Delvon Simmons' best skill might not be his strength or speed. It might be his ability to keep a secret.
Simmons, along with McKeesport teammate Branden Jackson and Clairton's Desimon Green, will reveal today which college football scholarship they will accept when they sign letters of intent.
Today is National Signing Day, and at least 20 players from the WPIAL will sign to play for Football Bowl Subdivision programs. These 10 were the most heavily recruited:
1. Delvon Simmons, DT
• School: McKeesport
• Vitals: 6-foot-5, 265 pounds
• College: Revealing his choice at 11 a.m.
• Of note: Simmons had two sacks and recovered a fumble in the U.S. Army All-American game. He will pick from Southern Cal, Oregon, Pitt, North Carolina and Rutgers. Rivals.com calls him Pennsylvania's top player.
2. Dondi Kirby, DB
• School: Gateway
• Vitals: 6-3, 180
• College: Illinois
• Of note: Kirby was considered one of the best defensive backs in the country before needing surgery for a torn knee ligament. He had more than a dozen offers, including Florida and Southern Cal.
3. Branden Jackson, LB
• School: McKeesport
• Vitals: 6-4, 220
• College: Revealing his choice at 11 a.m.
• Of note: Jackson often was called a defensive end, but the speedster likely would be a pass-rushing outside linebacker at Oregon, Pitt or Texas Tech, his finalists.
4. Lafayette Pitts, DB
• School: Woodland Hills
• Vitals: 5-11, 185
• College: Rutgers
• Of note: Pitts committed to Pitt in August, but he changed his mind and picked Rutgers on Jan 24. However, the Panthers haven't given up and had him on campus last weekend for an official visit.
5. Desimon Green, DE
• School: Clairton
• Vitals: 6-5, 230
• College: Revealing his choice at 10 a.m.
• Of note: Green chose Pitt months ago but decommitted the day Dave Wannstedt stepped down. Still, Pitt has rejoined Texas Tech and Michigan State among his finalists.
6. Ejuan Price, LB
• School: Woodland Hills
• Vitals: 6-0, 195
• College: Ohio State
• Of note: Price, a strong tackler, waited until Jan. 17 to pick the Buckeyes, choosing them over Iowa. But other schools' recruiters have stayed after him, including Pitt's new coaches.
7. Quinton Jefferson, DE
• School: Woodland Hills
• Vitals: 6-4, 225
• College: Maryland
• Of note: Jefferson was another recruit Iowa missed. A solid pass rusher, Jefferson liked Maryland for several reasons, including a prediction that he might see the field without much waiting.
8. Armstead Williams, LB
• School: Gateway
• Vitals: 6-3, 210
• College: Purdue
• Of note: Williams also played receiver and safety, but Purdue sees him playing outside linebacker. He and Kirby made a couple of recruiting trips together but chose different Big Ten schools.
9. Mike Caputo, DB
• School: West Allegheny
• Vitals: 6-1, 195
• College: Wisconsin
• Of note: Caputo, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2009 Player of the Year, missed nearly the entire 2010 season because of an ankle injury that needed surgery. He committed to Wisconsin before the injury.
10. Tim Cwalina, T
• School: Mt. Lebanon
• Vitals: 6-8, 290
• College: Virginia
• Of note: Cwalina committed July 22 and stayed glued to Virginia. His size and quickness — he also plays basketball — made him an interesting prospect.
