Western Pa.’s top 10 football prospects for the Class of 2022
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Wednesday, February 3, 2021 | 8:36 PM
Central Valley’s Sean FitzSimmons (50) tackles Wyomissing Area’s Amory Thompson for a loss during the second quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at Hersheypark Stadium.
Gateway’s Patrick Body picks up a first down past Peters Twp.’s Corban Hondru during the WPIAL Class 5A championship game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at Norwin High School.
Pine-Richland’s Jeremiah Hasley eludes Upper St. Clair defenders down the sideline during the first quarter Friday, Sept.18,, 2020, at Upper St. Clair.
Kiski Area’s Brandon Lawhorn-Moore works out during a training session for football players Thursday, June 18, 2020, at the high school stadium..
Penn-Trafford’s Cade Yacamelli (5) rushes the ball tackled by Franklin Regional’s during their game on Oct. 23, 2020.
The WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League saw almost a dozen football recruits from their 2021 class sign with Power 5 schools this winter. The ‘22 class will need some help in the coming months to match that number.
It could happen, but for now, only four Western Pennsylvania prospects have that option. Perry’s Tyreese Fearbry, Gateway’s Patrick Body, Central Valley’s Sean FitzSimmons and Central Catholic’s Donovan Hinish top of a list of recruits who will be signing somewhere next winter.
Here’s a look at 10 juniors who already hold Division I FBS or FCS offers.
1. Tyreese Fearbry
Perry
6-5, 205, defensive end
Fearbry is one of the hottest recruits in years from the Pittsburgh City League. Rivals ranked him as a four-star prospect. He earned his first scholarship offer Oct. 9 from West Virginia and has added nearly a dozen since. His latest came this week from Boston College. His list has grown to include Pitt and Penn State, along with Arizona State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan State, Syracuse and others. Fearbry already announced an invitation to the 2022 Under Armor All-American Game.
Watch Tyreese Fearbry highlights
2. Patrick Body
Gateway
6-2, 175, defensive back
Gators senior Derrick Davis is headed to LSU, but the Gators will have a Division I recruit returning in the secondary next fall. Body received his first Power 5 offer from Pitt in September, but he since has added West Virginia and Rutgers to a list that also includes Akron, Army, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Kent State, Liberty, Old Dominion, Temple, Toledo and UMass. Rivals ranked him as a three-star recruit. His father, Patrick Sr., was a City League standout at Schenley and earned all-conference honors as a college defensive back at Toledo.
3. Sean FitzSimmons
Central Valley
6-3, 270, defensive line
FitzSimmons earned attention as a sophomore when the lineman helped Central Valley reach the state finals. The Warriors went back to Hershey this past fall with FitzSimmons making a team-high 112 tackles. He already holds more than a dozen Division I offers, including Pitt. Also on his list are Air Force, Akron, Army, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Duke, Kent State, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Penn, Princeton, Toledo and Wake Forest. Rivals ranked him a three-star prospect.
Watch Sean FitzSimmons highlights
4. Donovan Hinish
Central Catholic
6-2, 275, defensive line
Hinish’s brother, Kurt, was a standout defensive tackle at Central Catholic and a starter at Notre Dame who could hear his name called this spring at the NFL Draft. Now, the younger brother is starting to make a name for himself as well. Donovan was a force up front for a Central Catholic team that won the WPIAL Class 6A title. His recruiting stock has risen in recent months since drawing his first offer Nov. 22 from Pitt. Bowling Green, Central Florida, Kent State and Toledo also offered. Rivals ranks him as a three-star prospect.
Watch Donovan Hinish highlights
5. Brandon Lawhorn Moore
Kiski Area
6-5, 295, offensive line
Nicknamed “Beef” since sixth grade, Lawhorn Moore’s size has college recruiters interested. The tackle already has offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo. He is unranked by Rivals and 247Sports, but that likely will change.
Watch Brandon Lawhorn Moore highlights
6. Deontae Williams
Woodland Hills
5-11, 180, athlete
Williams plays quarterback and defensive back for Woodland Hills, but his college future likely resides at safety or slot receiver. He already lists Mid-American offers from Akron, Kent State and Toledo.
Watch Deontae Williams highlights
7. Pharoh Fisher
Serra Catholic
6-0, 180, defensive back
The cornerback remains somewhat under the radar in the WPIAL. He switched schools before last season, moving from Imani Christian to Serra Catholic. His first offer came Jan. 19 from Bowling Green.
Watch Pharoh Fisher highlights
8. Cade Yacamelli
Penn-Trafford
6-0, 195, defensive back
Navy came calling Monday with his first FBS offer. He already holds FCS offers from Harvard and Penn. He does a little bit of everything for the Warriors.
Watch Cade Yacamelli highlights
9. Jeremiah Hasley
Pine-Richland
6-3, 210, linebacker
The Rams have produced a number of Division I linebackers in recent years. Hasley is next in line. He was credited with 11 tackles at the state finals. Columbia and Penn offered him.
Watch Jeremiah Hasley highlights
10. Nico Pate
Peters Township
6-1, 205, linebacker
Former teammate Corban Hondru is headed to Miami (Ohio) to play linebacker. Now, the RedHawks are interested in Pate. He holds Division I offers from Penn and Miami (Ohio).
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic, Central Valley, Gateway, Kiski Area, Penn-Trafford, Perry, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Serra Catholic, Woodland Hills
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