2021 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the cornerbacks
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Tuesday, August 24, 2021 | 7:28 PM
Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher throws during work outs Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 at Laurel Highlands High school.
Chartiers Valley’s Lamont Payne Jr. carries during practice on Aug. 17, 2021, in Collier.
Penn Hills’ Jaden Dugger during practice Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 at Penn Hills High School.
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top cornerbacks for the 2021 season.
1. Rodney Gallagher
Laurel Highlands
Junior, 6-0, 170
Football or basketball? The two-sport athlete will have to make that decision sometime in the future, but for now he’s a high school star in both. On the turf, Gallagher is a big-play offensive threat at quarterback and as a part-time wide receiver, but that overshadows the two-way starter’s strong work at cornerback. He had 34 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery last fall. He holds Division I offers in both football and basketball. Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia have offered him a scholarship in each. Among his other options are Notre Dame, Michigan and Ole Miss football and Florida basketball. He’s a Rivals four-star recruit.
Watch Rodney Gallagher highlights
2. Lamont Payne
Chartiers Valley
Junior, 6-1, 175
As a sophomore starter with excellent coverage skills, Payne played a role in Chartiers Valley’s resurgence last fall, as the Colts improve from 2-8 in 2019 to 6-2 in 2020. He was rewarded with a string of Division I offers including Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Kent State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Rivals ranks him as a three-star recruit.
3. Pharoh Fisher
Serra Catholic
Senior, 6-2, 200
The Navy commit is a physical defender on the perimeter and a four-year starter at wide receiver. He committed to the Midshipmen over offers from Army, Air Force, Bowling Green and Columbia. He earned all-conference honors at defensive back.
Watch Pharoh Fisher highlights
4. Rashan Murray
University Prep
Senior, 6-1, 180
Murray earned all-City League honors at wide receiver last season but his college future will be on defense. The Rivals two-star recruit committed to Akron when he received his first Division I offer this summer.
Watch Rashan Murray highlights
5. Jaden Dugger
Penn Hills
Senior, 6-4, 200
Dugger’s size and speed combination makes him a rarity at cornerback. He’s also seems poised for a breakout year at wide receiver, where he’ll be catching passes from his brother, sophomore QB Julian Dugger.
ONE TO WATCH
Brandon Banks
Aliquippa
Sophomore, 5-11, 160
When it comes to WPIAL cornerbacks, no school compares to Aliquippa. Darrelle Revis and Ty Law top a list of star defensive backs who’ve worn the red and black. Banks, who became a starter as a freshman, could become another standout cornerback for the Quips.
Watch Brandon Banks highlights
• • • • •
POSITION BREAKDOWNS
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K
Top five coaching changes for 2021
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Aliquippa, Chartiers Valley, Laurel Highlands, Penn Hills, Serra Catholic, University Prep
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