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Akron Offers Crop of Western Pennsylvania Football Prospects

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Westinghouse Football Josiah Collins

College football coaches around the country are out on the recruiting trail dishing out offers and that includes in the WPIAL and City League.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Akron Zips offered a crop of Western Pennsylvania football prospects with some recruits receiving their first Division I offer.

Here’s who received an offer from Pittsburgh native and Akron head coach Joe Moorhead and area recruiter Ryan Matviko:

Scoop Smith — 2026 wide receiver out of Woodland Hills High School

Scoop Smith pregame against Central Catholic, Sept. 6, 2024 // Nathan Breisinger. PSN.

Scoop Smith pregame against Central Catholic, Sept. 6, 2024 // Nathan Breisinger. PSN.

Smith is one of he most exciting talents in the entire WPIAL and his recruitment has once again picked up recently. Along with Akron, Smith has picked up offers from Buffalo and Sacramento State in the past week. He also holds offers from Nebraska, UNLV, UMass, Temple, Toledo and Robert Morris.

The 5-foot-6, 150-pound Smith registered 630 receiving yards, 352 yards on the ground and 15 combined touchdowns as a junior.

Jaymier Austin — 2026 cornerback out of Franklin Regional High School

Austin added his fourth D-I offer on Tuesday thanks to Akron. His previous three came from Purdue, Marshall and Youngstown State. The 6-foot-3, 179-pound recruit recorded 14 tackles, 10 passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble as a junior.

Aaron Strader — 2027 quarterback out of Pine-Richland High School

Strader — a 5-foot-11, 170-pound signal caller — added his fourth D-I offer from Akron Wednesday morning. Along with the Zips, Central Michigan, Miami (OH) and Sacramento State have all offered Strader It comes after a monster sophomore campaign in which he tossed for 1,755 yards and 20 touchdowns to four interceptions as he led the Rams to a Class 5A WPIAL Championship.

Josiah Collins — 2026 defensive lineman out of Westinghouse High School

Collins added his fourth D-I offer from the Zips as his list includes Temple, Miami (OH) and Maine. The 6-foot-2, 226-pound prospect was a First Team All-City League stand out this past fall for a Westinghouse team that finished 9-2 and claimed its third consecutive City League title.

Dai’Saun Blanchard — 2027 athlete out of Westinghouse High School

Blanchard was one of several players to receive their first D-I offer from the Zips on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect brings length, speed and toughness on defense. He can line up just about anywhere from defensive line to linebacker and safety.

DeJheerit Mellix — 2026 athlete out of Westinghouse High School

Mellix received his first offer from Akron on Tuesday. He stands at 6-foot, 190 pounds and possesses excellent speed and a hard-hitting edge at safety.

De’reon Washington — 2025 athlete out of Serra Catholic High School

Washington, who recently committed to Division II Kutztown University, added his second offer from a D-I program with Akron and Morehead State.

Lukas Stead — 2026 outside linebacker/tight end of out Taylor Allderdice High School

Stead picked up his first Division I offer from Akron Tuesday evening. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder earned First Team All-City tight end this past fall, recording 20 receptions for 208 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he totaled 53 tackles, 15 for a loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles.

Nathaniel Oliver — 2029 wide receiver

Oliver is one of the first 2029 prospects to receive a Division I offer in the Pittsburgh area.

Adam Barnett Jr. — 2029 defensive/offensive lineman

Barnett joined Oliver in receiving a D-I offer from Akron before playing a snap of high school football. Barnett announced that he will be playing at Central Catholic next season as a freshman.

WPIAL Football Recruiting Board – Western PA Football Recruiting

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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