The football 50: Meet the GameTimePA Top 10, plus 40 more to watch in the 2024 season

Who are the best football players in central Pa.?

Here are our selections for the 50 to watch in the GameTimePA coverage area -- York, Adams, Franklin and Lebanon counties.

Compiling a list like this is never easy. Many of last year's stars are now preparing to play on Saturdays for new college teams.

Here are the top 10 in order, followed by 40 more to watch this season.

YAIAA 100: Here are the seniors, juniors and sophomores we can't wait to watch in 2024-25

10. Brooklyn Nace, Central York, jr., QB

When you have the league's top running back in your backfield, it's important to have a quarterback who can hit his targets and keep the opposing defense honest. That was Nace's job last year, in his first year as a starter. Even with Juelz Goff running for more than 1,400 yards last year, Nace still threw for nearly 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns. Goff is gone, but Nace still has a strong returning corps to continue running his balanced attack.

9. Jack Waranavage, Cedar Crest, sr., WR/KR/DB

Waranavage is an all-around all-star, earning honors at wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner. At 6-0 and with plenty of speed, he can haul in a short pass and break it for a long gain, or track down an opposing ball carrier. Waranavage was named to the Lancaster-Lebanon Quarterback Club Section 1 and Lebanon County all-star teams.

8. Malachi Ramnath, Central York, sr., DE

Ramnath anchored a Panthers defense that gave up fewer than two touchdowns per game on average last year and held four teams scoreless. The 6-3 Monmouth commit was a GameTimePA all-star and all-state selection after recording 15.5 sacks, 17 quarterback pressures, 43 total tackles and two force fumbles. His size and speed will make him a problem for opposing offensive lines.

7. Saxton Suchanic, Central York, sr., CB/DB

It's hard to get defensive statistics when offensive quarterbacks rarely throw in your direction. That was the way the UConn commit's season went last year . But he still broke up 11 passes, made 31 tackles and didn't allow a touchdown all season. Coaches noticed his defensive flare, and how opponents avoided him, by naming him to the all-state team.

6. Jonathon Shay, Annville-Cleona, sr., P/DE

Shay was already an established all-around player coming into his junior season. But he added punter to his resume and earned all-star honors after averaging 33 yards per kick. Shay was the Lancaster-Lebanon Quarterback Club Section Section 5 Defensive Lineman of the Year with 71 total tackles, three sacks and two hurries that also led to an all-star nod. Offensively, he finished with 568 all-purpose yards.

5. Matthew Parker, Central York, sr., K/P

It's not often you see a high school kicker with Parker's capabilities. He is hands-down the top high school kicker in the state and one of the best in the country. The Panthers aren't a team that often gives kickers a chance at field goals -- he hit 10 of his 13 attempts last year year -- but you can't fault his leg. He hit two field goals of 50-plus yards and deposited 81 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone. On the other side, he averaged 41 yards per punt with a long of 64 yards last year. The all-state selection will attend Penn State as a preferred walk-on.

4. David Warde, York High, sr., WR/CB

Warde's receiving numbers were down a bit last year after a breakout sophomore season as the Bearcats worked with a new quarterback and put more emphasis on their running game. But that doesn't mean the 6-1 senior, who is drawing serious Div. I interest, isn't a threat. The first-team all-star at wide receiver and corner back, has legitimate speed and can easily turn a 7-yard pass into a 70-yard touchdown run with one quick turn.

3. Shavane Anderson, York High, jr., RB

Anderson went from relative obscurity to one of the league's top running backs in the blink of an eye last season. He wasn't a starter in the first game of the season, but things changed on opening night against Harrisburg when he took a handoff 75 yards to score the first of 16 touchdowns. He finished with nearly 1,300 yards and is the most productive running back from last year's crew. Anderson won't be flying under the radar this year, but his speed makes him a constant threat to turn a mundane run into a long touchdown. His pairing with wideout David Warde gives the Bearcats a legitimate two-pronged attack.

