Bishop McDevitt senior Noah Spence has been named the 2011-12 Gatorade Pennsylvania Football Player of the Year.
The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, made the announcement today.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior defensive tackle has led the Crusaders to an 11-2 record a berth in the Class AAA state quarterfinals against Lampeter-Strasburg. He has amassed 84 tackles -- 23 for losses -- and 10 sacks; along with three blocked punts for a team that has allowed just 11.9 points per game.
Spence is currently ranked the fourth-best overall prospect in the ESPNU Top 150 and it's second-best defensive end prospect. He was also selected to play in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game.
One of the most sought-after prospects in the nation, Spence has yet to pick a college. However, Spence tweeted on Tuesday that after speaking with new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes are "definitly (sic) at the top of the list for now."
The Gatorade award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. "We are very excited and humbled for this award for Noah - a truly deserving award," said McDevitt athletic director Tommy Mealy in an email.
Spence has maintained a 3.25 GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating his time as a youth mentor and athletic instructor, he has volunteered with the Special Olympics and as part of multiple community-service initiatives on behalf of his church’s Care Leadership Youth Group.
“The combination of his physical strength and speed on the field would rank as the best I’ve seen at the high school level,” said Robert Klock, head coach of rival Lower Dauphin High, in a statement. “He is also very smart in how he positions himself. He seems to always be in a great position to maintain leverage. Spence is a wonderful young man as well as an outstanding football player.”
Spence joins recent Gatorade Pennsylvania Football Players of the Year Brendan Nosovitch (2010-11, Allentown Central Catholic High School) Kyle Smith (2009-10, Lancaster Catholic), Zach Barket (2008-09, Schuylkill Haven Area High School) and Brendan Beal (2007-08, Liberty) among the state’s list of former award winners.
He is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December.
Spence joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).
Some information used in this story was provided by The Gatorade Company.
