William Penn Charter is a local high school known both for soccer players such as World Cup-bound midfielder Bobby Convey as well as basketball players like All-ACC guard Sean Singletary of Virginia.
But here in West Philadelphia, Penn Charter is known for its quarterbacks.
For the second year in a row, the Penn football team has recruited a quarterback from the Philadelphia high school -- first sophomore James Hannah, and now incoming freshman Brendan McNally.
The two have similar backgrounds, but completely different styles of play.
"Hannah is a prototypical 6-4, 220-pound kid with a real good arm, very comfortable in the pocket," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "He can throw the ball, but is not exceptionally mobile, so he's much more of the prototypical passer.
"McNally is more of a 6-foot 190-pound kid that really has good feet, has really good speed, and can do some of the stuff in the pocket but is just as comfortable outside."
McNally's athleticism is his major asset, and it allowed him to play safety in high school in addition to being his team's signal-caller.
But because the Quakers already have three quarterbacks on the roster -- Bryan Walker, Robert Irvin and Hannah, McNally will likely see himself playing wide receiver or defensive back if he doesn't break out at his natural position.
"We had been following him for God knows how long, and we thought that he's a kid that is [both] a very talented quarterback [and] a very talented athlete," Bagnoli said of the incoming freshman. "He has some of those traits that should let him be a skill position kid on offense or defense."
Skilled labor
Due to the high number of departed seniors, Bagnoli and his staff have focused recruiting on skill positions. Out of the 26 total recruits, eight (not including McNally) are receivers or defensive backs.
Bagnoli is still searching for the next Dan Castles or Rob Milanese (now in the Arena Football League), and sees some potential in the class of 2010.
"Provided our film evaluation is correct, and provided that the kids' makeup, work ethic, and everything else continues at the same level ... we think we have some kids with potential to be difference-makers," Bagnoli said.
Penn's secondary was the other strength for this year's recruits, according to the coach. Penn loses seven senior defensive backs, but will gain five freshmen.
Going national
The 26 new freshman this year are from 14 different states, and with the notable exception of McNally, few are local. Only three are from Pennsylvania, while four each are from Florida and California.
Because of the Ivy League and the number of teams around Penn, there is more demand than the supply.
"The league has forced us to go into a national recruiting frame ... you just don't have enough bodies within this northeast corridor," Bagnoli said.
Ivy's Trojans?
Brown may have won the league title in 2005, and Penn may always contend, but Harvard is the team that has been drawing in the top football recruits.
And just as every team loses some recruits to rival schools, according to Bagnoli Penn has lost a number of players to the Crimson.
Harvard has the combination of a prestigious name, a great education and a historically successful football program.
"There is some attrition, [almost] everybody has it," Bagnoli said. "USC may be one of the few schools that can say 'I want you, you and you, and I don't want you and you.' In our league Harvard is as close as we have to that."
