High school football preview by position

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 | 11:24 AM

Tribune-Review high school sports writer Chris Harlan is previewing the 2017 high school football season by breaking down the top players in the region by position.

QUARTERBACKS

Scouting the quarterbacks – A numbers game

The WPIAL had its first career 5,000-yard passer in 1993, when then-North Hills senior Eric Kasperowicz reached the lofty number. Read more.

RUNNING BACKS

Scouting the running backs – Carried away

One running back or two? Not all high school coaches use the same approach when it comes to their backfield workloads. While some ride one featured rusher, like Armstrong and Zane Dudek last year, others rely on a more balanced committee. Read more.

TIGHT ENDS

Scouting the tight ends – Matchup misery

As spread offense became a trend, the tight end position quickly changed. A number of high school coaches no longer feature them strictly as a sixth lineman with their hand on the ground but instead start them in the slot or shift them out wide. Read more.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Scouting the wide receivers – A new route

Familiar names will wear unfamiliar jerseys this fall. Several standout WPIAL receivers switched schools since last season, transfers that could make a real impact on the field this fall. Read more.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Scouting the offensive linemen – Weight in line

Western Pennsylvania’s depth at skill positions varies between seasons, with an extra strong running back or quarterback class every couple of years. Yet oversized linemen seem to always be plentiful. Read more.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Scouting the defensive linemen – High-end talent

The list of returning WPIAL defensive linemen already committed to Division I colleges includes Bethel Park’s James Gmiter (West Virginia), Penn-Trafford’s Logan Hawkins (Akron), Mt. Lebanon’s Coleman Coco (Colgate) and Altoona’s Jayvion Queen (Colgate). Read more.

Coming up:

LINEBACKERS

CORNERBACKS

SAFETIES

KICKERS / PUNTERS

HEAD COACHES