2025 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Penn Hills’ Carter Bonner

By: Josh Rizzo
Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 9:53 AM

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Carter Bonner doesn’t think going on the recruiting trail for football is an easy process. One thing that eases the Penn Hills junior’s mind when it comes to the decision-making process is the impact it has on his dad during the road trips to visit schools.

The two made a trip to New Jersey during basketball season to see a Rutgers men’s basketball game.

“I enjoy seeing my dad happy, really,” said Bonner, who plays defensive back and wide receiver. “I have seen my dad smile a lot, even at the basketball game. The hard work is paying off.”

Bonner is among Trib HSSN’s preseason top 25 players and has a lot of trips left ahead of him. He has offers from Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Tennessee and West Virginia, among others.

“It’s a hard process,” Bonner said. “My dad and I have been driving to all the schools and seeing which ones we like the best. I’m trying to make the best decision.”

During Bonner’s first season with Penn Hills last year, he finished second on the team in receiving by catching 26 passes for 436 yards. He also scored six touchdowns.

Bonner saw playing time at Shady Side Academy as a freshman and scored a pair of touchdowns. He appreciated having the early opportunity to get varsity experience.

“It helped a lot,” Bonner said. “I liked being able to play under pressure. I was able to learn how to make big plays at a young age.”

Bonner, who is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, said he has been focused this offseason on fine-tuning his game on both sides of the ball.

“This offseason, I’ve been focused on improving my game,” Bonner said. “I’ve been focused on making more big plays. I want to be the big-time player my team needs me to be.”

Penn Hills coach Charles Morris said Bonner has been focused on how to become great. Morris believes a lot of the adjustments Bonner needs to make to get there are incremental ones he can accomplish over time.

“It’s the little, small nuances of football,” Morris said. “He has the talent and size. He’s faster than people think he is. He’s working on getting in and out of his breaks. Me and him have been talking about how to dissect plays from a film study standpoint. He said he wants to be great, and he is a worker.”

Devin Harris, who will be Penn Hills’ starting quarterback this season, transferred into the program with Bonner from Shady Side Academy.

Having Harris, who saw time under center last season, with him last season helped Bonner immensely.

“Devin and I have a crazy connection,” Bonner said. “I know he wants to go out with a bang.”

Penn Hills will open the season Aug. 22 on the road against New Castle.

Bonner has big goals for this season. He would like to try to get more than 1,000 yards receiving and score as many touchdowns as possible.

“I’m looking forward to the big games,” Bonner said. “ A lot of people are counting us out.”

Carter Bonner

Penn Hills

Junior

6-foot-2, 190 pounds

WR/CB

Stars: 4

Division I offers: Akron, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Sacramento State, Temple, Tennessee, Toledo, Troy, UConn, UNLV, West Virginia

Stats (2024): 26 receptions for 436 yards, six TDs

Highlights: Hudl

Tags: Penn Hills