WPIAL position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the cornerbacks

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 8:20 PM

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There’s no major college recruit on this list like last year when Aliquippa’s M.J. Devonshire, North Allegheny’s Joey Porter Jr. and Penn Hills’ Daequan Hardy topped the cornerback rankings.

That was one of the WPIAL’s best classes in years.

Devonshire is now at Kentucky while Porter and Hardy are at Penn State. They’re gone, but that doesn’t mean this year’s group can’t be equally impactful on Friday nights.

Four of the five earned all-conference honors last season while showing an ability to turn opponents’ mistakes into touchdowns. Peters Township’s Aidan McCall, Bethel Park’s Jehvonn Lewis, Upper St. Clair’s David Pantelis and North Allegheny’s Percise Colon all had touchdowns that covered 55 yards or more.

That big-play potential could make opposing quarterback think twice before throwing their direction.

1. Aidan McCall

Peters Township

Senior, 5-9, 160

McCall is a multi-sport athlete who had Ivy League options and could have played Division I football, but instead he committed in July to play lacrosse at Lafayette. His boys lacrosse team was the WPIAL champion in 2017 and ’18. McCall is a four-year starter for the football team. He returned an interception for a touchdown, took a punt 73 yards for a touchdown and earned first-team all-conference honors in the Class 5A Allegheny Eight.

Watch Aidan McCall highlights

2. C.J. Robbins

Baldwin

Junior, 6-0, 175

It Robbins intercepts a pass, there’s a 50/50 chance he’s headed to the end zone. Robbins had six interceptions last season and returned three for touchdowns. He was named first-team all-conference in the Class 5A Allegheny Eight.

Watch C.J. Robbins highlights

3. Jehvonn Lewis

Bethel Park

Senior, 5-10, 160

Lewis is known most as a speedy running back for Bethel Park, but he’s also a standout defensive back with good coverage skills and a willingness to hit. He rushed for 603 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, including a 77-yarder that showed his speed, but his college future is on defense. He announced his first Division I offer last month from St. Francis (Pa.).

Watch Jehvonn Lewis highlights

4. David Pantelis

Upper St. Clair

Junior, 6-1, 170

Pantelis was a two-way standout as a sophomore last season. He had 38 receptions for 548 yards and five touchdowns, but he also intercepted four passes, forced a fumble and returned a punt 55 yards for another score. He was second-team all-conference.

Watch David Pantelis highlights

5. Percise Colon

North Allegheny

Senior, 5-5, 165

Colon isn’t big but he’s certainly fast. An 85-yard kickoff return touchdown is proof of that. Colon earned second-team all-conference honors at running back last season in Class 6A. He rushed for 438 yards and eight touchdowns on 44 carries, but also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble on defense.

Watch Percise Colon highlights

ONE TO WATCH

Devin Whitlock

Belle Vernon

Sophomore, 5-7, 150

Whitlock earned first-team all-conference honors last fall as a freshman at Monessen before transferring to Belle Vernon in May. The WPIAL initially ruled him ineligible in June but reversed that decision r and cleared him to play. Whitlock had 27 receptions for 504 yards and six TDs, carried 81 times for 685 yards and eight scores, and also threw for eight TDs.

Watch Devin Whitlock highlights

POSITION BREAKDOWNS

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K

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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: Baldwin, Belle Vernon, Bethel Park, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair