many MLB that played better. He’s scheduled to attend Army. After watching IMG game I thought that was a misprint.

One of the factors in McGlynn not being named may be the over-focus on stats. We all know that, especially for a linebacker, a tackle for a loss may be a whole lot less important than a tackle after a two-yard gain that would otherwise have been a five, ten, or twenty yard gain, but it's only the former that gets counted. I'm obviously not in a position to compare McGlynn with other linebackers from 6A schools, but from what I saw of McGlynn I have a hard time believing there were five better than he was.

 

[d1ball]

These lists really don't mean much due to the voting process. WC East had 3 players in for 5A. The same players weren't even 1st team all area for their local paper.

 

[Stalker]

These lists really don't mean much due to the voting process. WC East had 3 players in for 5A. The same players weren't even 1st team all area for their local paper.

Good example d1ball. They're BS. A good eg a notch up is Alabama's 18 five-star athletes losing to Michigan's 2 five stars.

 

[Fletchster1]

These lists really don't mean much due to the voting process. WC East had 3 players in for 5A. The same players weren't even 1st team all area for their local paper.

Assume the Vikings Booster Club sponsored the 5A All State Team?

 

[bucksftball]

These lists really don't mean much due to the voting process. WC East had 3 players in for 5A. The same players weren't even 1st team all area for their local paper.

It’s always clear which coaches have developed relationships with writers around the state and are actively promoting their players for these teams.

 

[bucksftball]

And right on cue, the Coaches' 6A team is even worse...

 

[Fletchster1]

A WC East team that finished 6-5 with loses of 56-0, 32-0, 28-0 had 3 all-state players. They need the SJP coaching staff to consult.

 

[bucksftball]

A WC East team that finished 6-5 with loses of 56-0, 32-0, 28-0 had 3 all-state players. They need the SJP coaching staff to consult.

I'll raise you a 4-6, non-playoff, CB East team with 3 first team all state on the 6A coaches' team...

 

[Fletchster1]

I'll raise you a 4-6, non-playoff, CB East team with 3 first team all state on the 6A coaches' team...

Only 2 for CB East, but point remains. Employing the top TE in 6A should lead to at least the playoffs.

 

[bucksftball]

Only 2 for CB East, but point remains. Employing the top TE in 6A should lead to at least the playoffs.

3 on the coaches that was released this afternoon. 2 on the writers.

 

[HSFB99]

Bucks, truly amazing. How is that even possible? Donnelly stumping hard for his kids?

 

[bucksftball]

Bucks, truly amazing. How is that even possible? Donnelly stumping hard for his kids?

One can only assume that’s the case. It’s incredible and it’s consistent.

 

[Fletchster1]

3 on the coaches that was released this afternoon. 2 on the writers.

Just ridiculous. It really takes away the value of being an all state player.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

Tackle stats aren't always the best indicator of defensive prowess.

Case in point. Back in 1994, Dan Kreider led Manheim Central in tackles with 40! The reason - he wasn't on the field that much because the defense forced so many 3 and outs. Kreider was a 1st team all state LB.