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BuckeyeFan05
Senior
it didn't say that my redhaws offered him...and everyone knows that miami is the harvard of the midwest
You beat me to it korchiki.... Miami is by far the Harvard of the midwest, academically, class make up, and campus wise. We sure get the rep there too.
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OSUBucks22
No touching!
Scout $ (Rutgers site)
8/7
Toney says that he is very interested in Rutgers and would like to visit there soon. He says that Colorado is the only school that he will for sure take an official visit to.
8/7
Toney says that he is very interested in Rutgers and would like to visit there soon. He says that Colorado is the only school that he will for sure take an official visit to.
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BuckeyeFan05
Senior
Sort of seems like the wheels are falling off his recruiting wagon. Is this due to grades or what?
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OSUBucks22
No touching!
Scout $ (Michigan site)
8/14
Toney says that he will be attending a lot of Michigan games this fall. He will not decide on a school until December or January.
8/14
Toney says that he will be attending a lot of Michigan games this fall. He will not decide on a school until December or January.
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Blue Chip Chat: Toney Clemons
Monday, August 14, 2006
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
SCHOOL: Valley
POS: WR
HT: 6-3
WT: 195
THE SKINNY: A talented senior receiver and gifted all-around athlete. Scout.com ranks him the No. 10 receiver in the country and rivals.com No. 20. Has caught 61 passes for 1,131 yards in the past two regular seasons. Clemons also is a standout in track and field who won PIAA Class AA championships as a junior in the long jump and 110-meter hurdles. His two sisters, Mycah and Mycaiah, also won PIAA titles during their days at Valley.
COLLEGE TALK: Clemons has 17 scholarship offers. He is one of Pitt's prime targets. West Virginia and Michigan also have offered and are two of Clemons' favorites. "But I'm wide open with colleges," Clemons said. "I probably won't decide until after the season."
FAVORITE FOOD: "My mom's spaghetti and meatballs."
PERSON YOU'D MOST LIKE TO MEET: "There are a few. First, would be Jesus. He's the greatest that ever lived and walked. I'd like to meet [former President] Bill Clinton, just to have a one-on-one with him and see what kind of person he really is. And I'd like to meet one of my ancestors in my family tree."
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD RECEIVER? "Coachable. You have to be able to take criticism to make yourself better. You need to identify what you do wrong to get better. After that, the athleticism will come as you go."
BOTH OF YOUR SISTERS RUN TRACK AT PITT. DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING? "It doesn't mean a thing. They don't recruit for Pitt and they're not concerned where I go, as long as I do well and uphold the family tradition."
PET PEEVE ABOUT YOUR SISTERS? "They're tough. Sometimes you might need consoling in sports. If I go to my sisters and ask for something, they tell me to suck it up and quit being soft."
PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT YOU ... "Love to read. I read all kinds of books, from the bible, to novels, to Shakespeare, to poems."
Blue Chip Chat: Toney Clemons
Monday, August 14, 2006
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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CleveBucks
Serenity now
For such a highly rated receiver, he sure doesn't seem to have the offers. Academics an issue?
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Winning hands
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Valley star wide receiver Toney Clemons sat in history class last spring, when a text message arrived on his cell phone. One of the nation's top quarterbacks, Ryan Mallett, had committed to Michigan and was trying to convince Clemons to join him at the Big Ten school.
"It was a great feeling," Clemons said, "even if he did it in the middle of class and my teacher came over."
In this football-crazed region known for producing quarterbacks and linemen, there is some unlikely national recognition at a position with a scant history in Western Pennsylvania -- wide receiver.
The senior class boasts a trio of four-star wide receivers, and as many as eight wideouts from the WPIAL could be headed for Division I schools.
Recruiting analysts are terming it the area's most impressive array of wide receivers in recent memory.
"I would say the class is exceptionally deep," said California-based Allen Wallace, the national recruiting editor of Scout.com. "There is a lot of athleticism."
One recruiting service, Rivals.com, has three wide receivers ranked among the top 25 wideouts in the nation -- Greensburg Central Catholic's Nick Sukay (11th), Clemons (20th) and Gateway's Jon Ditto (23rd).
Dom DeCicco of Thomas Jefferson signed with Pitt -- albeit as a safety -- and Rochester's Derek Moye is considering Pitt, Penn State, Maryland and Boston College.
Other wide receivers with Division I offers include Penn-Trafford's Tim Cortazzo (Akron, Temple) and North Hills' Michael Rainey-Wiles (Ohio, Temple, Virginia Military Institute).
"I think it's a great class," said Central Catholic coach Terry Totten, whose preseason No. 1-ranked team will face Ditto and Cortazzo this season, "and I'm sure Penn Hills and (Woodland Hills) have some receivers, too."
