Who’s next?
Now that signing day has come and gone for high school seniors, focus can turn to the next recruiting cycle. Members of the Class of 2027 are now on the radar of college recruiters around the country.
Western Pennsylvania will be a popular place for coaches to visit with a five-star recruit and seven others with a four-star rating in the junior class.
Here are 10 WPIAL recruits to watch over the next year.
1. Kemon Spell
McKeesport
5-11, 211, RB
The top junior running back prospect in the nation, Spell committed to SEC power Georgia on Monday. Rated a five-star recruit by 247Sports, he had committed to Penn State in August 2024 but decommitted when James Franklin was fired last fall. He chose the Bulldogs over offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State and Miami, among others. Recruiting site 247Sports ranks him the state’s No. 2 prospect behind Coatesville lineman Maxwell Hiller, a fellow five-star recruit. Last fall, despite missing five games with an injury, he ran for 1,755 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns while leading McKeesport to the WPIAL Class 4A finals. Spell scored 32 touchdowns in all, including kick and punt returns.
2. Khalil Taylor
Pine-Richland
5-11, 180, WR
Taylor is Pennsylvania’s fourth-ranked prospect and the No. 1 junior wide receiver in the state. A four-star recruit, he was committed to Penn State but decommitted just before Franklin was fired in October. He lists more than 20 offers, including Florida State, Indiana, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia and Wisconsin, among others. Taylor played at Pine-Richland last season after transferring from Seton LaSalle. He caught 33 passes for 571 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He had 1,600 all-purpose yards, adding three interceptions and 23 tackles on defense for the WPIAL Class 5A runners-up.
Watch Khalil Taylor highlights
3. Gabe Jenkins
Imani Christian
6-0, 187, S
A four-star hybrid safety, Jenkins is among the area’s most sought-after prospects after he decommitted from Penn State when Franklin was fired. Jenkins is ranked fifth in the state by 247Sports and is the top-ranked safety in the class. While he will play defense at the next level, he shined on offense for the WPIAL Class 3A runner-up Saints last season as a dual-threat quarterback. Jenkins threw for 1,763 yards and 29 TDs and ran for 1,411 yards and 15 scores. Florida, Florida State, Indiana, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Pitt, SMU, UCLA, USC and West Virginia are among his two dozen offers.
4. James Halter
Central Catholic
6-5½, 270, OT
A Notre Dame-bound tackle, Halter is a four-star recruit who is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the state by 247Sports and Pennsylvania’s top junior tackle. He committed to the Fighting Irish in October, over offers from Indiana, Ohio State, Pitt, Penn State and WVU, among others. He is expected to be an interior offensive lineman in college. Halter moved from tight end to tackle last fall and helped the Vikings win a WPIAL title and finish as PIAA runners-up in Class 6A. His father, Jordan, also played on the offensive line for Notre Dame.
5. Jimmy Kalis
Central Catholic
6-8, 285, OT
One of the WPIAL’s largest linemen, Kalis has a growing list of college offers. The four-star recruit helped bulldoze the Vikings to a WPIAL Class 6A title last season. Kalis is ranked the No. 21 tackle in the nation. He visited Georgia last weekend and lists offers from Alabama, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, WVU and Wisconsin, among others. His father, Todd Kalis, was a guard for the Vikings, Steelers and Bengals. His brother Kyle also played in the NFL. His mother, Kristen, was a former college basketball player.
6. Javien Robinson
McKeesport
6-2, 192, WR
Being a pass catcher in McKeesport’s run-heavy offense is no easy task, but Robinson has certainly done his part to get noticed. Ranked the No. 8 prospect statewide by 247Sports, the four-star recruit has gathered scholarship offers from the likes of Florida State, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, WVU and Wisconsin, among others. Last fall, he caught 18 passes for 370 yards and four scores for the WPIAL Class 4A runners-up.
Watch Javien Robinson highlights
7. Carter Bonner
Penn Hills
6-3, 190, DB
Boasting more than 20 college offers, Bonner showcased his skills during an injury-riddled junior season. The four-star defensive back recruit played just four games last fall for the Indians but was named to the all-conference team. Bonner lists offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee and WVU, among others.
Watch Carter Bonner highlights
8. Armand Hill
West Mifflin
5-10, 185, RB
Hill, a four-star running back recruit, is back on the market after he decommitted from West Virginia last week. Hill has rushed for more than 4,500 yards in his career. The 11th-ranked running back nationally, he holds offers from Michigan, Pitt, Bowling Green, UNLV and WVU, among others. His resume includes rushing for 495 yards and five touchdowns in a game against Hopewell in 2024 (second most in WPIAL history). He ran for 1,306 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
9. Jon Sassic
Central Catholic
6-7, 295, OL
Another talented member of Central Catholic’s offensive line, Sassic has drawn interest from a number of college programs after helping the Vikings win the WPIAL Class 6A title and reach the PIAA title game. The towering offensive guard added a Virginia Tech offer Jan. 23. The first-team all-conference lineman also has offers from NC State, Pitt, WVU and a number of MAC schools.
10. Roman Thompson
Central Catholic
6-0, 210, LB
Athletic is an understated description for Thompson, a three-star linebacker recruit. One of the state’s top 215-pound wrestlers last year, he is coming off a junior season where he led WPIAL champion Central Catholic in tackles and touchdowns. He made 113 tackles, including 65 solo stops and four sacks, and also rushed for 882 yards and 29 touchdowns. The first-team all-conference selection holds offers from Pitt, Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Liberty, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo.