Lehigh Valley Commits/Recruiting

[RoverNation05]

Summer camp season is starting to really put Peyton Falzone on FBS radars. The 6'5 200 pound rising junior led Nazareth to a D11 title last year after throwing for 2,582 yards and 19 touchdowns to 4 interceptions, while completing 61% of his passes, all as a sophomore. He also ran for 440 yards and 11 touchdowns and was the D11 runner-up in the 100. He was also a state qualifier in the 300 hurdles and took 4th in D11 in the 100 meter dash.

I said coming into the season that Falzone could end up the biggest recruit from the Lehigh Valley since Jahan Dotson and maybe the best QB recruit since...Dan Kendra? He's so much taller than Brendan Nosovitch that I think he'll end up higher than a three star. Well, in the last two weekends he's camped at Virginia Tech and Penn State, and landed offers from both. It wouldn't shock me to see the Nittany Lions take an early lead in his recruitment - they have a working relationship with Falzone's dad, Nazareth head coach Tom Falzone, through the Dotson recruitment and I think there's a level of comfort there. But he's a big-time athlete who I think is going to be a big deal over the next two and a half years.

 

[RoverNation05]

That was fast - Peyton Falzone commits to Virginia Tech. QB dominoes falling quickly in 2026 nationally, no doubt Falzone influenced by Troy Huhn committing to Penn State the other day.

I think the last D11 quarterback to go to Virginia Tech was Jim Druckenmiller, who ended up a first round draft pick, so track record is great.

 

[RobberLucky]

Falzone was offered by PSU as a TE, not qb.

 

[RoverNation05]

Falzone was offered by PSU as a TE, not qb.

Interesting - on measurables I can see it, he could end up a 6'5 230-240 pounder and his track times are such that you believe in the athleticism.

 

[RoverNation05]

Changing the name of the thread. Speaking of tight ends, Southern Lehigh WR/TE Alec Olesh committed to Michigan this morning. First Michigan player from the Valley since I believe Tim Massaquoi (Parkland ‘01 WR/TE). Olesh is the #119 overall player and #5 tight end nationally in the 247 Composite ranking. He chose Michigan over Alabama, Penn State, and Florida State. He is the first major college player I can remember from Southern Lehigh.

Olesh joins Braheem Battles (Allentown Central Catholic/Maryland)and Raffy Tereo (Emmaus/Kent State) as FBS commits from the Valley so far in the class of 2025.

 

[lilromeo]

Changing the name of the thread. Speaking of tight ends, Southern Lehigh WR/TE Alec Olesh committed to Michigan this morning. First Michigan player from the Valley since I believe Tim Massaquoi (Parkland ‘01 WR/TE). Olesh is the #119 overall player and #5 tight end nationally in the 247 Composite ranking. He chose Michigan over Alabama, Penn State, and Florida State. He is the first major college player I can remember from Southern Lehigh.

Olesh joins Braheem Battles (Allentown Central Catholic/Maryland)and Raffy Tereo (Emmaus/Kent State) as FBS commits from the Valley so far in the class of 2025.

Penn State lets another good one get away.

 

[RoverNation05]

Penn State lets another good one get away.

First four star from the Valley they’ve missed in a while.

It’s also kind of ridiculous, but I will believe there is a great, impact college player from Southern Lehigh when I actually see it. Which is totally silly, but just an inherent bias.

 

[RoverNation05]

That was fast - Peyton Falzone commits to Virginia Tech. QB dominoes falling quickly in 2026 nationally, no doubt Falzone influenced by Troy Huhn committing to Penn State the other day.

I think the last D11 quarterback to go to Virginia Tech was Jim Druckenmiller, who ended up a first round draft pick, so track record is great.

Peyton Falzone just announced he is decommitting from Virginia Tech. He’s added a fourth star in most recruiting sites, and is in the top 250 composite nationally.

Comes on the heels of taking a visit last week to Ohio State, who does not currently have a 2026 quarterback committed. I believe they had Sidwar from LaSalle out last week too.

 

[bucksftball]

Buckle up, the new roster limits at the FBS level are about to wreak havoc on the recruiting landscape.

 

[RobberLucky]

Ouch! One of the writers from the Hokies site on 247 wrote this:

EvanGWatkins STAFF

IMO, he will be a great college TE

 

[RoverNation05]

Ouch! One of the writers from the Hokies site on 247 wrote this:

EvanGWatkins STAFF

IMO, he will be a great college TE

You a VA Tech guy? I don’t think that’s a great evaluation. Or, he is 6’5 and a state qualifier in track, so the kid can run. If he puts on 45 pounds, that is kind ann exciting tight end package.

Would be a waste of a deep ball.

 

[RobberLucky]

I’m not. I just pay for it as I enjoy following recruiting and jumped in there because usually the writers add more context to the decision. Never seen a writer make a dig like that.

