Meet the 2024 PUP high school football all-star team

When the sports staff at the Pittsburgh Union Progress came together to unveil the first PUP high school football all-star team in 2022, it was supposed to be just a one-time endeavor.

Due to circumstances outside our control, however, the PUP all-star team has turned into an annual showcase featuring the very best players Western Pennsylvania has to offer at each position, with this year’s team marking the third iteration of the prestigious awards. It could also very well be the last, so the bragging rights that go to this year’s honorees will truly last a lifetime.

All selections were made by the PUP sports staff, and all players in the WPIAL and City League were considered for the team, which includes 18 players with FBS scholarship offers and 11 Power Four recruits. And as always, there were some extremely difficult choices to make, with such an abundance of talent in the area and limited spots at each position.

Without further ado, it’s time to introduce the 2024 PUP all-star team:

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Matt Sieg • Fort Cherry • 6-0 • 185 • Junior

One of the most prolific dual-threat quarterbacks in WPIAL history, Sieg led Fort Cherry to a 14-win season and its second consecutive WPIAL Class 1A title while accounting for 3,180 yards (1,340 passing, 1,840 rushing) with 20 touchdowns through the air, 32 on the ground and one on a punt return. Now up to 10,442 total yards (4,231 passing, 6,211 rushing) with 160 total TDs for his career, Sieg is the first player in WPIAL history with more than 3,000 yards passing and more than 5,000 yards rushing. A two-time PUP all-star, Sieg will take aim at the WPIAL and PIAA records for total yardage and total touchdowns next season.

Running back — Donald Barksdale • Steel Valley • 5-10 • 185 • Senior

The “Tale of Barksdale” saw the gifted back rush for over 2,000 yards for the second season in a row en route to a second consecutive PUP all-star selection. A Youngstown State recruit, Barksdale averaged 11 yards a carry as he ran for 2,239 yards and scored 33 touchdowns while helping Steel Valley reach the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals. Barksdale, who helped the Ironmen win a WPIAL title in 2022, finished his career with 5,270 yards rushing and 85 touchdowns.

Running back — JaVaughn Moore • Bethel Park • 5-11 • 185 • Senior

After narrowly clearing the 1,000-yard mark as a junior, Moore did a lot more than that in his spectacular senior season for Bethel Park. The explosive big-play threat doubled up his numbers from the previous year, rushing for 2,084 yards on 285 carries while securing 26 catches for 398 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns for the Black Hawks, who advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals after a 10-win season. In two years at Bethel Park after transferring from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Moore rushed for 3,086 yards with 36 catches for 521 yards and 40 total TDs.

Wide receiver — Scoop Smith • Woodland Hills • 5-6 • 150 • Junior

Super. Scintillating. Sensational. Scoop is often all of that when the speedster gets his hands on the ball. A big-time playmaker and two-time PUP all-star, Smith scored 15 touchdowns, including two on kick returns and one on a punt return. He had 38 receptions for 630 yards and ran for 352 yards on 27 carries while leading Woodland Hills to its first conference title since 2015. Smith is also a WPIAL 100-meter champ in track and a standout in basketball.

Wide receiver — Khalil Taylor • Seton LaSalle • 5-11 • 182 • Sophomore

Ranked as a four-star recruit and one of the top 100 prospects in the nation in the 2027 class by Rivals, Taylor entered his sophomore season at Seton LaSalle with a ton of hype — and the supremely talented wideout lived up to the billing and then some. A smooth route runner with breathtaking speed and a knack for highlight-reel plays, Taylor hauled in 51 passes for 932 yards and 22 TDs for the Rebels in 2024. With Taylor as its featured offensive weapon, Seton LaSalle went undefeated in the regular season and advanced all the way to the WPIAL Class 2A championship game, finishing with a record of 11-1.

