WPIAL position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the tight ends

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | 7:58 PM

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The traditional hand-on-the-ground tight end has disappeared from some offenses around Western Pennsylvania.

As high school offenses have evolved, so too has the position. But it’s clear the tight end position isn’t going extinct.

In fact, the WPIAL has sent quite a few tight ends to Division I colleges in the past few years. West Virginia has East Allegheny’s T.J. Banks. Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris all have tight ends with WPIAL roots. Delaware actually has two: Hempfield’s Braden Brose and West Allegheny’s Mateo Vandamia.

This year’s group is led by Woodland Hills senior Josh Rawlings, who’s one of the most recruited at the position in years.

Rawlings received more than 20 FBS scholarship offers and had options in the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12, before committing to Virginia.

Two other highly recruited seniors also play tight end: Central Catholic’s A.J. Beatty and Gateway’s Tui Brown. But both make an even bigger impact on defense.

1. Josh Rawlings

Woodland Hills

Senior, 6-5, 245

The Virginia recruit is Woodland Hills’ most talented tight end since Rob Gronkowski played for Wolverines in 2006. Rawlings had 15 catches for 220 yards and four touchdowns last season, numbers he seems poised to top this fall. He committed to Virginia in June over offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, East Carolina, Indiana, Iowa State, Kent State, Marshall, Maryland, Minnesota, UMass, Ohio, Syracuse, Temple, Toledo, Vanderbilt and Western Michigan.

Watch Josh Rawlings highlights

2. Sean Banas

Chartiers Valley

Senior, 6-2, 240

Banas was Chartiers Valley’s leading receiver last season with 25 catches for 369 yards and four touchdowns. He earned first-team all-conference honors in the Class 5A Allegheny Eight. The two-way standout also plays inside linebacker. He had 79 tackles and two forced fumbles last season. He lists an offer from Valparaiso.

Watch Sean Banas highlights

3. Ryan Heckathorn

Blackhawk

Senior, 6-3, 210

Heckathorn earned first-team all-conference honors at linebacker and honorable mention at tight end in the Class 4A Northwest Eight. He caught four touchdowns last season. His longest was an 80-yarder against Ambridge that saw him grab a jump ball at midfield and sprint to the end zone.

Watch Ryan Heckathorn highlights

4. Tanner Krevokuch

Norwin

Junior, 6-4, 205

Krevokuch provides a big target for quarterback Jack Salopek in the Knights’ passing attack. As a sophomore, Krevokuch caught 26 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. His best week was a seven-catch game against Mt. Lebanon.

Watch Tanner Krevokuch highlights

5. Mitchell Wright

Mars

Senior, 6-0, 180

Wright’s strong blocking helped the Planets rush for 2,800 yards last season and earned him second-team all-conference honors in Class 5A. He caught five passes for 62 yards on a team that didn’t throw all that often (team leader had 12 catches).

ONE TO WATCH

Jack Dilts

Kiski Area

Junior, 6-5, 235

Kiski Area likes to use a tight end in its passing game, and Dilts will provide the team a tall target. Troy Kuhn, who’s now at Duquesne, made 32 catches last season as Kiski’s tight end. The Cavaliers’ stadium is named after Dilts’ grandfather Dick, who won more than 200 games at Kiski Area before retiring in 1993.

Watch Jack Dilts 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: Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Kiski Area, Mars, Norwin, Woodland Hills