Panther-Lair.com will be counting down the best players in the WPIAL's graduating class of 2018 now that state championships have concluded.
The WPIAL - or Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League for the uninitiated - is the home of decades of football history and top prospect. Six classifications of teams surrounding the Pittsburgh area call Pennsylvania's District 7 home and the district produces dozens of college football prospects annually. Continuing today with numbers 15 through 11, Panther-Lair.com will be counting down the top 20 prospects in the WPIAL for the class of 2018.
SEE ALSO: 2018 WPIAL Rankings: 20-16
15. Najhier West - Running back - Munhall (Pa.)
Najhier "Nas" West gained fame for his incredible run in the state championship game that made its way to SportsCenter and the national media, but the Steel Valley running back had an excellent season beyond that game. Paired with 2017 standout Dewayne Murray, West showed off balance, vision, and lower body strength that belied his size in his junior campaign. West is hardly a huge back, but his ability to stop and start keeps defenders off balance and he's plenty fast enough and strong enough to do the rest from there.
14. James Gmiter - Defensive tackle - Bethel Park (Pa.)
Gmiter might just be the most physically powerful and strong lineman in the WPIAL for the class of 2018 and the Bethel Park has already received attention in recruiting, with West Virginia and Wisconsin offering. It should be intriguing to see where Gmiter plays at the next level in terms of position, as his skill set could prove to be better at offensive guard than it is at defensive tackle. Either way, Gmiter is a mover who can reset the line of scrimmage on any given down with his ability to blow players off of the ball due to his strength, tenacity, and leg drive.
13. David Green - Defensive tackle - Pittsburgh (Pa.)
You know those weird little stats or factoids that get repeated ad nauseam on football broadcasts for certain players? Antonio Gates played basketball, Craig Krenzel majored in microbiology, Ben Roethlisberger didn't play quarterback until his senior year of high school, etc. If Green becomes a star at the next level, expect the fact that he took a significant number of carries at running back in high school to join that list.
Green's ability to take the ball out of the backfield is a testament to the skill-set that he brings to the game and to the defensive tackle position. He's an athletic player who mostly excels in rushing the passer due to his burst and quickness. Look for Green to be used as a three-tech defensive tackle in college in a system that allows him to pin his ears and get after the quarterbacker.
12. Ronnie Stevenson - Wide receiver - Montour (Pa.)
It's easy to forget, at times, that high school football prospects are still teenage kids and deal with everything that comes along with that. At times in his sophomore season, Montour's Ronnie Stevenson looked like he had trouble getting off of the line of scrimmage quickly or creating separation. As a junior, the big-bodied, 6-foot-5 wide receiver has clearly corrected those issues and looks much quicker and faster than he did before. That could be a function of offseason training or just growing into his body, but it's been a noticeable improvement either way. Stevenson is an intriguing prospect who has the length, hands, and size to make noise in the passing game at the college level. It should be intriguing to see whether he outgrows wide receiver and moves to tight end or continues getting quicker and manages to stay outside.
11. Khalil Weathers - Cornerback - Pittsburgh (Pa.)
Weathers' junior season was his first at Central Catholic and his first focusing on his role as a defensive back full-time and it's clear that the move paid off. An athletic and physical corner at 6-feet and 185 pounds, Weathers showed the ability to make plays on the football in man coverage and in run support. At times, his aggression could leave him a bit out of position, but he'll learn to fix things up on that front as he spends more time repping. He's physically impressive and his recovery speed is a huge asset as well. Weathers had six interceptions in 2016 and he's the kind of player who can generate turnovers for his team.
