With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 2

Are you ready for some football?

The 2024 Lancaster-Lebanon League gridiron season is right around the corner, with Media Day on tap for Aug. 2, heat acclimatization practices set for Aug. 5, scrimmages on tap for Aug. 17, and the Week 1 games scheduled for Aug. 23-24.

To get you prepped and ready for all the action, LNP|LancasterOnline and Mike Drago Sports — back in the saddle for its third season of wall-to-wall pigskin coverage — have compiled a list of the top returning players from around the L-L League.

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 1

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 3

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 4

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 5

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

Here is the Section 2 list, with capsules written by Jeff Reinhart and Mike Drago. Players are listed alphabetically …

12 FOR THE SHOW

Brayden Brown, RB-LB, Ephrata — Talk about a breakout season. We knew Brown was coming up through the Mountaineers’ pipeline, and he hit the ground sprinting last year. Check his numbers: 1,344 rushing yards with 14 TD jaunts; 13 catches out of the backfield; 87 tackles, including 15 stops for losses, 1.5 sacks and eight QB hurries; and this mind-scrambler: Brown intercepted three passes, and he returned all three picks for touchdowns — 65 yards vs. Warwick, 49 yards vs. Lebanon, and 55 yards vs. Hershey in the D3-5A playoffs. Brown was a second-team section all-star at RB and he picked up an honorable mention all-star nod at LB in Section 3, after Ephrata shared that crown, won 12 games, and went to the D3 title game for the first time in program history. Multi-purpose playmaker. Hit-machine on D. Breakaway threat and a powerful, keeps-his-legs-churning runner on O. Don’t miss this kid. He’s a player.

Reese Hohl, ATH, Governor Mifflin — The first time Hohl settled under a kickoff last season, he took it back 96 yards to the house for a TD in the Mustangs’ season-opener against Spring-Ford. After that, not many teams kicked the ball his way. Soon after, opposing QBs realized it wasn’t wise to throw to his side of the field. The lock-down cover-man picked off a Berks-leading six passes, and he knocked five other passes down. That netted him all-league first-team honors on D. Hohl earned first-team honors on offense — as an athlete — because of his versatility out of the backfield, as a runner and a pass-catcher. He was a second-team pick as a kick-returner. The 6-1, 170-pounder is Governor Mifflin’s best all-around athlete, and he’s the only returning player in Section 2 to earn all-league status in all three phases of the game. Hohl also wrestled at 160 pounds this past winter, and he was an outfielder on the Mustangs’ PIAA-5A state championship baseball team earlier this spring. Hohl is getting college looks at the PSAC level, and beyond.

Jayden Johnson, ATH, Conestoga Valley — Buckskins’ sleek athlete had a hello-world season last fall as CV’s jack-of-all-trades kid. His staggering numbers: 1,038 rushing yards, averaging 7.5 yards a carry with 16 TD runs; 23 catches for 470 yards (a nifty 20.4 yards per grab) with nine TD snags; 1,655 all-purpose yards; plus a 92-yard kick-return TD vs. Governor Mifflin, and an 83-yard kick-return TD vs. Dover in CV’s D3-5A playoff victory. He was everywhere. Johnson was named section co-Offensive Back of the Year, he earned first-team section all-star RB honors, and he was on our Big 37 team. Then he went out and broke a bunch of track records this past spring. Catch him if you can.

Nick Keller, WR-DB, Ephrata — Jayden Johnson’s sprint rival on the track had a bust-out season on the football field last fall for the Mounts, who shared Section 3 gold and went to the D3-5A finale. Keller hauled in 30 catches for 707 yards (a snazzy 23.6 yards per grab) with seven TD receptions, and he piled up 991 all-purpose yards. He also thrived in the return game: Keller averaged 40.3 yards per kick-return, and he had an 85-yard kick-return TD against Fleetwood, and he had a 75-yard kick-return TD vs. Solanco. Big-play threat, what? Keller picked up a first-team section all-star KR nod, and he was a second-team PA Football News all-state selection. Burner. Good hands and route-runner. You better tackle him in space. Or you’re toast.

Michael Miller, WR-LB, Muhlenberg — He flashed his potential right away for the Muhls, cracking the starting lineup at LB as a freshman, when he took an INT back for a TD in the season-opener two years ago — although the play was ultimately nullified by a penalty. The next week, Miller returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD, and last fall he had a pick-6 INT return against Daniel Boone. But there weren’t enough similar highlights after Miller was injured at mid-season, and played the rest of the way on a gimpy knee. Still, he was good enough to share the team lead with 36 receptions, and he earned second-team all-league honors as an athlete. He was also a second-team pick on D. After offseason surgery, Miller returned earlier this spring at 100% and he’s now expected to lead a rebuilding Muhls’ team on both sides of the ball. “We need Mike to make plays,” rookie Muhlenberg coach Rob Flowers said. “We need Mike to be a physical and verbal leader in all phases of the game.”