The receivers took turns posting breathtaking numbers at off-season workouts and passing camps. DeCicco starred at the All-American combine at Pitt in March and turned heads at the 7 on 7 passing tournament last month in Hoover, Ala. Cortazzo and Moye excelled at the State College camp, and Ditto earned Nike Camp first-team All-American honors.
"We're all trying to be the best," Ditto said, "and trying to compete."
Said Clemons, "When we're all together, you get a chance to prove the hype is real. You've got to separate yourself. It makes you go harder. It makes you know you are elite and special."
Ironically, a region tabbed the cradle of quarterbacks is historically short on elite players to catch their passes. In the past 20 years, only eight wide receivers from the WPIAL were named Associated Press first-team all-state big school.
Of the 11 wideouts on the Pennsylvania Football News' All-Century team, only one was a WPIAL product (Gregg Garrity of North Allegheny). By comparison, two-thirds of the 18 All-Century quarterbacks hold local ties.
"There have been a few kids here and there," said Bob Lichtenfels, East/Midwest recruiting analyst for Scout.com, "but nothing with this amount of depth."
Sukay and Ditto settled heated recruiting battles when they made verbal commitments to Penn State this summer.
Clemons is perhaps the most coveted of all. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is the No. 10 receiver in the nation, according to Scout.com. Colorado, Michigan, Pitt and West Virginia are among those courting his services.
Only half of the top six recruits -- Clemons, Moye and Cortazzo -- are expected to remain at wide receiver in college. Penn State figures to move Sukay (6-3, 200) to safety and Ditto (6-3, 221) to H-back or tight end. DeCicco will play safety at Pitt.
"I think I'll start out at wideout," Ditto said, "and if I grow, I'll bump down to tight end,"
Clemons is pure receiver. He owns 4.5-speed, a 34-inch vertical leap and is a two-time PIAA 110 high hurdle champion. He plays in Class AA, but has 17 Division I offers and is getting nearly as much attention as his more high profile cousin, Michigan wide receiver Steve Breaston.
"When you talk about top 10 at their position, Justin King was that type of player," Lichtenfels said. "LaVar Arrington was that type of player. Same for Andrew Johnson and Anthony Morelli. Without a doubt, Toney Clemons is in that group. He's explosive. He's 6-3. He could get bigger without losing speed."
In most other years, Moye and Cortazzo would dominate the headlines. Moye, who rushed for 1,131 yards and 17 touchdowns, is being recruited to play wide receiver. He caught 536 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Cortazzo caught passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns.
"Moye is as good as anyone else out there," Lichtenfels said. "Tim is the kind of kid who ends up going to the MAC and tears it up and everyone asks, 'How come he wasn't recruited around here?' "
The list of Division I receivers could grow if Fitzgerald Bobo of Duquesne or Devin Goda of Elizabeth Forward put together notable senior seasons.
"There are a lot of great players," Clemons said. "I love my 2007 class. I feel we have the best class."
It's the No. 1 class in many years. From 2002-2005, the area landed only one athlete ranked among the top 90 wide receivers in the nation (Penn Hills' David Harvey was 24th in 2005).
The trend could be changing, however. Pitt freshman Elijah Fields of Duquesne and Dorin Dickerson of West Allegheny were top-10 players in last year's wide receiver class, followed by this season's highly regarded trifecta of Ditto, Clemons and Sukay.
Totten believes the increase in wide receiver talent shows a willingness of coaches to spread out their top players.
"(The ability) has always been there," Totten said. "But with the emphasis on running the ball, you put your best people at tailback."
Winning hands
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Valley star wide receiver Toney Clemons sat in history class last spring, when a text message arrived on his cell phone. One of the nation's top quarterbacks, Ryan Mallett, had committed to Michigan and was trying to convince Clemons to join him at the Big Ten school.
"It was a great feeling," Clemons said, "even if he did it in the middle of class and my teacher came over."
In this football-crazed region known for producing quarterbacks and linemen, there is some unlikely national recognition at a position with a scant history in Western Pennsylvania -- wide receiver.
The senior class boasts a trio of four-star wide receivers, and as many as eight wideouts from the WPIAL could be headed for Division I schools.
Recruiting analysts are terming it the area's most impressive array of wide receivers in recent memory.
"I would say the class is exceptionally deep," said California-based Allen Wallace, the national recruiting editor of Scout.com. "There is a lot of athleticism."
One recruiting service, Rivals.com, has three wide receivers ranked among the top 25 wideouts in the nation -- Greensburg Central Catholic's Nick Sukay (11th), Clemons (20th) and Gateway's Jon Ditto (23rd).
Dom DeCicco of Thomas Jefferson signed with Pitt -- albeit as a safety -- and Rochester's Derek Moye is considering Pitt, Penn State, Maryland and Boston College.