Tight end — Clancy Orie • Bethel Park • 6-3 • 255 • Senior

The story of Orie is one of a Navy recruit who had an outstanding senior season. Orie had 15 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns for one of the WPIAL’s most potent offenses. And Orie was an even bigger difference maker as a defensive lineman, collecting 75 tackles (including 12 for loss), 8 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. A three-year starter, Orie concluded his career with 159 tackles (including 25 for loss), 15 sacks and 32 quarterback hurries.

Offensive line — Parker Cunningham • South Park • 6-4 • 290 • Senior

A James Madison recruit who teamed up with twin brother Troy to pave the way for South Park’s potent rushing attack, Cunningham was the backbone of a terrific unit in the trenches for the WPIAL Class 2A champions. As a team, the Eagles rushed for 3,468 yards on the year, with Eric Doerue surpassing 1,500 yards on the ground for the second consecutive season. On defense, Cunningham registered 42 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 6 sacks.

Offensive line — Jimmy Kalis • Central Catholic • 6-6 • 285 • Sophomore

Central Catholic had some terrific seniors on its WPIAL Class 6A title team, but the Vikings boasted some talented underclassmen, as well, one being Kalis, who is regarded as one of the top sophomore offensive linemen in the state. Kalis did an excellent job run and pass blocking for an offense that pumped in 39.7 points per game. Colleges have already taken notice, as Kalis has offers from the likes of Pitt, West Virginia, Mississippi and Florida State.

Offensive line — Nate Stohl • Upper St. Clair • 6-3 • 270 • Senior

The recipient of the 2024 Bill Fralic Memorial Award as the top two-way interior lineman in the WPIAL, Stohl really needs no further introduction after his standout senior season for Upper St. Clair. The Princeton recruit dished out a whopping 72 pancakes on offense to go with 55 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 7 sacks for the Panthers, who went undefeated in the regular season and finished with an overall record of 11-1. For his career, Stohl tallied 148 tackles, 35 TFLs, 19.5 sacks and 172 pancakes.

Offensive line — Shep Turk • Thomas Jefferson • 6-5 • 275 • Senior

Turk was the shepherd of a line that paved the way for a powerful rushing attack that featured a 2,000-yard rusher (Tyler Eber) and collected nearly 3,000 yards overall. A Pitt recruit, Turk’s excellent play helped Thomas Jefferson win the WPIAL Class 4A title and reach the PIAA semifinals. Turk also racked up 31 tackles and 1½ sacks as a lineman on a defense that gave up only 10.6 points per game. He’s also a star wrestler who won a WPIAL heavyweight title last season.

Offensive line — Jack Yatchenko • North Allegheny • 6-3 • 290 • Senior

Already a three-time first-team all-conference selection, Yatchenko now joins former Pine-Richland lineman Ryan Cory as the second two-time PUP all-star on the offensive line. A Princeton recruit who made a seamless transition from center to right tackle after his sophomore season, Yatchenko tallied 22 tackles and five tackles for loss in 2024, helping North Allegheny reach its third consecutive WPIAL Class 6A championship game while anchoring the Tigers’ formidable lines on both sides of the ball.

All-purpose — Charlie Nigut • Elizabeth Forward • 5-6 • 160 • Senior

You would be hard pressed to find another player who meant more to their team than Nigut, a gamebreaker as a running back-receiver hybrid who rushed for a team-best 1,481 yards on 214 carries, had 35 receptions for 600 yards, and scored 31 touchdowns for a team that advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals. Nigut’s impact didn’t stop there. He also collected 71 tackles and four interceptions, was the team’s punter, and returned both punts and kicks.

DEFENSE

Defensive line — Chris Climes • Elizabeth Forward • 6-3 • 300 • Senior

A fleet-footed monster in the middle of Elizabeth Forward’s line, Climes chewed up double teams all season long while still finding a way to stuff the stat sheet. Also a standout offensive lineman, Climes found a way to raise each of his numbers from 2023, when the Buffalo recruit posted 69 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. As a senior, Climes finished with 72 tackles, 34 TFLs, 16 sacks and a blocked extra point for the Warriors.

