Pennsylvania's top high school football players for 2023: Meet the athletes
The 2023 high school football season is finally here.
SBLive set out to find the best offensive and defensive players in the state at each position.
We started with the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen, tight ends, linebackers, defensive backs, defensive linemen and pass rushers. We finish with a look at the players who are too talented and versatile to play a single position in Pennsylvania entering the 2023 season. Athletes from all classifications received consideration.
There are plenty of standout football players in Pennsylvania, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Tag us on X or Instagram at @SBLivePA to discuss the other offensive linemen worthy of fans’ attention in 2023. You can also submit player nominations to ryan@scorebooklive.com.
(Note: These lists were compiled prior to the first week of the season)
(Photo of Belle Vernon's Quinton Martin by Paul Burdick)
Cole Bartram, sr., Northern York
A true throwback, Bartram ran for 1,638 yards and 17 touchdowns a season ago while recording 148 tackles (eight for loss) on defense. He received Class 5A all-state recognition as an athlete. Bartram, who earned a silver medal at the PIAA AAA wrestling championships as a junior, will wrestle for Lock Haven in college.
Khiryn Boyd, sr., North Allegheny
Boyd did it all for North Allegheny last fall, recording six interceptions on defense while accumulating 1,033 yards of total offense with 12 touchdowns. He made the Class 6A all-state team as a defensive back.
Declan Clancy, jr., Manheim Township
Clancy was a warrior a season ago for Manheim Township, piling up 848 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as a running back while tallying 127 tackles on defense. He is slated to be a two-way force again this fall.
Sam Cooper, sr., Conwell Egan Catholic
Cooper plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back for Conwell Egan Catholic, but his duties at the next level will likely be at safety. He holds offers from UConn, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
Aaron Crossley, sr. Wyoming Area
One of the most productive players in Pennsylvania last season, Crossley rushed for a school-record 2,115 yards and 24 touchdowns while also throwing a pair of TDs. On defense, the Lehigh commit amassed 55 tackles (10.5 for loss) and three sacks.
Jase Ferguson, jr., Central Clarion
Ferguson had an incredible sophomore year for Central Clarion, throwing for 2,727 yards and 33 touchdowns, rushing for 521 yards and seven TDs, and intercepting six passes on defense. He also broke up nine passes and recorded 37 total tackles.
Juelz Goff, sr., Central York
Goff primarily plays running back for Central York, but the speedster is also a threat in the passing game. The Pittsburgh commit tallied 1,611 yards rushing yards, 335 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns a season ago en route to Class 6A all-state honors.
Ian Goodling, sr., West Perry
Goodling did a little bit of everything for West Perry as a junior, catching 71 passes for 1,239 yards and 14 touchdowns while piling up 76 tackles (11 for loss), five interceptions and nine passes defended on defense. The Class 3A all-state recipient also booted a school-record 48-yard field goal and went 7 for 10 on field goals and 65 for 67 on PATs.
Chase Hatton, jr., Bayard Rustin
Hatton ran for 1,127 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore while also playing lockdown corner for Bayard Rustin. He guarded the opposing team’s No. 1 receiver and only allowed five receptions all season.
Jake Kucera, sr., Downingtown West
A four-year varsity starter, Kucera caught 40 passes for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The Maine commit also threw a touchdown, rain for a pair of scores, had 43 tackles and three interceptions on defense and returned a punt for a touchdown.
Mason Kuehner, sr., Nazareth
Kuehner scored 17 total touchdowns last fall (eight receiving, six rushing and one apiece on a kick return, punt return and interception return). He finished with three interceptions on defense and caught 62 passes for 976 yards.
Shawn Lee Jr., jr., Harrisburg
Lee Jr. lines up behind center for Harrisburg, but the junior is capable of playing just about anywhere. He passed for 1,744 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore while running for 584 yards and 10 more scores. Lee Jr. holds offers from Iowa State and Kent State.
Braylon Littlejohn, sr., Butler
A basketball star who averaged 21 points per game as a junior, Littlejohn will play football in college for Miami (Ohio). He is a lockdown cover corner who also compiled 461 yards of total offense and four touchdowns last fall.
Quinton Martin, sr., Belle Vernon
Martin scored the only offensive touchdown as Belle Vernon defeated Neumann-Goretti, 9-8, in last season's Class 3A title game. The four-star Penn State commit finished his junior year with 1,703 yards of total offense, 22 tackles, four interceptions and 31 total touchdowns. He received all-state recognition.
Colm McGroarty, sr., Mahanoy Area
McGroarty is the definition of an athlete. A Class 1A all-state defensive back last season, McGroarty had seven interceptions and 17 passes defended. He accounted for 2,007 yards of total offense with 21 touchdowns and also added 564 return yards.
Aidan Myers, sr., Schuylkill Haven
Myers was a stat-stuffing machine for Schuylkill Haven as a junior, rushing for 1,346 yards and 16 touchdowns while recording 121 tackles on defense. He was voted to the Class 2A all-state team as an athlete.
Jackson Pons, sr., Norwin
Pons is a do-everything playmaker for Norwin who has experience at everything from quarterback to receiver to defensive back. The Miami (Ohio) commit had 348 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a junior to go along with 38 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
Kahmir Prescott, sr., Northeast
Prescott starred as a running back, receiver, defensive back and kick returner during his junior season for Northeast, receiving Class 6A all-state honors as an athlete. Along with his offensive touchdowns, the Wisconsin commit added return scores on defense and special teams.
Pace Prosser, sr., Berlin Brothersvalley
A Class 2A all-state defensive back last season, Prosser is also a star quarterback for Berlin Brothersvalley. He passed for 1,789 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior while rushing for 528 yards and eight TDs. On defense, Prosser picked off six passes and had 49 tackles.
Cam Smith, jr., St. Joseph’s Prep
A transfer from Salem (New Jersey), Smith is a four-star prospect with offers from Michigan, Penn State and Pittsburgh, among others. The junior has 646 career rushing yards and six touchdowns but really shined on defense last fall, piling up 105 tackles and a forced fumble.