Other wide receivers with Division I offers include Penn-Trafford's Tim Cortazzo (Akron, Temple) and North Hills' Michael Rainey-Wiles (Ohio, Temple, Virginia Military Institute).
"I think it's a great class," said Central Catholic coach Terry Totten, whose preseason No. 1-ranked team will face Ditto and Cortazzo this season, "and I'm sure Penn Hills and (Woodland Hills) have some receivers, too."
The receivers took turns posting breathtaking numbers at off-season workouts and passing camps. DeCicco starred at the All-American combine at Pitt in March and turned heads at the 7 on 7 passing tournament last month in Hoover, Ala. Cortazzo and Moye excelled at the State College camp, and Ditto earned Nike Camp first-team All-American honors.
"We're all trying to be the best," Ditto said, "and trying to compete."
Said Clemons, "When we're all together, you get a chance to prove the hype is real. You've got to separate yourself. It makes you go harder. It makes you know you are elite and special."
Ironically, a region tabbed the cradle of quarterbacks is historically short on elite players to catch their passes. In the past 20 years, only eight wide receivers from the WPIAL were named Associated Press first-team all-state big school.
Of the 11 wideouts on the Pennsylvania Football News' All-Century team, only one was a WPIAL product (Gregg Garrity of North Allegheny). By comparison, two-thirds of the 18 All-Century quarterbacks hold local ties.
"There have been a few kids here and there," said Bob Lichtenfels, East/Midwest recruiting analyst for Scout.com, "but nothing with this amount of depth."
Sukay and Ditto settled heated recruiting battles when they made verbal commitments to Penn State this summer.
Clemons is perhaps the most coveted of all. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is the No. 10 receiver in the nation, according to Scout.com. Colorado, Michigan, Pitt and West Virginia are among those courting his services.
Only half of the top six recruits -- Clemons, Moye and Cortazzo -- are expected to remain at wide receiver in college. Penn State figures to move Sukay (6-3, 200) to safety and Ditto (6-3, 221) to H-back or tight end. DeCicco will play safety at Pitt.
"I think I'll start out at wideout," Ditto said, "and if I grow, I'll bump down to tight end,"
Clemons is pure receiver. He owns 4.5-speed, a 34-inch vertical leap and is a two-time PIAA 110 high hurdle champion. He plays in Class AA, but has 17 Division I offers and is getting nearly as much attention as his more high profile cousin, Michigan wide receiver Steve Breaston.
"When you talk about top 10 at their position, Justin King was that type of player," Lichtenfels said. "LaVar Arrington was that type of player. Same for Andrew Johnson and Anthony Morelli. Without a doubt, Toney Clemons is in that group. He's explosive. He's 6-3. He could get bigger without losing speed."
In most other years, Moye and Cortazzo would dominate the headlines. Moye, who rushed for 1,131 yards and 17 touchdowns, is being recruited to play wide receiver. He caught 536 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Cortazzo caught passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns.
"Moye is as good as anyone else out there," Lichtenfels said. "Tim is the kind of kid who ends up going to the MAC and tears it up and everyone asks, 'How come he wasn't recruited around here?' "
The list of Division I receivers could grow if Fitzgerald Bobo of Duquesne or Devin Goda of Elizabeth Forward put together notable senior seasons.
"There are a lot of great players," Clemons said. "I love my 2007 class. I feel we have the best class."
It's the No. 1 class in many years. From 2002-2005, the area landed only one athlete ranked among the top 90 wide receivers in the nation (Penn Hills' David Harvey was 24th in 2005).
The trend could be changing, however. Pitt freshman Elijah Fields of Duquesne and Dorin Dickerson of West Allegheny were top-10 players in last year's wide receiver class, followed by this season's highly regarded trifecta of Ditto, Clemons and Sukay.
Totten believes the increase in wide receiver talent shows a willingness of coaches to spread out their top players.
"(The ability) has always been there," Totten said. "But with the emphasis on running the ball, you put your best people at tailback."
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AA / ALLEGHENY: Valley's WRs command attention
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
By Chris Adamski, Tri-State Sports & News Service
Toney Clemons has always had the speed and athleticism. This past year he just worked to ensure that he ends up the total package.
Clemons, a senior at Valley High School, has been one of the top wide receivers in the WPIAL the past two seasons with 61 receptions for 1,131 yards.
He has been timed at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash and was the 2006 PIAA Class AA long jump and 110-meter hurdles championship.
"I spent my whole offseason working on my strength and conditioning," Clemons said. "I was blessed with speed, so ... I had to work on my conditioning and endurance and get stronger in the offseason. I was really focusing on the weights so I could take more hits."
Vikings coach Troy Hill has been a fan of Clemons since he was a freshman, when he caught 19 passes. The raw talent in place, Hill appreciates the work Clemons put in and now believes he is ready to take on an even newer role, that of respected team leader.
