2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: North Catholic’s Brady O’Hara

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 | 7:44 PM

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North Catholic football coach Chris Rizzo had nothing but praise for senior tight end/defensive end Brady O’Hara.

“He’ll do anything you ask to help the team,” Rizzo said. “He’ll play anywhere, and he’s a leader. He wants to be good.”

O’Hara has started at defensive end for the Trojans since his freshman season and at tight end for the past two years.

But when he heads to Happy Valley in 2024, O’Hara will play tackle.

“Maybe if I have a big season catching the ball, I’ll play tight end at Penn State,” O’Hara said. “I know I’ve been recruited as a tackle, but I worked hard this summer to become a target on offense. I’m hoping for a big season.”

That’s why he was named to the Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team.

North Catholic drops from Class 4A and will compete in Class 3A in the Western Hills Conference with Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, McGuffey and Quaker Valley.

Last year the Trojans finished 5-6 overall, 4-2 in the Greater Allegheny Conference.

O’Hara said things won’t get any easier in Class 3A.

“We’re probably the strongest conference in Class 3A,” O’Hara said. “We lost to Avonworth last year, and I can’t wait for this season’s matchup.”

Avonworth also dropped to Class 3A.

O’Hara started playing football in sixth grade. When he got a chance to start as a freshman, he surprised himself.

O’Hara said he worked on becoming a better tackler and improving his speed.

“I’m trying to become a better player,” O’Hara said. “I’m proud of myself and how much better I’ve become and how much better I can be.”

O’Hara said he will sign officially with Penn State in December.

He picked Penn State because of the family atmosphere there, and he can’t wait to arrive and get to work. He said he’ll be adding weight to his body so he can play tackle.

But now he’s focused on helping North Catholic challenge for a conference title.

“He’s a special player, and I expect us to utilize his talents more,” Rizzo said. “He’s a humble person, and he’ll do anything for his teammates. He wants to win.”

Brady O’Hara

School: North Catholic

Class: Senior

Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-6, 250 pounds

Positions: Tight end/defensive end

Stars: 3

Committed to: Penn State

Other D1 offers: Pitt, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Marshall and Northwestern.

2023 statistics: 16 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: North Catholic