Seth Morgan, RB-LB, Conestoga Valley — Became the Buckskins’ ringleader and heat-seeking missile on D last fall, when CV took second place in Section 2 and won a D3-5A playoff game. Morgan registered 92 tackles, including five sticks for losses, with four forced fumbles. His INT in the waning seconds capped the Bucks’ clutch Week 9 win over then-defending section champ Exeter, and he pocketed section Linebacker of the Year honors, and he was a first-team section all-star ‘backer pick. Ball-hawker. Head on a swivel. Rah-rah guy and a team leader. He’ll knock your block off if you’re not paying attention.

Jackson Nolt, OT-DE, Ephrata — Mounts’ punisher was fabulous along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in 2023, helping Ephrata put together its best season ever. Plow-horse O-line performer helped the Mounts average 38 points and 367 yards a game. And Nolt shined on D from his end spot with 53 tackles, including nine hits for losses, 16 big QB hurries and a forced fumble. His accolades: Section 3 first-team all-star DE honors, and a second-team OT nod. Nolt will blow you up. Be aware of his whereabouts at all times. Or else.

Isaiah Sensenig, WR-DB, Conestoga Valley — Bucks’ spark plug can get you any number of ways, especially from his DB spot. Sensenig had 53 stops, including five tackles for losses with eight pass breakups and three picks last fall, when CV made a big splash in the section hunt and won a D3-5A playoff game. Two more fun factoids: Sensenig had an 88-yard kick-return TD in the Bucks’ big win over Exeter, and he had a 40-yard pick-6 INT return against Muhlenberg, picking up a first-team section all-star DB nod for his multi-purpose prowess. CV has a bunch of jack-of-all-trades guys. Sensenig very much included.

Tal Stoltzfus, OG-DT, Conestoga Valley — One of the Bucks’ hammers in the middle, Stoltzfus returns to anchor both lines for CV, a playoff team in 2023. Last fall, Stoltzfus was a key-cog on the O-line, helping the Bucks crank out 2,300-plus rushing yards, plus 315 yards and 30 points a game. On D, Stoltzfus plugged plenty of holes, stacking up 31 tackles, with four hits for losses and a couple of sacks for CV. He was a first-team section all-star pick at OG, and an honorable mention selection for his DT efforts. If you want to go places, you better have a line-of-scrimmage stalwart who enjoys the dirty work with little fanfare. Stoltzfus fits that bill perfectly for the Bucks.

Genuine Stutzman, TE-LB, Exeter — Was a true Swiss Army Knife for the Eagles on offense as a sophomore, lining up as a traditional TE, a split end, at H-back or — in goal-line situations — at FB. Stutzman was effective in each role, running for four touchdowns on six carries, and taking four of his 12 catches to end end zone while earning an 85% blocking grade, often leading the way at the point of attack. Those blocks helped pave the way for teammate Jayden Zandier’s path to All-State honors. Stutzman’s physical play, with a 6-3, 225-pound frame, plus his foot-speed has drawn interest from the college ranks; he’s getting looks from Division I programs like Delaware and Monmouth. Stutzman saw limited time on D last season, but he should step into a starting role at LB, and be a key cog in helping the Eagles’ return to the top in Section 2.

Logan Wegman, OT-DT, Exeter — He came on quickly for the Eagles last season as a junior, emerging as their best O-lineman in his first year as a starter, when he posted a team-best 96% blocking grade, and earned all-league first-team honors at both OT and D-end. That led to a productive and busy offseason, that saw Wegman tack on 30 pounds to his chiseled 6-5 frame and collect two dozen Division I offers. He took an official visit to UConn, and he had offers from Army, William & Mary and most of the Ivy League schools before committing to Navy in late July. “Logan is about as sure as a thing as you can get in a young lineman,” Exeter coach Matt Bauer said. Wegman, who is now up to 275 pounds, recorded 50 pancake blocks last fall, and he anchored an O-line that didn’t give up a sack during the regular season. On defense, he recorded 57 tackles with 3.5 sacks, and he showed off his athleticism, work ethic and strength in the spring, when he broke Exeter’s shot put record that had stood for more than 50 years. Later, Wegman earned a PIAA silver medal with a PR 58-9.75 on his final throw at the state championships.

Jayden Zandier, ATH, Exeter — Enjoyed a breakout junior season that saw him rush for 1,358 yards, despite opening the season as a receiver, and not moving into the backfield full-time until Week 3. Zandier averaged 10.7 yards per carry, tops in Section 2 and third-best in the 37-team league. His 19 TD runs were second-most in Berks, and he averaged 23.1 yards on seven catches, with three TD grabs, while averaging 33 yards on 10 kickoff returns. Those gaudy numbers led to a spot on the Class 5A All-State team, as well as first-team all-league honors at RB in Section 2. The 6-2, 175-pounder picked up an offer from Stony Brook. In Zandier’s first start at RB vs. Governor Mifflin, he scored three TDs and rushed for 126 yards. He scored four times and rushed for 262 yards in a win over Hempfield in Week 8. Zandier ended the season with 222 yards and a TD against Hershey in the D3-5A playoffs. He also played a key role at DB, with an interception and four pass breakups, and he also blocked a field goal.