GameTimePA Week 10 football highlights
Includes teams from Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties.
Who are the best high school football players in central Pa.?
It’s never an easy question. Many of last year’s stars have graduated and moved on to newer, bigger college squads.
Here are our selections for the top 50 football players to watch in the GameTimePA coverage area − York, Adams, Lebanon and Franklin counties. The top 10 will be in order, followed by a listing of 40 other players to keep an eye on this year.
10. Malachi Briddell, Lebanon, sr., WR/ATH
The Cedars saw Briddell lead their offense from nearly every position in 2024, and he made some jaw-dropping plays as a result. After stepping into the offense as a receiver, Briddell tallied 42 receptions, nine touchdowns and 910 receiving yards on 22 yards per catch.
His impact as a playmaker was reliable in each contest as he put up several scoring plays of 50-plus yards to prove it. The Cedars have already shown to let Briddell carry the offense, and his senior campaign could be another highlight reel year.
9. Brayden Billman, New Oxford, sr., WR/S
Billman is a do-it-all kind of player. He earned all-star honors last year at both wide receiver and safety and he lives up to the billing in each role. Billman made 47 tackles, three interceptions for 55 yards and two fumble recoveries last year, and he was enough of a menace in deep coverage to give opposing quarterback pause. His 537 receiving yards and seven touchdowns also made him a prime target for Colonials quarterback Luke Frey, a fact that shouldn’t change as Billman enters his senior season.
8. Isaiah Zimmerman, Cedar Crest, jr., RB/LB
Zimmerman’s first campaign as a starter was electric and saw him overwhelm opposing defenses from the jump. The Falcons rising junior put up 217 yards and two scores in his 2024 debut versus Lower Dauphin and Zimmerman’s stat line only got better from there.
After finishing the regular season with 1,410 total yards, 14 total touchdowns and over nine yards per carry, Zimmerman’s first playoff game saw him find the end zone five times to deliver the Falcons their first postseason win since 1997. The 5-foot-10 running back was a consistent home-run threat last year and will have a chance to contribute beyond the backfield as a junior.
7. Brendyn Smith, Central York, sr., WR
The Panthers’ top wideout turned heads last year and for good reason. He led the YAIAA with 1,054 receiving yards and tied for a league-high 12 receiving touchdowns. Smith had four games with 100-plus receiving yards, including his 181-yard, three-touchdown night against Northeastern last year. Smith’s efforts have drawn him interest from multiple Division I programs, and he committed to Kent State back in late June.
6. Cole Staker, Eastern York, sr., DE/T
Don’t get in Staker’s way. At 5-11 and 209 pounds, the senior hits like a freight train and strikes fear into those that line up against him. In his breakout junior season, Staker amassed a league-leading 17 sacks with 108 tackles and another 11 tackles for loss. He was named the YAIAA Division II co-Defensive Player of the Year and also earned a Second Team mention for his work as an offensive tackle.
5. Quinn Bramble, Eastern York, sr., QB
Among a flock of talented YAIAA quarterbacks, Bramble managed to stand out as the leader of the second-highest scoring offense in the YAIAA. The senior is quick on his feet and, most importantly, accurate. He completed 71.2 percent of his passes while only being intercepted eight times last year. The results showed with Bramble posting 2,159 yards and 26 touchdowns last year — the second-most in the league in both categories.
4. Shavane Anderson, York High, sr., RB
Anderson has been a steady productive force in the Bearcats’ offensive approach since his breakout season two years ago. He led his team in rushing again last year and was often the ground element of a one-two combo that the Bearcats used as they mixed in their effective passing game led by signal caller Najee Still. Anderson is nimble, and his speed is nothing to doubt. As York High’s young roster grows into itself, Anderson will be a senior leader it can rely upon.
3. Brooklyn Nace, Central York, sr., QB
The top receiver in the league would be nothing without a quarterback who can hit his targets with ease and keep opposing defenses on the backfoot. Nace has been that guy for the Panthers since he earned the starting job two years ago and he’s only gotten better as he’s gone on. He collected 2,333 passing yards on 282 last year — nearly doubling his sophomore year output with then-running back Juelz Goff — and he threw for a league-leading 28 touchdowns. His favorite target is back, and Nace has the toolset available to make the most of it.
2. David Czapp, Spring Grove, sr., C/DE
A well-renowned center and for good reason. Czapp is the anchor on the Rockets’ line and can dominate on either side of the ball. The 6-2, 255-pound center was a GameTimePA all-star on defense and an all-state selection at center last year after amassing 49 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, nine quarterback hurries and a caused fumble. His size and speed are going to make him a problem for opponents this year.
1. Colin Gurley, Central York, sr., LB/DT/TE
Gurley is a gamechanger on defense. He was second only to Staker in total sacks last year after racking up 10.5 in his third season as a starter, and he added 23 quarterback hurries, a caused and recovered fumble, eight tackles for loss and 46 total tackles to an already impressive resume. He’s also a strong mix at tight end for the Panthers’ lineup, accruing 210 yards and two touchdowns last year and plugging holes where needed. He’s drawn interest from multiple college programs and recently announced his commitment to Villanova.
Other Pa. high school football players to watch
Amani Bones, York High, RB/LB, sr.
Braeden Bowman, New Oxford, OL/DL, sr.
Camron Buchmoyer, Lebanon, ATH/LB, sr.
Malik Cain, Spring Grove, RB/CB, jr.
Tyler Comarnitsky, Palmyra, OL/DL, sr.
Ayden Foust, Shippensburg, OL/LB, sr.
Noah Garvin, Shippensburg, DL, sr.
Gehret Gentzyel, York Suburban, LB/TE, sr.
Jamil Gordon, Lebanon, WR/DB, sr.
Aiden Grim, Dallastown, OL/LB, sr.
Aidan Hoffman, Biglerville, RB, sr.
Brody Holmes, New Oxford, WR/CB, sr.
Lane Hubbard, Bermudian Springs, QB, sr.
Jeremiha Hunter, Central York, DE/RB, sr.
Donavin Jordan-Brown, Susquehannock, DE/OT, sr.
Kody Kissner, Dallastown, QB, sr.
Kamren Koennecke, Palmyra, OL/DL, sr.
Griffin Kreider, ELCO, QB/DB, jr.
Julius Madden, WR, West York, sr.
Travis McDannell, Palmyra, RB/ATH, sr.
Mason Mellott, Greencastle-Antrim, OL, sr.
Slade Moore, C/DT, West York, sr.
Jonathan Moran, Annville-Cleona, WR/LB, sr.
Luke Oriel, Cedar Crest, WR/DB, sr.
Dalton Pyszka, ELCO, TE/DE, sr.
Jack Rios, WR/DE, New Oxford, jr.
Braxtin Risser, Palmyra, RB/LB, sr.
Brady Ryan, Northern Lebanon, WR/DB, jr.
Hudson Sellers, Annville-Cleona, LB/TE, sr.
Noah Shifflet, Greencastle-Antrim, LB/WR, sr.
Ryan Smulian, Delone Catholic, RB/LB, sr.
Eli Smyser, LB/SB, Dover, so.
Talon Speck, Palmyra, ATH/DB, sr.
Jaxon Speece, Annville-Cleona, OL/DL, jr.
Garrett Starry, Cedar Crest, TE/LB, jr.
Najee Still, York High, QB, sr.
Octavius Thompson, TE/DE, Red Lion, sr.
Nuh’si Valenti, Eastern York, RB, sr.
Drake Wagner, Shippensburg, OL/DL, sr.
Paul Williams, ELCO, DL/OL, sr.
Ian Wysocki, South Western, LB/RB, sr.
