When tasked with determining the top players to watch in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division this fall, we came in with the best intentions to ensure this list doesn’t read like a combined roster for Harrisburg and Bishop McDevitt. There are, after all, eight other teams in the Commonwealth, often regarded as one of the toughest divisions in the PIAA.
You’ll have to forgive us. We have failed.
In our defense, the Cougars and Crusaders are both loaded to the gills with blue chip talent, including a handful of players that could someday be playing on Sundays. These two rosters include playmakers that have transferred in from within the division after having All-Star seasons for other programs.
At the risk of sounding like superfans for the Big Two schools in the Commonwealth, we present our list of the top players to watch in the division this fall. We will reveal two standouts per day, while also listing our Honorable Mention selections.
Stick with 4th Down Magazine as we continue to preview the upcoming season in the Mid-Penn Conference.
10. Matt Gaul, State College, OL
The graduated Michael Gaul, a linebacker now playing for Villanova, got so much attention last season that his “little” brother Matt somehow flew under the radar as an impactful sophomore on the offensive line.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and checking in at 280 pounds, the younger Gaul was a certified stud as State College’s starting LT last fall. Gaul’s strength resides in his abilities as a pass blocker, where he is a master of protecting the pocket. Trusted to ward off the most dangerous edge rusher on the opposition, often by himself, Gaul uses strength and footwork to keep defenders at bay. Gaul is also an asset in the run game, where he can make agile blocks in the open field and deliver crunching blows to interior defensive linemen. He was recognized by the Commonwealth as a Second Team selection on offense.
Gaul also lines up at nose guard on defense, where he expertly maneuvers through the chaos to power his way to the ballcarrier. He generates a lot of pressure right off the snap and demands double teams, which he can still break through. Last season Gaul totaled 17 tackles, including five tackles for loss and a sack, to go along with two QB hurries.
9. Nathan Carothers, Carlisle, OL
One of the scariest propositions for a defender in the Commonwealth Division is the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Carothers bursting out into the open field as a lead blocker with a full head of steam behind him.
What happens next is a powerful exchange that often results in a first down for the offense and a defender face-down in the turf, questioning all of the life decisions that have led him to this point. Carothers was named to the Commonwealth Division’s Second Team as an OL last fall and is the man Carlisle leans on to stay competitive in the brutal division gauntlet.
Carothers puts up some big numbers in the weight room for the bench (315), squat (600), and deadlift (600), and that certainly shows in the way he performs in the trenches. He’s an excellent man to run behind as he stays on his blocks and drives defenders several yards off the ball. With quick feet and athleticism, Carothers also does a sharp job as a pass blocker.
Carothers doubles as a playmaking defensive tackle whose forceful presence can flat out disrupt offensive series for the opponent. A hustler who doesn’t give up on a play, even if he’s chasing a speedy skill player, Carothers is strong enough to toss linemen aside and quick enough to power his way to the ballcarrier in the blink of an eye.
8. Tayvon Williamson, Harrisburg, OL
Very few high school linemen can match up with the sheer strength of the 6-foot-1, 285-pound Williamson, who upped his max in both the bench press (385) and squat (605) this offseason.
In the trenches, Williamson is a mobile block of granite whose presence allows Harrisburg to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. A First Team Commonwealth Division selection on the OL, Williamson plays at the LG and C positions, and he shines in both roles. Right from the snap, Williamson sets up with a low center of gravity and uses his aforementioned strength to plant defenders. An engaging, in-your-face blocker, Williamson is always pushing forward. He dishes out punishing blocks as a pulling guard, and frustrates opponents as a big-bodied pass blocker who protects the backfield much like a bouncer at the club.
Williamson is also dangerous on the defensive line, where he has great acceleration for a big man, and can power his way to the ballcarrier in a hurry. Last fall he racked up 41 tackles, including six tackles for loss and three sacks, to go along with two QB hurries and a pass defense.
7. Rick Brown, Harrisburg, LB
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Brown comes into this season as one of the most feared LBs in the Mid-Penn after totaling 129 tackles as a sophomore last fall, including nine tackles for loss and a sack, to go along with an interception, caused fumble, and four pass defenses. He secured First Team Commonwealth Division defensive honors last season and is already fielding offers from Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia.