Defensive line — Lincoln Hoke • North Allegheny • 6-1 • 250 • Junior

Like father, like son. A son of former Steeler defensive lineman Chris Hoke, this Hoke developed into one of the WPIAL’s top defensive linemen and helped North Allegheny reach the WPIAL Class 6A final for the third year in a row. Hoke registered 66 tackles, including nine for loss, and produced a team-high 6½ sacks. He also had two forced fumbles, an interception, and blocked two kicks. Hoke collected 12 tackles and blocked an extra point in the WPIAL final.

Edge rusher — Dayshaun Burnett • Imani Christian • 6-4 • 220 • Senior

An elite athlete and certified game wrecker, Burnett was a force on both sides of the ball for an Imani Christian team that went undefeated in the regular season and finished with a record of 11-1. The Penn State recruit lined up both in the backfield and out wide on offense, carrying the ball 20 times for 100 yards and three TDs while catching 34 passes for 562 yards and nine scores. His future lies on defense at the next level, though — and that’s where Burnett was at his best in 2024, tallying 75 tackles with 11.5 sacks and 9 pass breakups.

Edge rusher — Mickey Vaccarello • Peters Township • 6-3 • 210 • Senior

It might be considered a cardinal sin for an opposing offense to not devote extra attention to this future Stanford Cardinal, who once again teamed with Reston Lehman to terrorize opponents. Vaccarello produced 8 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns for an Indians team that reached the WPIAL Class 5A title game. Vaccarello helped the Indians go 26-3 his final two seasons while amassing 21 sacks and 41 tackles for loss.

Linebacker — Bradley Gompers • Central Catholic • 6-5 • 215 • Senior

Gompers had a breakout season on offense as a big-play receiver with 25 receptions for 753 yards (30.1 yards per reception) and 11 TDs, but his bread and butter still lies on defense, where the Duke recruit patrolled the field as a punishing linebacker with a rare blend of size, speed and football instincts. Despite playing most of the season with a nagging hamstring injury, Gompers registered 91 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a 64-yard interception return for a TD, earning 2024 PUP Player of the Year honors while helping Central Catholic capture its first WPIAL Class 6A title since 2020.

Linebacker — Naytel Mitchell • Penn Hills • 5-10 • 190 • Senior

Mitchell’s excellent play on both sides of the ball played a large role in Penn Hills reaching the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals. Mitchell seemed to always be around the ball defensively, and finished the season with 83 tackles and two interceptions. He was a big producer as a running back, as well, particularly in a win against Moon in the first round of the playoffs when he ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, he rushed for 1,321 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Linebacker — Kaleb Platz • Montour • 6-2 • 225 • Senior

A staple of Montour’s defense and a versatile weapon on offense, Platz was the unquestioned leader of a Spartans team that finished 8-2 and earned a three-way share of the Class 4A Parkway Conference crown. Platz tallied 109 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions on defense, and he scored a team-leading 12 touchdowns despite touching the ball only 40 times on offense (29 carries for 97 yards, 11 receptions for 121 yards). Platz finished his career with 357 tackles, 61 TFLs, 7 interceptions and 18 TDs.

Defensive back — Brock Cornell • West Allegheny • 5-11 • 185 • Senior

Brock was a rock for WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinalist West Allegheny, impacting games in a variety of ways. A four-year starter, Cornell led the team with 97 tackles while tacking on two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He finished his career with 397 tackles, registering at least 95 in each season. Cornell himself was tough to tackle, as he racked up 1,010 yards rushing for his second straight 1,000-yard season and scored 11 total touchdowns.

Defensive back — Jay Timmons • Pine-Richland • 5-11 • 175 • Junior

A swift, agile playmaker with tremendous ball skills and a nose for the end zone, Timmons is one of the top two-way players in the area — and it showed during Pine-Richland’s run to the WPIAL Class 5A title and PIAA semifinals. The son of former Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, he finished the season with 40 receptions for 755 yards and 8 touchdowns to go with 4 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, 42 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 4 defensive TDs.

