A Coast to Coast Philly Impact
It’s Almost Impossible to Find A Sport In America Without A Philly Connection — the Newly Designed 2025 College Football Playoffs Are No Exception.
This New Year’s Day, the new College Football Playoff Experiment continues. If you plan on tuning into the action, you’ll no doubt once again notice a Philadelphia connection (or several of them, depending on how many games you plan to watch).
When #4 Penn State’s next game against #9 Boise State on New Year’s Eve, it is just one example of Philly’s impact on the College Football Playoff.
Sure, the Nittany Lions have plenty of Philly football depth, highlighted by PSU Edge Rusher Abdul Carter from LaSalle College High School. The Nittany Lions also have Junior Offensive Tackle Drew Shelton from Downingtown West, Tyseer Denmark and Kenny Woseley, Jr., Keon Wylie from Imhotep, Mylachi Williams from Bonner-Prendergast, Winston Yates from Paul VI, Ian Harvie from Spring-Ford, Liam Horan from Malvern Prep, Sam Siafa from Downingtown West, Bobby Mears from Malvern Prep, and Jake Spencer from The Haverford School and Ian Harvie from Spring-Ford.
The University of Oregon, Ohio State, the University of Indiana, and Clemson all entered the 2024–2025 CFP Playoffs, complete with top Philadelphia talent on their rosters.
Philadelphia isn’t just showing gridiron excellence each week at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, but around its high school stadiums and fields by the Friday moonlight and the sunlight of mid-day Saturdays.
Nationally known programs, such as Imhotep Charter Institute, St. Joe’s Prep, LaSalle College High School, and Roman Catholic, send Philly talent nationwide after high school.
PHOTO: MICHAEL CLUBB/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images
When #5 Notre Dame meets #2 Georgia on New Year’s Day — there will be Philly regional influence once again. Notre Dame’s formidable defense — has helped them to propel to a 12–1 record — complete with linebacker Jerry Rullo from Penn Charter, RJ Oben from St. Peter’s Prep, cornerback Max Hurleman from Wyomissing, and Howard Cross III from St. Joseph Regional High School. On the offensive side of the ball, backup quarterback Steve Angeli from Bergen Catholic High School and offensive Lineman Peter Jones from Malvern Prep, among others.
Notre Dame’s season has included a 49–14 throttling of ranked Army at Yankee Stadium behind Jeremiyah Love’s 99-yard touchdown run. Earlier in the year — Irvington, New Jersey’s Adon Shuler returned an interception thirty-six yards for the Irish to seal a win over Georgia Tech. In the third game of the season — with Notre Dame securely up 52–7 against Purdue — Steve Angeli from Westfield, NJ, found Kevin Bauman from Red Bank, New Jersey, for the touchdown.
It’s just another Philly connection.
PHOTO: MICHAEL CLUBB/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:College More PHL News