Penn State football’s had great success recruiting in the WPIAL recently.
PSU’s Class of 2024 had three signees from the WPIAL, including Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin.
The other two western PA signees— Anthony Speca and Peter Gonzalez— played at Pittsburgh’s famous Central Catholic high school.
Their former teammate, Xxavier Thomas, is committed to Penn State’s Class of 2025.
Thomas is a three-star cornerback who committed to PSU the day after Speca and Gonzalez signed their letters of intent. Like Gonzalez, who’s father, Peter, started at QB for Pitt in the late 1990s, Thomas comes from a football family. His brother, Rodney, played DB at Yale from 2017-21, then went to the Colts in the 7th round of the 2022 Draft. Rodney Thomas has started 25 games for Indy over his first two seasons— including 15 of 17 last year— and so far has 86 tackles, 10 PBU and 6 INT.
The younger Thomas still has most of his final high school season to play but on Saturday’s he plants to attend every Penn State home game.
And of course, he’s still in consistent communication with James Franklin and the coaching staff.
“They’re always checking in on me,” Thomas told Nittany Sports Now’s Nathan Breisinger after Central’s win over Woodland Hills last Friday, “whether it’s coach Terry (Smith) or coach Franklin or any kind of recruiting coordinator. They’re keeping in touch with me, asking how I’m doing, how my family’s doing, so they’re always real supportive win or loss.”
Many of Penn State’s commits enroll early, and Thomas would love to do so, as well.
Unfortunately, it’s not an option for him.
“I wish I could,” he said, “but the way my high school works, I have to take four years to graduate. The earliest I could be get up there is May 17 of next year.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.So what does Thomas like about Penn State?
“Just the developing they’re building up there,” he said. “The coaches do everything they can to get their players in the right spot to make plays. They’re all in about their success. I’m really fond about how they build character, and they build bonds with those players that can last a lifetime.
Pittsburgh native Terry Smith— who became a star in the WPIAL both as a player and coach at Gateway— is a big draw for any WPIAL player who picks Penn State.
“He’s been the DB coach up there for a long time now,” Thomas said, “and he’s been known to put a lot of DBs in the league and has some of the best defensive back rooms in the nation. Just being able to go up there and be a part of that soon and make plays for him is a real good feeling.”
Thomas is making sure to keep in touch with Speca and Gonzalez as they go through their freshman seasons.
“Every day is always a challenge for them,” he said, “but no matter what you just got to stick to the plan. The coaches keep them healthy, keep them right on their eating plan, their weight room plan.
Thomas doesn’t have much time left in high school, and although his former teammates are telling him to make the most of the time he has left, he knows bigger things are ahead.
“They’re just telling me enjoy my process while I’m in high school,” he said, “but when I get up to State College, things are going to be changing for the better.”
