As the 2024 WPIAL high school football season approaches, the Beaver County Times is kicking off its preseason coverage with a list of top players in the area. From Division I prospects, to all-state talents, there are an abundance of stars that will take the field on Friday nights in the Beaver Valley. Throughout this next week, The Times will be ranking the top 40 players in our coverage area. We continue our list with numbers 20-11.
More: The Times' Top 40 Players in the Beaver Valley
No. 20. Khylil Johnson, Cornell
Position: RB/DB
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 185 lbs.
About: Johnson was a force on both sides of the ball this past season as the junior had a dominant season rushing for 910 yards on 96 carries averaging 9.48 yards per carry. He would also go on to score five touchdowns in his sophomore season. Defensively, Johnson was also effective recording six interceptions on the year.
No. 19. Slayton Williams, South Side Beaver
Position: ATH
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 190 lbs.
About: Williams returns for his senior season after putting together an impressive junior season on both sides of the ball. Williams was a force on the defensive line for the Rams, tallying 35 tackles in 12 games, including one sack and four tackles for a loss. Not only was Williams a key piece on the defensive side of the ball, he also produced offensively for South Side last season hauling in four receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded 13 carries for 106 yards finding the end zone once rushing the ball.
No. 18. Mason Dixon, Central Valley
Position: ATH/RB/LB
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 lbs.
About: Dixon is one of the two running backs returning to Central Valley this season and will once again be a key piece to the offense’s success this season for the Warriors. Last season during his junior campaign, Dixon rushed the ball 127 times for 819 yards, averaging just over six yards per carry. He also found the end zone 11 times.
More: The Times' Top 40 Players in the Beaver Valley: 30-21
No. 17. Sa’Nir Brooks, Aliquippa
Position: RB/LB/DB
Graduation Year: 2027
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 190 lbs.
About: Brooks returns home to Aliquippa to play for his hometown Quips team after spending his freshman campaign at Pittsburgh Central Catholic. In limited action last season, Brooks rushed the ball 25 times for 140 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He reached the end zone one time during his freshman campaign. Brooks will look to be a valuable addition to the Quips running back group along with Tiqwai Hayes leading the charge.
More: Beaver County team-by-team football schedules for 2024 season
No. 16. Evan Tweddell, Ellwood City
Position: OL/DL
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200
About: Tweddell played an integral role in the team’s offensive and defensive success on the line this past season. Defensively, Tweddell tallied 42 tackles, averaging four per game while also recording 10 tackles for a loss. Tweddell also earned all-conference plaudits for his play during his junior season in the Midwestern conference.
No. 15. Mateja Pavlovich, South Side Beaver
Position: K/LB
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225 lbs.
About: Pavlovich enters his senior campaign after another dominant season last year where he made his impact felt on both sides of the ball for the Rams. Offensively last season Pavlovich rushed 29 times for 200 yards while finding the end zone twice on the ground. He also hauled in 2 receptions for 44 yards and found the end zone once through the air. Defensively Pavlovich was even more effective finishing as the second-best defensive player overall for the Rams as he logged 44 tackles. 2 sacks and four tackles for a loss. He also serves as the team’s kicker and has found success on the special team’s unit throughout his career with South Side.
No. 14. Tyler Ondrusek, Central Valley
Position: OL/DL
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 240
About: Ondrusek is back for his senior season at Central Valley and returns to an already heavily built-up offensive line along with some key skill pieces on the offensive unit for the Warriors. Defensively, Ondrusek was also a force this past season recording 80 tackles, nine of those tackles coming for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Ondrusek also earned all-conference honors for his play on the defensive line this past season.
No. 13. Larry Moon III, Aliquippa
Position: DB
Graduation Year: 2027
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 lbs.
About: Moon transfers into Aliquippa after spending his freshman season at Central Catholic in Oakland. The sophomore is one of the many highly touted Division I prospects for Aliquippa after just one season at the high school level. Last season with the Vikings, Moon recorded 32 total tackles including four tackles for a loss in 10 games. He also recorded two sacks during his freshman campaign at Central Catholic
No. 12. Brady Mayo, Beaver Area
Position: WR/QB/DB
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175 lbs.
About: Mayo put together a solid junior season last year for the Bobcats as he amassed 332 yards through the air as a receiver finding the end zone five times. Mayo was named to the first-team offensive until for the 3A Western Hills Conference along with fellow Beaver Area wideout Amari Jackson.
More: Pennsylvania high school football: Key dates for the 2024 season
No. 11. Brendan Alexander, Central Valley
Position: OL/DL
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 277 lbs.
About: Even with Alexander just coming into his junior season in 2024, the Central Valley offensive and defensive lineman is one of the WPIAL’s more sought-after Division I prospects for linemen. The junior holds several power four offers from schools which include West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State and Stanford. During his sophomore campaign, Alexander was one of the leading forces on the offensive line blocking for first-team all-conference running back Jance Henry and all-conference linebacker Mason Dixon when he towed the rock for the Warriors throughout the 2023 season. Outside of his success on the offensive line, Alexander recorded 72 total tackles on the defensive side of the ball last season and eight tackles for a loss. He also tallied two sacks on the season in 2023 for the Warriors.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: The Times' Top 40 Players in the Beaver Valley: 20-11
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