Defensive back — Xxavier Thomas • Central Catholic • 5-10 • 160 • Senior

There was no doubting this Thomas, a Penn State signee who excelled in all three phases for WPIAL Class 6A champion Central Catholic. A four-year starter and lockdown cornerback, Thomas had six interceptions, one that he returned for a touchdown. As a receiver, he had a team-high 34 catches for 677 yards and nine touchdowns. He also returned three punts for touchdowns. Thomas averaged 20.7 yards per punt return and 26.6 yards per kick return.

Defensive back — Brayden White • Thomas Jefferson • 6-0 • 175 • Senior

One of the most underrated players in the WPIAL, White did a little bit of everything to help Thomas Jefferson bring home its first WPIAL Class 4A title since 2020. A well-rounded receiver who caught 68 passes for 1,287 yards and 15 TDs, White also shined on the defensive side of the ball, where he racked up 43 tackles and four interceptions — including a crucial 85-yard pick-6 in the Jaguars’ 28-7 WPIAL championship win against McKeesport.

All-purpose — Kemon Spell • McKeesport • 5-10 • 195 • Sophomore

Ranked by one recruiting service as the No. 1 sophomore running back in the country, Spell was like a tank running the ball while also proving to be a terrific defensive back for a Tigers team that reached the WPIAL Class 5A final for the second year in a row. Spell rushed for 1,681 yards on 157 carries (10.7 yards per carry) and scored 24 touchdowns. He had some giant games in the playoffs, rushing for 274 yards in the quarterfinals and 281 in the semifinals.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker — Billy Lech • Central Catholic • 6-2 • 195 • Senior

Known for his booming right leg and precision accuracy, Lech converted 11-of-12 field-goal attempts on the year — with his only miss coming from 53 yards — as well as 54-of-57 extra-point attempts. He also came 1 yard short of tying a WPIAL record with a 54-yard field goal in a win against North Allegheny during the regular season. To top it all off, he drilled 83 touchbacks as a special-teams ace for the WPIAL Class 6A champions and PIAA finalists.

Punter — Peter Notaro • North Allegheny • 5-11 • 175 • Senior

This Alabama recruit with a booming leg averaged 38.8 yards on 38 punts for the WPIAL Class 6A runner-up Tigers. Notaro had a long of 72 yards and connected on seven punts that landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He doubled as one of the WPIAL’s top kickers, converting 10 of his 20 field-goal attempts, including three from more than 50 yards (one from 53 and two from 52). Notaro also connected on 39-of-44 extra-point attempts.

BEST OF THE REST

After including only 26 players on the initial PUP all-star team in 2022, we realized there were simply too many great players being left out due to the positional restrictions placed on the team. With that in mind, the PUP sports staff implemented the “Best of the Rest” in 2023 to recognize the top 10 players in the area who didn’t land a spot on the team. After all these players accomplished in 2024, they were simply too good not to be included (players listed in alphabetical order).

Drew Cook • South Allegheny • 5-11 • 155 • Wide receiver-defensive back • Junior

Julian Dahlem • Upper St. Clair • 5-10 • 175 • Running back-defensive back • Senior

Tiqwai Hayes • Aliquippa • 6-0 • 200 • Running back-defensive back • Senior

Amari Jackson • Beaver • 6-1 • 175 • Wide receiver-defensive back • Senior

Gabe Jenkins • Imani Christian • 6-2 • 186 • Running back-defensive back • Sophomore

Reston Lehman • Peters Township • 6-4 • 230 • Edge rusher • Junior

Luca Neal • Avonworth • 5-10 • 185 • Running back-linebacker • Junior

Nico Neal • Avonworth • 5-10 • 225 • Running back-linebacker • Senior

Lloyd Penn • Westinghouse • 5-10 • 190 • Wide receiver-defensive back • Senior

Tasso Whipple • Penn-Trafford • 6-1 • 190 • Running back-linebacker • Senior