Individual talent doesn’t always equate to team success, but it’s hard to bet against the sheer number of talented individuals the Susquehanna Township Tribe are projected to bring to the high school gridiron this fall.
We’ve been tasked with determining the Top 10 players to watch in the Colonial Division this season, and even with the graduation of the division’s Defensive Player of the Year in Ka’seemh Singleton Brown, we find ourself with a list just chock full of ‘Hanna stars.
How many Tribe standouts made it into our Top 10? That’s for you to find out in the week to come as we reveal two standouts to watch in the Colonial each day. Stick with 4th Down Magazine as we continue to preview the upcoming Mid-Penn Conference season.
10. George Hartwick, Middletown, LB
With the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Hartwick patrolling from the middle LB position for Middletown, the high-motor Colonial Division Second Teamer had an opportunity to impact the game on every snap last fall, and he often did.
Compiling 87 tackles to go along with a caused fumble and a pass defense in 2024, Hartwick plays with aggression and brings the wood. He excels at reading plays and making contact at the line of scrimmage with solid, fundamental tackles. Hartwick isn’t an LB that can be picked on in the passing game, either, as he can hold his own in one-on-one coverage and snag down receivers with shoestring tackles. Hustle is a trademark of Hartwick’s game, as is playing until the whistle.
Hartwick doubles as a long snapper, where he boasts a fast and clean release.
9. Turner Barlup, East Pennsboro, QB
It’s difficult to find film on the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Barlup, but the numbers do a fine job of telling the story of his breakout season as a junior QB last fall.
A Colonial Division Honorable Mention selection, Barlup had an accurate campaign in his first full season as the signal caller for the Panthers, completing 68 percent of his passes (93 of 136) for 1,458 yards, 14 TDs, and two interceptions.
Wearing the No. 13 and projected to have a talented corps of receivers at his disposal, Barlup will be eager to prove that his standout 2024 season was no stroke of luck.
8. Steph Malette, Susquehanna Township, DB
Malette earned the respect of his opponents in the Colonial Division last season, with the 5-foot-6, 140-pound sparkplug nailing down a First Team spot on the division’s defensive All-Star squad.
Manning both the free and strong safety positions, Malette can cover a lot of ground in a hurry and excels at creating angles to cut down ballcarriers. He hustled around the field for 60 tackles last fall. Possessing the hops to jump through a ceiling, Malette forces QBs to think twice about throwing in his direction after a 2024 season that saw him defend five passes and register an interception.
Look for Malette to have an even bigger impact as a junior this season, with increasing responsibilities as a returner, special teams, and RB.
7. Jarrett Kern, Susquehanna Township, WR
Kern, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound speedster, enters his senior season as the No. 1 receiver for a ‘Hanna offense guided by one of the top QBs in all of the Mid-Penn Conference: Torin Evans.
That means Kern will have more opportunities than ever to make plays, and judging by the film we’ve seen, he could very well have a breakout season after hauling in 45 catches for 601 yards and eight TDs last fall. A Second Team selection to the All-Colonial Division squad in 2024, Kern brings plenty of speed to the table with a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
His speed, coupled with solid acceleration and sharp route-running, make him a threat both in the slot and out wide. Kern’s skill set is rounded out with hands that can make catches out of position, and a phsyical style of blocking that can absolutely punish DBs.
The stage is set for Kern to have a monster final season on the high school gridiron, and could very well improve his stock in college recruitment, where he’s generated interest from several Division I programs but has received just one offer, from Akron.