Clemons, who caught 28 passes for 489 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in the regular season, says he is just following along with the rest of the Vikings' senior class. But Hill says there is one big difference between Clemons and the close to two dozen other seniors on the team.
"When Toney Clemons says something, everyone listens. That's a great thing to have. What I challenge Toney to do is be more of that. Be more vocal. Guys react to his voice, and his work ethic is incredible. Believe me, as a coach and former player, you look at certain guys that have that quality and command that much attention. If the guys see Toney Clemons doing it, it's O.K."
But Clemons is not the only elite wide receiver on Valley commanding respect. Senior Madison Harvey might not be as tall as Clemons, but he might be as talented and his statistics last season were better -- 33 receptions for 500 yards.
And while Harvey might not have the list of college suitors Clemons does -- Clemons has been ranked in the top 10 or 20 nationally among wide receivers by scouting services -- he has a bright future ahead of him, too. He has received interest from Mid-American Conference schools and those in Division I-AA.
"I believe he can play on any level," Hill said. "He's going to be one of those kids that is a diamond in the rough. Any coach that picks him up is going really like what they have, especially his catching ability and his running crisp routes."
Hill also praised Harvey's work ethic. While Clemons has the god-given talent that comes from a family of athletes, Harvey knows he has to work more for everything he can get.
"I'm only 5-10, so I've got to work hard. I have no choice," Harvey said. "I'm playing people taller and faster. I may not be the fastest guy on the field, but I can say I work harder than anyone else."
Clemons and Harvey said that has been the mantra for the Valley team this summer. Motivated by a two-point loss in the quarterfinals to undefeated Greensburg Central Catholic -- an eventual WPIAL Class AA finalist -- the Vikings believe they are close to becoming a championship team.
"This is the best camp we have had in my time here," Harvey said. "Everyone's hungry for that WPIAL title. We want that WPIAL title. We were so close last year, so now in the playoffs we want to go further."
AA / ALLEGHENY: Valley's WRs command attention
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
By Chris Adamski, Tri-State Sports & News Service
Toney Clemons has always had the speed and athleticism. This past year he just worked to ensure that he ends up the total package.
Clemons, a senior at Valley High School, has been one of the top wide receivers in the WPIAL the past two seasons with 61 receptions for 1,131 yards.
He has been timed at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash and was the 2006 PIAA Class AA long jump and 110-meter hurdles championship.
"I spent my whole offseason working on my strength and conditioning," Clemons said. "I was blessed with speed, so ... I had to work on my conditioning and endurance and get stronger in the offseason. I was really focusing on the weights so I could take more hits."
Vikings coach Troy Hill has been a fan of Clemons since he was a freshman, when he caught 19 passes. The raw talent in place, Hill appreciates the work Clemons put in and now believes he is ready to take on an even newer role, that of respected team leader.
Clemons, who caught 28 passes for 489 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in the regular season, says he is just following along with the rest of the Vikings' senior class. But Hill says there is one big difference between Clemons and the close to two dozen other seniors on the team.
"When Toney Clemons says something, everyone listens. That's a great thing to have. What I challenge Toney to do is be more of that. Be more vocal. Guys react to his voice, and his work ethic is incredible. Believe me, as a coach and former player, you look at certain guys that have that quality and command that much attention. If the guys see Toney Clemons doing it, it's O.K."
But Clemons is not the only elite wide receiver on Valley commanding respect. Senior Madison Harvey might not be as tall as Clemons, but he might be as talented and his statistics last season were better -- 33 receptions for 500 yards.
And while Harvey might not have the list of college suitors Clemons does -- Clemons has been ranked in the top 10 or 20 nationally among wide receivers by scouting services -- he has a bright future ahead of him, too. He has received interest from Mid-American Conference schools and those in Division I-AA.
"I believe he can play on any level," Hill said. "He's going to be one of those kids that is a diamond in the rough. Any coach that picks him up is going really like what they have, especially his catching ability and his running crisp routes."
Hill also praised Harvey's work ethic. While Clemons has the god-given talent that comes from a family of athletes, Harvey knows he has to work more for everything he can get.
"I'm only 5-10, so I've got to work hard. I have no choice," Harvey said. "I'm playing people taller and faster. I may not be the fastest guy on the field, but I can say I work harder than anyone else."
Clemons and Harvey said that has been the mantra for the Valley team this summer. Motivated by a two-point loss in the quarterfinals to undefeated Greensburg Central Catholic -- an eventual WPIAL Class AA finalist -- the Vikings believe they are close to becoming a championship team.
"This is the best camp we have had in my time here," Harvey said. "Everyone's hungry for that WPIAL title. We want that WPIAL title. We were so close last year, so now in the playoffs we want to go further."
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