CTK 2012 – MSA Sports Football Preseason Elite Eleven

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, August 19, 2012 | 10:01 AM

Quarterbacks and receivers are big in WPIAL football this year. The MSA Sports Preseason Elite 11 includes four receivers and three quarterbacks. The team, picked by the MSA Sports Staff, is made up of the top 11 players in the WPIAL heading into the 2012 season.

Western Pennsylvania isn’t known much for producing Division I college receivers, but this year’s crop of pass-catchers is very good. All four receivers on the Elite 11 have either committed to a Division I college, or have scholarship offers from Division I teams. Two of those four will also also play some at running back this season.

The remaining part of the Elite 11 is made up of two offensive linemen, one tight end and one running back.

Here is a look at the players on this year’s MSA Sports Elite 11:

TYLER BOYD  WR-RB-DB
Clairton   6-2, 180  Sr.

Boyd is a jack-of-all trades for Clairton, playing running back and receiver on offense. But he also will spend a little bit of time at quarterback this season. A year ago, he rushed for 2,400 yards on 186 carries for a ridiculous 12.9 average. He caught 15 passes for 316 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. He has been on Clairton’s varsity since his freshman year, and the Bears’ record during that time is 47-7 with three consecutive PIAA championships.

Penn State was Boyd’s top choice for college, until the NCAA hit the school with sanctions. Boyd no longer is considering Penn State. He has numerous scholarship offers from Division I colleges, including ones from Pitt, West Virginia, Arizona, Notre Dame and Boston College.
 

DANE BROWN  RB
Franklin Regional  5-8, 195  Sr.

Brown isn’t a big back, but he has racked up some awfully big statistics. He heads into his senior year with 3,297 yards on 397 carries the past two seasons. He seems like a sure bet to reach 4,000 yards for his career.

A year ago, Brown was the WPIAL’s second-leading rusher during the regular season, behind only Hopewell’s Rushel Shell. He had 1,960 yards on 210 attempts last year after rushing for 1,337 on 187 carries as a sophomore.
 

ZACH CHALLINGSWORTH  WR-DB
South Fayette  6-2, 190  Sr.

Challingsworth does a little of everything for South Fayette. He is an excellent receiver, sometimes runs the ball, sometimes throws it, plays a mean defensive back, is a punter and also returns kicks. Oh yeah, he blocked six extra points and three punts last season. Last season, Challingsworth caught 48 passes for 704 yards, rushed for 250 yards on 36 attempts, and completed both of his pass attempts. He has been on South Fayette’s varsity since his freshman year and a starter since his sophomore year.

Challingsworth has committed to Pitt. He originally committed to Toledo, but backed out of the commitment when Pitt offered.
 

ROBERT FOSTER  WR-DB
Central Valley   6-2, 185  Sr.

It’s not an overstatement to call Foster one of the top receivers in the country. Scout.com ranks him the No. 2 receiver in the U.S. and Rivals.com No. 4. Foster is a speed-burner who is a huge threat to catch deep passes.

Last year, he had 37 receptions for 584 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also excels at safety and returning kicks.
Foster has been recruited by colleges across the country and this summer narrowed his list of schools to seven – Pitt, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Oregon and Southern California.
 

DORIAN JOHNSON   OT-DT
Belle Vernon  6-6, 290  Sr.

Johnson is one of the biggest offensive linemen in Western Pennsylvania. He also is one of the most highly-touted, making some scouting service lists as one of the top 20 offensive linemen in the country. He has been a starter since his sophomore year and added 25 pounds since last season.

Johnson made a verbal commitment to Penn State in June. But then Penn State was hit with NCAA sanctions, and Johnson informed Penn State a few weeks later that he was reopening his recruiting and would no longer consider Penn State. He said Pitt and Ohio State are now his top choices, but he has numerous other scholarship offers. Alabama and Notre Dame are two of many schools that have offered.
 

PAT KUGLER  OL-DL
North Allegheny  6-4, 285  Sr.

Ever since he moved here from Buffalo as a sophomore, Kugler has been a force on the North Allegheny lines, helping the Tigers win two consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA titles. He was an all-state selection last year as a junior and is fully recovered from a knee injury sustained at the end of last season. Two scouting services rank him among the top 10 offensive linemen in the country, but he also wreaks havoc on defense. Kugler’s father, Sean, is the Steelers offensive line coach and Pat’s brother, Rob, is a redshirt freshman center at Purdue.

Pat Kugler made his college decision in March, making a verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines. He had numerous offers and his other finalists were Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida and Florida State. Colleges recruited Kugler to play either offensive guard or center.
 

MACK LEFTWICH  QB
North Allegheny   5-10, 190  Sr.

Leftwich moved from Oklahoma to the North Allegheny district last season, and had a gigantic impact. He finished with 3,156 yards offense to help the Tigers win their second consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA championship. He completed 130 of 230 for 2,223 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 933 yards on 148 carries.

Despite Leftwich’s success at the highest classification, Division I colleges aren’t recruiting him because of his size. But he does have a scholarship offer from Stephen F. Austin, a Division I-AA school.
 

SCOTT ORNDOFF  TE
Seton-LaSalle   6-5, 240  Sr.

When Orndoff came to Seton-LaSalle as a freshman, he was a quarterback, hoping to be the next in a line of successful signal-callers for the Rebels. But he turned into a Division I college tight end. Orndoff was moved to tight end, and most certainly found his niche. He is considered one of the top tight ends in the state. He caught 17 passes for 312 yards last season, and that production should increase this season in the Rebels’ pass-happy offense.

Orndoff made a verbal commitment to Wisconsin before his junior year. But things changed when Paul Chryst left Wisconsin, where he was offensive coordinator, and got the Pitt job. Orndoff eventually accepted a scholarship to Pitt.
 

EDDIE STOCKETT   QB
McKeesport   6-4, 212   Sr.

McKeesport changed its offense last year from mostly a running attack to a spread offense, and Stockett excelled in it. Stockett completed 105 of 192 for 1,772 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also had 136 yards rushing on 60 attempts. Stockett is a good-sized quarterback with a good arm and has been a starter since his sophomore season.

Stockett made a commitment to Akron in late June. He also had an offer from Youngstown State. At Akron, he will play for new coach Terry Bowden. Stockett is one of two Division I players on McKeesport’s team. Linebacker Hodari Christian has committed to West Virginia.
 

THOMAS WOODSON  QB
Gateway  6-2, 200  Sr.
Woodson started opening eyes when he was a strong-armed sophomore, starting for Gateway. Now he is one of the WPIAL's top quarterbacks. In two seasons, he has completed 156 of 307 for 2,546 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 774 yards. As a junior, Woodson completed 63 of 105 for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns, and also ran for 306 yards.

Woodson will head West to play college ball. He made a verbal commitment in the spring to coach Rich Rodriguez and the University of Arizona.
 

DEVIN WILSON  WR-DB
Montour   6-3, 185   Sr.
Wilson is one of the best two-sports athletes in the WPIAL, also excelling at basketball. In football, he caught 71 passes for 901 yards last season for the WPIAL Class AAA champion Spartans. But Wilson won’t just be a receiver and defensive back this season. He also will play some at tailback.

Wilson is a point guard in basketball and has not decided what sport he will play in college. He has football scholarship offers from North Carolina State, Temple, Ohio and Akron. He has basketball scholarship offers from Robert Morris, St. Bonaventure, Drexel, Hofstra, Akron and James Madison.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Valley, Clairton, Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport