Early signing day: Notre Dame, Pitt, Kentucky among Power 5 schools to land WPIAL, City League recruits

By:
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 | 11:25 AM


The excitement of signing day used to be limited to February, but that changed five years ago when the NCAA added an early signing period for Division I football.

Now, most of the top recruits sign in mid-December.

A number of WPIAL and City League seniors took that opportunity Wednesday, and then their new schools celebrated on social media.

• Landon Alexander, Central Valley, RB, Albany

• Max Blanc, Bethel Park, QB, Youngstown State

• Joe Blahovec, Greensburg Central Catholic, DB, Youngstown State

• Patrick Body, Gateway, DB, Cincinnati

• Nick Bryan, Thomas Jefferson, OL, Kent State

• Tyreese Fearbry, Perry, OLB, Kentucky

• Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley, DL, Pitt

• Trent Fraley, Moon, OL, Marshall

• Jeremiah Hasley, Pine-Richland, LB, Duke

• Donovan Hinish, Central Catholic, DL, Notre Dame

• Jalen Klemm, Pine-Richland, OL, Kansas State

• Greg Klingensmith, Apollo-Ridge, OL, William & Mary

• Charlie Kreinbucher, Butler, TE, Bucknell

• Brandon Lawhorn Moore, Kiski Area, OL, Miami (Ohio)

• Jay Pearson, Sto-Rox, DB, Eastern Illinois

• Daniel Sierk, Hempfield, DE, Bucknell

• Michael Wells, New Castle, LB, Youngstown State

• Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford, RB/S, Wisconsin

Ivy League schools and service academy do not offer athletic scholarships, so those recruits do not sign a National Letter of Intent. Mt. Lebanon wide receiver/defensive back Eli Heidenreich committed to Navy, and Central Catholic running back Gannon Carothers committed to Cornell.

Here is a look at Wednesday’s announcements.

Landon Alexander, Central Valley

Max Blanc, Bethel Park

Joe Blahovec, Greensburg Central Catholic

Patrick Body, Gateway

Nick Bryan, Thomas Jefferson

Tyreese Fearbry, Perry

Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley

Trent Fraley, Moon

Jeremiah Hasley, Pine-Richland

Donovan Hinish, Central Catholic

Jalen Klemm, Pine-Richland

Greg Klingensmith, Apollo-Ridge

Charlie Kreinbucher, Butler

Brandon Lawhorn Moore, Kiski Area

Jay Pearson, Sto-Rox

Daniel Sierk, Hempfield

Michael Wells, New Castle

Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford

This list will be updated throughout the day.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Chris by email at charlan@triblive.com or via Twitter .

More High School Football

Canon-McMillan’s Kaeden Singleton commits to Delaware
Wisconsin lands another WPIAL recruit as Pine-Richland lineman Ryan Cory commits
Jeannette star from 1930s chosen for new National High School Football Hall of Fame
McKeesport’s Jahmil Perryman scores twice as Pennsylvania wins Big 33 Football Classic
Peters Township’s Brendan McCullough makes key interception in East-West all-star win