After 112,174 votes were cast from local high school football fans, KDKA Radio is ready to name the 2021 Super 7 Players of the Year!
Congrats to the following seven young men on incredible seasons filled with big performances, huge stats, tons of wins and a few championships.
The award winners will be honored at Hyde Park Steakhouse on January 20.
Here they are, the best of the best, the KDKA Radio Super 7 Players of the Year!
CLASS 6A: Eli Heidenrich, Mt. Lebanon
Heidenreich broke out as one of the most explosive players in Western Pennsylvania this season.
He formed part of a sensational 1-2 punch for the Blue Devils. Hedenreich — like teammate Alex Tecza — scored 29 touchdowns this season for the WPIAL and PIAA 6A champs.
The Navy recruit led the WPIAL in receiving yards with 1,330 yards and added 647 rushing yards
He also starred in the defensive secondary, as well.
CLASS 5A: Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford
Yacamelli, a Wisconsin recruit, was instrumental in helping the Warriors to their first PIAA title this season.
He ran for 1,866 yards, fourth-best in the WPIAL. He added 351 receiving yards and scored 29 touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most in the district.
The Warriors won the WPIAL title for a first time, beating Moon in a thrilling game at Heinz Field. Yacamelli had 136 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards in the district title game.
CLASS 4A: Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon
Whitlock was a do-it-all player for the Leopards this season, guiding Belle Vernon to the WPIAL 4A title game.
He passed for over 1,000 yards, rushed for nearly 1,200 and accounted for 32 offensive touchdowns. He also returned two punts for scores.
Whitlock, who is also a standout basketball player, finished his high school football career with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
He has received offers from Youngstown State, Duquesne, The Citadel, West Liberty, Notre Dame College, Livingston College, East Central, and preferred walk-on offers from Pitt and West Virginia
CLASS 3A: Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley
A wrecking ball in the middle of the defensive line of the back-to-back state champs, the Pitt recruit capped his high school career with a senior season for the ages.
FitzSimmons racked up 123 tackles, including a remarkable 49 for loss and 21 sacks. He also caused five fumbles and recovered another.
A three-star recruit as a defensive lineman, FitzSimmons also shined on the offensive line.
He had offers from Duke and Wake Forest, among others, but signed with the Panthers last month.
CLASS 2A: Nijhay Burt, Steel Valley
Despite gong down with a season-ending ankle injury in the playoffs, Burt finished third in the WPIAL in rushing yards with 2,044.
He also scored 35 touchdowns and accounted for 216 points, both the best marks in the district.
Burt has started to pile up some college offers. Buffalo, Eastern Illinois, Duquesne, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, Findlay, Gannon, Notre Dame College, Bluefield State and Walsh have all offered him a scholarship.
CLASS 1A: Xavier Nelson, Bishop Canevin
Nelson ended up being the hero of the Crusaders’ first WPIAL title win in 31 years.
He scored three touchdowns, including an interception return, in the second quarter, as Bishop Canevin pounded OLSH, 42-7 at Heinz Field.
Nelson caught 42 passes for 945 yards, while also running for 191 more yards. He scored 15 touchdowns in 2021 and was a standout player on defense.
A junior, Nelson has received an offer from Westminster.
CITY LEAGUE: Keyshawn Morsillo, Westinghouse
Morsillo was the top passer in the City League this year, accounting for 1,411 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He also ran for 733 yards and 15 scores as Westinghouse went 10-2 and made the PIAA First Round.
Morsillo is only a junior, but has received interest from Division I programs already.