Brown patrols the field from the MLB position, giving him an opportunity to make plays from anywhere on the gridiron. He is superb at reading plays, finding the hole, and plugging it. Brown excels at keeping the ballcarrier in front of him and bringing him down with minimal gains. Opposing blockers will take their best shots at Brown, but he has a way of angling to avoid the brunt of the blows and sneaking into the backfield much faster than anticipated.
With a steady motor and growing field awareness, look for Brown’s star to continue to rise over his upperclassman seasons.
6. Maurice Barnes, Bishop McDevitt, LB/RB
The college football world is buzzing for Barnes, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound ball of steel and electricity who nailed down First Team Commonwealth Division defensive honors as a junior LB last fall. Swarming and fast, Barnes lit up opposing offenses for 90 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, to go along with two interceptions and five QB hurries. Programs like Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pittsburgh have taken notice.
Barnes possesses potent speed, yes, but it’s his ability to create angles to close the distance on ballcarriers that makes him deadly. He has the power to blast through blockers twice his size and also the fleet of foot to drop back and provide sticky pass coverage. Barnes plays relentlessly, and if he builds a head of steam on his way to the runner, it can be devastating.
Barnes is also a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball, where he totaled 173 carries for 932 yards and eight TDs and caught 19 passes for 199 yards and two TDs last season. He has strong acceleration and often breaks through the first level — either by dodging the first defender or running him over altogether — before hitting max speed in the secondary.
5. Zack Brown, Bishop McDevitt, LB/TE
One of the top players in the Mid-Penn has taken his talents to the conference’s premier program at Bishop McDevitt.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Brown starred for CD East last fall and has nearly 20 college offers to his name, including from schools like Nebraska, Maryland, Pitt, and Iowa State. There’s a good reason for the college interest: Brown is a playmaker in every sense of the word.
He tormented opposing defenses in 2024 from his dual role as an LB and DE. Brown is fast and powerful and plays with a savage streak. He flys all over the field, creating a constant stream of highlight-reel material with piercing blitzes, athletic plays, and devastating hits that seperate the ball from the ballcarrier. Brown has the strength to bang with the big guys in the trenches and possesses the speed to cut down plays before they even have a chance to develop. The Commonwealth Division took notice last fall, naming Brown to the First Team on defense.
Brown was a Second Team selection on offense, where he was selected as a TE. Brown has good hands, a great leaping ability, and the muscle to overpower the majority of defenders that line up against him. Brown often splits out to WR, giving opponents yet another headache to plan for.
4. Elias Coke, Harrisburg, WR/DB
Harrisburg fans will be blessed with a fourth varsity season from Coke, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound playmaker, before he takes his talents to Rutgers next fall.
Coke is an X-Factor on the field no matter where he plays, and the Commonwealth Division recognized this last season by honoring the Cougars’ star with First Team selections as both a WR and DB.
He is an effortlessly fast receiver who seems to possess magnetic hands for the football. In a 2024 season where Coke totaled 50 catches for 968 yards and 10 TDs, he showcased superior athletic ability and routinely made circus catches look routine. Coke runs crisp routes, has exceptional field awareness, and can always be counted on to win 50-50 balls.
Coke was also a standout on the defensive side of the ball, where he rolled up 47 tackles and five interceptions last season, while also defending two passes. Competing in the secondary with the size of a LB, Coke hits the pads with a lot of pop, and is especially scary on blitzes. Few defenders can cash in on the chaos of a turnover like Coke, who piled up 203 yards just from interception returns last season.
3. Kevin Brown, Harrisburg, OL/DL
Brown, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound trench behemoth and Penn State recruit, is aiming to end his high school career with a bang after having his junior season ruined by a broken foot last fall.
When Brown is playing at 100 percent, he is one of the most intimidating and impactful players in the Mid-Penn. Possessing the strength of a bodybuilder and the speed of a sprinter, he is a sight to behold on the football field, no matter what position he’s playing.