2. Jalen Cook, Dallastown, sr., WR/S

Cook is a serious threat on both sides of the ball. Even with splitting wide receiver duties with Michael Scott, Cook averaged nearly 19 yards per catch and finished with more than 500 yards. He also paired with Scott on kick return duties and finished with nearly 700 all-purpose yards. Defensively, Cook was named a GameTimePA all-star after finishing with 40 tackles and four interceptions. The 6-1 speedster can deliver big hits or easily disrupt opposing receivers' routes.

1. Michael Scott, Dallastown, sr., WR/P/CB

Scott was an easy choice for the top spot. Accolades aside, if he's good enough to catch the eye of Hall of Famer Hines Ward, this pick is a slam dunk. After hauling in more than 1,000 all-purpose yards between receiving, rushing and returning, Scott was named all-state as an athlete. The 5-9 Arizona State commit is part of a wideout pairing with Jalen Cook that will make Dallastown second to none in the league, and maybe beyond. He is among the highest-rated wide receivers in the state but will also handle punting and corner back duties for the Wildcats. He was 11-for-18 in passing for 170 yards and a touchdown last season, so he's a threat from a variety of spots on offense.

Watch Pa. high school football games during the 2024 season

Other Pa. high school football players to watch

Brayden Billman, New Oxford, jr. safety

Andrew Bowers, Greencastle-Antrim, sr. kicker

Micah Bowers, Central York, sr. linebacker

Brayden Bowman, New Oxford, jr. guard

Quinn Bramble, Eastern York, sr. quarterback

Malachi Briddell, Lebanon, jr. wide receiver/kick returner

David Clippinger, Red Lion, sr. outside linebacker

David Czapp, Spring Grove, jr. defensive end/center

Andrew Florek, Waynesboro, sr. linebacker

Logan Ford, Delone Catholic, sr. corner back

Tyler Frey, Central York, sr. safety

Ibraheem Fuentes-Bream, West York, jr. defensive end

Jack Gautsch, Bermudian Springs, sr. wide receiver/safety/punter

Bryce Graham, South Western, sr.: 2023 quarterback

Aidan Hoffman, Biglerville, jr. linebacker/wide receiver

Levi Hohenstein, Delone Catholic, sr. tight end

Lane Hubbard, Bermudian Springs, jr. corner back/wide receiver/returner

Bryce Keller, Annville-Cleona, sr. long snapper/running back

Nolan Kruse, Delone Catholic, sr. kicker

Colby Laughman, Dallastown, sr. defensive end

Ben Lippy, Susquehannock, sr. linebacker

Tristan Long, Cedar Crest, sr. defensive lineman

Bryson Lookingbill, Littlestown, sr. linebacker

Tavian McAuliffe, Biglerville, sr. wide receiver/safety/returner

Brady Miller, New Oxford, sr. kicker

Elliot Piatt, South Western, jr. guard

Ethan Rissler, South Western, sr. defensive end

Austin Rollman, South Western, sr. running back

Wanieq Scott, York High, sr. wide receiver/safety/returner

Eddie Sebright, Bermudian Springs, sr. fullback

Matthew Shaefferman, Littlestown, sr. defensive end

JD Sieg, Delone Catholic, sr. offensive tackle/defensive end

Brayden Smith, Delone Catholic, sr. linebacker/running back

Cole Staker, Eastern York, jr. defensive end/defensive end

Charlie Stewart, Palmyra, sr. defensive back

Carter Storm, Bermudian Springs, sr. offensive tackle

Beau Toler, Palmyra, sr. offensive lineman

Gavin Trish, Hanover, sr. quarterback

Nu’hsi Valenti, Eastern York, jr. running back/linebacker

Tupac Vasquez-Disla, Elco, sr. center

Paul Williams, Elco, jr. defensive end

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This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: The football 50: Meet the GameTimePA Top 10, plus 40 more to watch in the 2024 season