Very athletic and talented kid.

 

[RoverNation05]

I’m not. I just pay for it as I enjoy following recruiting and jumped in there because usually the writers add more context to the decision. Never seen a writer make a dig like that.

Very athletic and talented kid.

Devante Cross (Parkland) I definitely saw why you’d potentially move him to defensive back (which ended up happening). Really fast, not as big, run first, arm was good not crazy. I thought he had a chance to stick, and he flipped to UVA because they recruited him as a QB. Moved in his first fall camp.

Anthony Gonzalez (Liberty) moved a ton and settled at linebacker, always thought he would have been am interesting option QB (Oregon in 2008 was his other choice) but he only would have worked in a system built for his running skills.

Brendan Nosovitch (ACC) I never saw moving to tight end, he wasn’t that big and he was so good and productive as a high school kid, and got in the South Carolina two deep early, but never could move. Reinforces that I don’t know anything.

Falzone is a significantly better thrower than all three of them. He needs to clean his feet up to get more accurate on throws in between, but there are tons of tools. I thought he was considerably better than Zollers (playing against the same defense).

 

[RobberLucky]

Devante Cross (Parkland) I definitely saw why you’d potentially move him to defensive back (which ended up happening). Really fast, not as big, run first, arm was good not crazy. I thought he had a chance to stick, and he flipped to UVA because they recruited him as a QB. Moved in his first fall camp.

Anthony Gonzalez (Liberty) moved a ton and settled at linebacker, always thought he would have been am interesting option QB (Oregon in 2008 was his other choice) but he only would have worked in a system built for his running skills.

Brendan Nosovitch (ACC) I never saw moving to tight end, he wasn’t that big and he was so good and productive as a high school kid, and got in the South Carolina two deep early, but never could move. Reinforces that I don’t know anything.

Falzone is a significantly better thrower than all three of them. He needs to clean his feet up to get more accurate on throws in between, but there are tons of tools. I thought he was considerably better than Zollers (playing against the same defense).

I’m not high on Zollers. I definitely don’t think he’s top 10 in the country. Plays very weak competition. He freelances too much. When he gets to Missouri it’s going to look like Star Wars out there from what he played against. The beginning of his senior season was rough too. I think he’ll struggle to get it going in the SEC.

I think Sidwar and Falzone are the best two in SEPA. They are different players but both very good.

 

[yeez1001]

Is Beals in that conversation? Broke some impressive records in the PCL this year, and Roman seemed to up their ooc slate.

Folk from st Joe has to be up there. He took over that 2nd lasalle game and dominated on third down. Even Bob long on the lasalle broadcast was enamored.

 

[RobberLucky]

Is Beals in that conversation? Broke some impressive records in the PCL this year, and Roman seemed to up their ooc slate.

Folk from st Joe has to be up there. He took over that 2nd lasalle game and dominated on third down. Even Bob long on the lasalle broadcast was enamored.

I think Beals is ahead of Zollers too. But he stays in most games til the end and they stat pad a bit.

He passed McCord who played a ton two quarter games and had a covid shortened season.

Foulke is climbing and played his best game at the most important time against LaSalle.

 

[RoverNation05]

I’m not high on Zollers. I definitely don’t think he’s top 10 in the country. Plays very weak competition. He freelances too much. When he gets to Missouri it’s going to look like Star Wars out there from what he played against. The beginning of his senior season was rough too. I think he’ll struggle to get it going in the SEC.

I think Sidwar and Falzone are the best two in SEPA. They are different players but both very good.

Zollers against Easton was 8-18 for 89 yards, a fumble, and three interceptions.

Falzone was 19-30 for 296 yards, six touchdowns, ran for 86 yards and another two touchdowns.

Probably the worst game Zollers will play and the best game Falzone will, but the difference was stark. Falzone threw a 55 yard touchdown to Newsome (Lafayette) in the first half that was on a string to his fingertips crossing the goal line. Couldn’t even be mad.

He might have the best frame of the group we’re talking about - 6’5 205 and I think can and will carry a lot more weight as he gets into college. Long strider, he’s not a scrambler, but he can move around in the pocket to buy time, then just eats up ground when he takes off. Ran for like 700 yards too. I thought he had a really high ceiling as a sophomore, and has improved at a faster clip than I anticipated. Next year will be his worst receiver group (Kuehner last year, who had a good freshman year at Lafayette, and two years of Newsome, who will join Kuehner there next year) so he’ll have to earn his keep.

 

[lilromeo]

I think Beals is ahead of Zollers too. But he stays in most games til the end and they stat pad a bit.

He passed McCord who played a ton two quarter games and had a covid shortened season.

Foulke is climbing and played his best game at the most important time against LaSalle.

If Foulke continues to improve he will be one of the best by his senior year. He was impressive against LaSalle.