Brown’s future as a college player is likely on the offensive line, where he overpowers defenders to the point of embarassment. He’s been known to drive defenders — and we can’t state enough that we’re not exaggerating — dozens of yards down the field on a single play. Brown is freakishly strong and can rag-doll 300-pound men, while his athleticism enables him to connect on crushing blocks in the open field.
Brown boasts similar traits when he plays on the defensive line. He has the power to not just break through double teams, but overwhelm them altogether. And when he breaks into the backfield, it can be a terrifying scene as Brown has the wheels to chase down even the fastest of skill players.
2. Tyler Merrill, Cumberland Valley, OL
You might not believe your eyes when you see Merrill go to work in the trenches, with the “Big Oak” taking on the appearance of a grown man playing with his action figures.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Notre Dame recruit, a First Team Commonwealth Division selection as an OL, is hilariously strong, to the point where you actually feel sorry for the defenders repeatedly getting plastered to the turf. The senior tackle is simply overhwhelming at his position and when he puts his hands on players wearing the opposite jersey, they go flying. Merrill was credited with 16 pancake blocks in 2024, a stat that seems to have been grossly under-reported after reviewing his film.
Merrill is a superior pass blocker who will be frequently called upon to individually match up with the nastiest defender on the opposing squad. Don’t be surprised when he makes it look easy.
1. Messiah Mickens, Harrisburg, DE/RB
There may not be a more dynamic player in all of the Mid-Penn Conference than Mickens, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound Penn State recruit who showcased his blue chip potential on both sides of the ball last fall.
Mickens was named the Commonwealth Division’s Defensive Player of the Year after an unbelievable junior campaign at DE that saw him terrorize the division with 81 tackles, including 39 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks, to go along with 21 QB hurries, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two passes defended. Mickens is an undersized man in the trenches, but when watching his film, you’d swear that he is bigger and stronger than the titans he bumps heads with on a weekly basis. He attacks like a rabid tiger and is powerful enough to quite literally send blockers flying through the air. Once Mickens breaks into the backfield with his fiery pursuit, ballcarriers are no longer running for yardage, they’re running for their lives.
Mickens has made just as much of a name for himself on offense, where he was selected First Team Commonwealth selection at RB after rushing 155 times for 1,214 yards and 21 TDs. Averaging nearly eight yards per carry in the black-and-blue Commonwealth is a difficult proposition, but Mickens makes it look easy. With Mickens’ great acceleration, superb cuts, and the ability to quickly shift gears to max speed, opponents look like they’re running in slow motion. He not only excels at finding the holes and hitting them hard, he’s also a dangerous cutback runner who can transform broken plays into highlights.
Honorable Mention: Aiden Grella (Bishop McDevitt, K), Logan Wuckovich (Altoona, LB, 6-1, 210), Sincere Jackson (CD East, LB, 6-2, 180), Noah Ewell (Harrisburg, LB, 5-9, 200), Jontai Quick (Bishop McDevitt, WR, 5-9), Nazir Jones Davis (Bishop McDevitt, RB, 6-0, 179), Ish Palmer (Bishop McDevitt, WR, 5-6), Princeton “PJ” Dent (Harrisburg, RB, 6-0, 190), Quincy Smith (State College, DE, 6-2, 217), Chris Thompson (Bishop McDevitt, OL/DL, 5-11, 250), Isaac Hodgson (Central Dauphin, LB, 5-10, 182), Trayce Brennan (State College, LB/TE, 6-0, 205), Will Kocher (Cedar Cliff, LB, 6-1, 220), Hank Lustig (State College, DB, 5-9, 155), Trays Walker (Harrisburg, DB, 6-0), Liam Fuller (Bishop McDevitt, TE/DE, 6-0, 225), Ja’Kye Logan (Bishop McDevitt, OL, 6-3, 325), Josh Gillen (Cedar Cliff, OL, 6-1, 250), Jude Slover (Bishop McDevitt, C, 6-2, 245), Brody Pines (Cumberland Valley, RB, 6-2, 195).