Pittsburgh 2014 recruiting class

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, February 11th, 2014. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

On National Signing Day, the Panthers announced twenty-three student-athletes joining the Pittsburgh football program this fall.

The incoming group features nine players from Pennsylvania, including two from Eastern PA.

Bethel Park’s Mike Grimm is one of the top linemen in Western PA. He was a three-year starter for Blackhawks.

Grimm was named first team PIAA Class 4A All-State team by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22” and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25”.

He was selected to play in the 2014 Big 33 Football Classic.

Elizabeth-Forward’s Jaquaun Davidson passed for 1,040 yards and rushed for 1,109 yards his senior season. He had 29 total touchdowns.

On defense he played cornerback for the Warriors.

He was named first team Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25” and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”.

Fox Chapel’s Quintin Wirginis missed his senior season due to an injury. His junior year he played linebacker for the Foxes.

His junior year he had 72 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, an interception and three sacks.

Mount Lebanon’s Alex Bookser is considered one of the best offensive linemen in Pennsylvania.

Bookser was named first team PIAA Class 4A All-State team by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22” and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25”.

He also played defense and had 34 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and two blocked field goals.

North Allegheny’s Elijah Zeise is a big time player on both sides of the ball. Zeise played wide receiver and cornerback.

He caught 49 passes for 952 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense he had eight interceptions the last two years.

Zeise was named first team PIAA Class 4A All-State team by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25” and a three-time All-Northern Eight All-Star.

Roman Catholic’s Hez Trahan was a three-year starter at defensive end for the Cahillites.

He was named All-Catholic 4A Division and Philadelphia Daily News All-City team.

On defense he had 18 total tackles, five forced fumbles and 10 sacks.

Trahan played tight end on offense.

Shady Side Academy’s Dennis Briggs was a player that was all over the field. The versatile senior played running back, linebacker and kick returner.

He was named first team All-Allegheny Conference. He was a four-year starter on defense and three-year starter on offense.

He rushed for over 1,900 yards in his career and his team made the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs in each of his four years.

Upper St. Clair’s Rori Blair was a two-way star at receiver and defensive end in 2011. In April of 2012 he suffered a stroke and missed his senior season.

But he was granted an extra semester of eligibility from the WPIAL and was medically cleared to play football in 2013.

In 2013, he had 48 total tackles, nine for loss and 6.5 sacks and was named All-Southeastern Conference Defensive lineman.

West Catholic’s Patrick Amara was a two-way star for the Burrs. He played safety and wide receiver and was named first team All-Southeastern PA and All-Catholic.

Last season, Amara caught 25 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns. On defense he had 43 total tackles and three interceptions.

Class of 2018

Players	Pos	Ht	Wt	School
Adam Bertke	QB	6-6	210	Marion Local
Adonis Jennings	WR	6-3	195	Timber Creek
Alex Bookser	OL	6-6	295	Mt. Lebanon
Avonte Maddox	DB	5-9	165	Martin Luther King
Brian O’Neill	TE	6-6	245	Salesianum School
Chris James	RB	5-11	210	Notre Dame College Prep
Connor Dintino	DL	6-3	295	Choate Rosemary Hall
Connor Hayes	OL	6-4	270	Traverse City West
Dennis Briggs	RB	5-10	195	Shady Side Academy
Elijah Zeise	WR	6-2	195	North Allegheny
Hez Trahan	DL	6-4	250	Roman Catholic
Jalen Williams	DB	6-2	180	Newburgh Free Academy
Jamal Davis II	LB	6-2	200	Canton McKinley
James Folston Jr.	LB	6-3	200	Cocoa
Jaquaun Davidson	ATH	6-2	170	Elizabeth Forward
Mike Grimm	OL	6-6	325	Bethel Park
Mike Herndon	DL	6-4	320	Riverheads
Patrick Amara	DB	6-2	190	West Catholic
Phillipie Motley	DB	5-10	170	Hilliard Davidson
Qadree Ollison	RB	6-2	215	Canisius
Quintin Wirginis	LB	6-2	220	Fox Chapel
Rori Blair	DL	6-4	230	Upper St. Clair
Shane Roy	DL	6-4	245	Reading