Home WPIAL Who Will Win the 2021 WPIAL Passing Title?

Who Will Win the 2021 WPIAL Passing Title?

by Ian

The race for the WPIAL passing title has seen some historic seasons in recent years. In 2018, Sto-Rox junior Eric Wilson became the first player in WPIAL history to throw for over 3000 yards in the regular season. Wilson threw for 3003 yards and 38 TDs and was expected to defend his title in 2019 but was edged by South Fayette’s Naman Alemada by just 6 yards. Last year, with a shortened regular season, Armstrong sophomore Cadin Olsen exploded for 2000 yards and 23 TDs in just 7 games. It may be fair to dub 2021 “The Year of the Quarterback” as 5 of the Top 10 passers from last season are back. This is a group loaded with talent to put up some serious numbers.

This year, our WPIAL coverage is sponsored by the Sports Stream Premium Network and PA Mortgage Protection and Life Insurance. The Sports Stream Premium Network enables schools to turn their livestreamed events into pay-per-view events where schools receive 100% of the revenue generated.

Here is a look at the top contenders for the WPIAL passing crown. Players are listed in alphabetical order, not in predicted order of finish. Of note, their passing stats from last year are full season statistics, which include both regular season and playoff outings. Typically the “Passing Champion” is the player with the most regular season yards. Don’t forget to check out our WPIAL Blitz Season Preview Shows and bookmark our WPIAL Standings Page for once the season starts!

Top Contenders

Brad Birch (Gateway)

Highlights: Hudl
2020 Stats: 1676 yards, 28 TDs
Career Stats: 1676 yards, 28 TDs

Birch exploded onto the scene as a true freshman last year for Jeannette. Brad Birch helped lead Jeannette to a WPIAL title and the Jayhawks made a run to the State Championship Game. In the offseason, he and his older brother Brett (who is a wide receiver) transferred to Gateway. The move from 1A to 5A will be a big step up for Birch, but he will also be surrounded by a loaded group of skill position players including Cincinnati-commit Patrick Body who plays WR and defensive back. Birch already has an offer from Oregon as a rising sophomore and is only going to pick up more as his career progresses.

Joey Daniels (Mt. Lebanon)

Highlights: Hudl
2020 Stats: 1012 yards, 14 TDs
Career Stats: 2319 yards, 30 TDs

Daniels is a three-year starter for Mt. Lebanon who led 6A in passing last season. The Blue Devils have a loaded group of offensive skill position players, including RB Alex Tecza and WR Eli Heidenreich, who are both D1 talents. Daniels should get plenty of opportunities in the passing game and has a head coach in Bob Palko who has had a number of talented passers over the years. On top of the loaded group around him, Daniels is an efficient passer who completed 70% of his attempts last season.

Gavin Miller (West Allegheny)

Highlights: Hudl
2020 Stats: 1527 yards, 12 TDs
Career Stats: 2760 yards, 23 TDs

Miller is an Auburn baseball recruit who has shown off his arm talent on the football field. Entering his third year as a starter, he more than doubled his career production last season by throwing for over 1500 yards and 12 TDs. At a school with a tradition of producing high-caliber quarterbacks, Miller also returns his top two receivers  in Jashon Spencer (652 yards, 4 TDs) and Nodin Tracy (337 yards, 4 TDs). West A will have to battle through a tough schedule in the 5A Allegheny Six Conference to make the playoffs, but that should give Miller plenty of opportunities to air it out.

Cadin Olsen (Armstrong)

Highlights: Hudl
2020 Stats: 2035 yards, 23 TDs
Career Stats: 2035 yards, 23 TDscalc

Olsen is a rising junior who won the WPIAL regular season passing title last season and was the only player to break the 2000-yard mark in the regular season. Armstrong is looking to get back to the playoffs in the 4A Greater Allegheny Conference. While Olsen has the arm talent to keep the Riverhawks competitive this season, the biggest question mark will be replacing their receiving corps. The top four receivers from last year’s team all graduated, so Olsen will have to work with an entirely new group of skill position players.

Chandler Thimons (Highlands)

Highlights: Hudl
2020 Stats: 1315 yards, 16 TDs
Career Stats: 2678 yards, 27 TDs

Thimons enters his third year as starting quarterback for the Golden Rams. After throwing for over 1300 yards as a freshman in 2019, he followed it up with another 1300-yard season last year in fewer games. Highlands returns their leading rusher and second-leading receiver, which will give Thimons plenty of talent around him. The Rams are looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. As a rising junior with talent returning around him, look for Thimons to take a big step forward this season.

Honorable Mentions

Nehemiah Azeem (OLSH) – Azeem is another young talent who will look to take the next step this season. He threw for 1100 yards last year as a sophomore. OLSH is expected to contend for the Big Seven Conference title this season, and Azeem should have some opportunities to air it out. OLSH has used a spread passing game in the past and Azeem has the talent to succeed in the Chargers offensive attack.

Nate Harper (Avonworth) – Avonworth returns a loaded group of offensive skill position players in 2021. Leading the way is quarterback Nate Harper who looks to lead the Lopes back to the playoffs. Harper gets back his top two rushers and top two receivers from last year’s squad. Avonworth has a history of successful quarterbacks and Harper could be the next in a long line of guys to put up big numbers for the Lopes.

Josh Jenkins or Austin Jones (Sto-Rox) – Both Josh Jenkins and Austin Jones saw time at quarterback for Sto-Rox last season. Jenkins threw for 1400 yards and 16 TDs before selflessly moving to wide receiver after injuries shortened the depth chart. Jones stepped in and threw for nearly 800 yards and 5 TDs. Jenkins is entering his junior year while Jones will be a senior. Both are capable of leading the WPIAL in passing this season given Sto-Rox’s absolutely LOADED group of skill position players. The Vikings could very well lead the WPIAL in scoring as they look to win their first WPIAL title since 1987 after losing in the title game each of the last two seasons.

Joey Prentice (North Catholic) – Prentice is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the WPIAL this season. Last year he threw for over 1200 yards and 16 TDs and ran for over 500 yards and 12 TDs. Unfortunately, an ankle injury hampered him in the playoffs and the Trojans fell in the semifinals. With leading rusher Kyle Tipinski also returning, North Catholic will have a backfield tandem that will be difficult to stop. Prentice certainly has the talent to challenge for the WPIAL passing crown, but given his rushing ability coupled with Tipinski, the Trojans may not air it out as often this season. That said, Prentice could challenge for inclusion in the elite 1000/1000 club.

Max Rocco (Serra Catholic) – Much like Sto-Rox, Serra Catholic returns a loaded group of skill position players as the Eagles look to contend for the 2A title. Serra Catholic was the highest-scoring team in the regular season last year, and return a quarterback in Rocco who threw for 900 yards and 11 TDs last season. On the outside, leading receivers Terrell Booth, Jayvon Campbell-Holt and Pharoh Fisher all return. Rocco will have the talent around him that is capable of taking it to the house any time they touch the ball and Serra is certain to put up a ton of points once again this season.

Header image source: Cadin Olsen’s Hudl page.

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