What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Feb. 5, 2025: Traditional national signing day arrives for football recruits

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 12:00 AM

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The first Wednesday in February is National Letter of Intent Day, when high school football seniors make their verbal commitments official by signing on the dotted line.

Some shine has been taking off this once huge day with the advent of the early signing period in December.

Here is a rundown of the WPIAL and City League football players from the Class of 2025 who made their decisions official back in December.

Division I FBS

Henry Barbisch, Bishop Canevin, DL, Air Force

Jaiden Brown-Demery, West Mifflin, OL, Akron

Dayshaun Burnett, Imani Christian, DL, Penn State

Chris Climes, Elizabeth Forward, OT, Buffalo

Parker Cunningham, South Park, OL, James Madison

Bradley Gompers, Central Catholic, LB, Duke

Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa, RB, Penn State

George Hill, Woodland Hills, LB, Buffalo

Vann Kavals, OLSH, DL, Akron

Matt McMahon, Canon-McMillan, OL, Navy

Brady O’Hara, North Catholic, OL, Penn State

Jayden Price, Seneca Valley, DB, Toledo

Xair Stevenson, University Prep, S, Buffalo

Alex Tatsch, Latrobe, LB, Penn State

Xxavier Thomas, Central Catholic, DB, Penn State

Shep Turk, Thomas Jefferson, OL, Pitt

Mickey Vaccarello, Peters Township, OLB, Stanford

John Wetzel, Latrobe, S, Marshall

Division I FCS

Donald Barksdale, RB, Steel Valley, Youngstown State

Daniel Batch, Montour, WR, Maine

Nicholas Humphries, North Allegheny, DB, Drake

Amari Jackson, Beaver, DB, Villanova

Brady Mayo, Beaver, DB, Bucknell

Darian Nelson, Plum, WR, St. Francis (Pa.)

Darian Slaughter, Plum, DE, St. Francis (Pa.)

Arison Walker, Aliquippa, DB, St. Francis (Pa.)

Runners-up back in postseason

Last season was capped off by a magical playoff run for the Franklin Regional boys basketball team, reaching both the WPIAL finals and the PIAA championship game.

While they took home silver from both the district and state playoffs, it was a run to remember for the Panthers.

Fast forward a year later, and this year’s squad is on quite another run that has led it back to the WPIAL postseason.

Following a loss to Gateway on Jan. 24, Franklin Regional was 3-7 and on the outside looking in on the playoff bubble.

On Wednesday, the Panthers are looking for a fourth straight victory and a third consecutive section win when they host Albert Gallatin.

After their big week last week with wins over Plum, Laurel Highlands and an overtime winner over Latrobe, the Panthers are alone in fifth place at 5-7 in the section and 10-10 overall.

FR clinched after McKeesport lost to Latrobe on Tuesday.

The Colonials are tied for seventh place at 2-10 in the section and 7-12 overall.

AG is reeling with nine losses in a row, including six straight since falling at home to Franklin Regional, 43-39.

Class A spotlight

There are seven WPIAL girls basketball section games set for Wednesday, including three in Class A with playoff ramifications.

In Section 1-A, Eden Christian (4-8, 5-13) sits in the final playoff spot in fifth place, two up in the loss column on Sewickley Academy (3-10, 4-14) and Leechburg (2-10, 2-15).

The Warriors have already clinched as they visit fourth-place Springdale on Wednesday. The Dynamos also have already clinched.

An Eden Christian victory eliminates both Sewickley Academy and Leechburg.

However, if the Warriors lose, the Panthers have hope.

The Blue Devils would also be alive if they win Wednesday at home against third-place Aquinas Academy. A Leechburg loss and it is out.

In Section 2-A, fourth-place West Greene (6-6, 13-7) hosts fifth-place Bishop Canevin (5-7, 10-8).

Both teams have already clinched and are playing for seeding.

However, an interested spectator for this game is Avella (4-9, 9-12).

If Bishop Canevin wins, Avella is eliminated. If the Crusaders lose, though, there is hope for the Eagles heading into the final section game.

In that scenario, Avella would need to beat visiting West Greene on Thursday and have Bishop Canevin lose Thursday at last-place Mapletown.