It’s no easy task being an underclassman on a high school football field, but Nicolas Roncone made it look easy.
As a sophomore last fall, the Smithsburg running back played like a grizzled veteran and made some big plays for the Leopards. So many, in fact, that he was named as Washington County’s Top Offensive Underclassman.
Just like the Leopards will be looking to Roncone for leadership, the Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils will be doing the same with their gifted tight end, Wyatt Hull.
Roncone and Hull are among our top players — we’ve counted 16 in all — to watch on offense this fall.
This list is part of our “Sneak Peek” summer series, designed to showcase some of the area’s most talented high school athletes. In the weeks to come we will continue to share “peeks” at the fall season, before we eventually transition to full team previews.
Below is a look at our Top 16 football players to watch on offense in 2026:
Nicolas Roncone, Junior, Smithsburg
The man selected as the Washington County Athletic Association’s Top Offensive Underclassman in 2025 is projected to return for his 11th-grade season.
Roncone, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back, logged 66 carries for 445 yards and six TDs last fall. He has a smooth running style and won’t be brought down by arm tackles.
Roncone possesses a strong second burst that makes him a fine straight-ahead runner, but he is perhaps more dangerous in open space, which the Leopards like to exploit by having him catch passes from out of the backfield.
Roncone, who was named to the WCAA’s Second Team, also stands out on the lacrosse field for Smithsburg.
Wyatt Hull, Senior, Greencastle-Antrim
Look for Hull to be the go-to guy in Greencastle’s passing game this fall.
A 6-foot-4, 190-pound tight end, Hull possesses many physical gifts. His height and vertical leap, coupled with soft hands, allows him to rise up and make hard catches in traffic. This makes him a terrifying prospect in the red zone.
Atypical of a tight end, Hull wears the No. 33 is more than happy to rumble through linebackers like a hard-nosed fullback. He has good field awareness and make sideline and first-down catches alike.
After recording 18 catches for 336 yards and four TDs last fall, Hull was named to the Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division All-Star squad as a Second Team selection.
Dakota Sowers, Senior, Smithsburg
Opponents would be wise to think twice before kicking the ball to Sowers, who torched the competition in the return game last fall.
Explosive speed coupled with the ability to make ankle-breaking cuts are what make the 5-foot-10, 145-pound Sowers dangerous. Once he finds the soft spot in the kicking team, it’s off to the races. Last year he had a 82-yard kickoff return for a score against Williamsport and brought back another kickoff 85 yards for a TD against Poolesville.
The speedy Sowers racked up multiple honors from the Washington County Athletic Association. He was selected as the WCAA’s Top Kick Returner and was also named to the First Team.
Sowers also contributes as a wide receiver, a position that showcases his good hands and his knack for creating distance between himself and the defender.
Cam Green, Junior, Chambersburg
When Chambersburg lost its starting quarterback last season, Green was thrown into the fire as a sophomore.
Those reps should make a difference for the 6-foot-4, 190-pound field general, who threw for nine scores and is the area’s top returning passer with 1,266 yards.
Green stands tall and has a nice and easy delivery, and excels when he can comfortably make three-step drops and deliver dimes. When he is under duress, Green can get out of trouble with his legs, as evidenced by his time of 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Michael Stewart, Senior, North Hagerstown
Believe it or not, running back is the secondary position for Stewart, the area’s top returning rusher.
Last fall the 6-foot, 175-pound Stewart made an impact in an offense that featured four running backs, totaling 77 carries for 613 yards and five TDs. With the graduation of the other three backs — Ty’Qwell Fauntleroy, Tai Gilliam, and James Jackson — look for Stewart to be get the lion’s share of carries this fall.
Stewart possesses strong vision at the line of scrimmage and his superb acceleration allows him to make the kind of cuts that can make multiple defenders miss. He will likely get opportunities in the return game, where last year he averaged 18.8 yards returning kicks and 17.6 yards returning punts.
The Washington County Athletic Association took notice of Stewart last year when the organization named him to its Second Team Offense.
Malachi Tasker, Junior, Chambersburg
After showing flashes as a sophomore and rushing for 305 yards, look for Tasker to be a feature back for the Trojans this fall.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Tasker is an aggressive ballcarrier and is always moving forward with a steady burst that makes him hard to bring down. He can make catches out of the backfield and has the acceleration to take the ball into the secondary and beyond.
If Tasker and starting QB Cam Green can establish good rapport in the backfield, Chambersburg could very well take a step forward in the rugged Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division this season.
Ernest Stewart, Junior, South Hagerstown
Stewart beat up on his competition as a sophomore offensive lineman last fall.
The 6-foot-1, 290-pound Stewart plays both center and guard and possesses the strength to dominate most one-on-one matchups. As a center, Stewart shows an ability to make clean shotgun snaps with a quick transition to the blocking game.
He was named to the Washington County Athletic Association’s Second Team last fall.
Nick Carbaugh, Sophomore, Waynesboro
Not only was Carbaugh a consistent kicker on extra points in 2025, he also showcased an uncommon leg strength for a freshman and was a threat to kick long field goals.
Carbaugh put his potential on display when he nailed a 43-yard field goal against Mechanicsburg.
If Carbaugh does more of the same this fall, we see no reason why he can’t repeat as a Mid-Penn Keystone Division First Team selection.
Colt Butts, Senior, North Hagerstown
After being named to the Washington County Athletic Association’s Third Team Offense last season, Butts is projected to return as North Hagerstown’s starting quarterback once again in 2026.
The 6-foot, 145-pound Butts is the area’s second-leading returner in passing yards following a junior campaign that saw him complete 59 of 113 passes for 893 yards and six TDs. With a fluid throwing motion and the ability to make accurate passes, Butts finds the open man and allows his athletes — the Hubs have plenty — to make plays.
He had one of his best games against Boonsboro, when he completed 10 of 13 passes for 220 yards and two TDs.
Eligh Zimmerman, Senior, North Hagerstown
The first man to touch the ball for North Hagerstown this season will be Zimmerman, a 5-foot-9, 250-pound center.
That’s good news for the Hubs.
A Third Team selection to the Washington County Athletic Association All-Star squad last fall, Zimmerman has a good transition from snapping the ball to engaging the defenders. He frequently wins the battle for lower center of gravity, and uses that advantage to drive his opponents. This style of blocking makes Zimmerman especially lethal on QB sneak plays.
Bryce Hillegas, Junior, North Hagerstown
Hillegas got his first taste of varsity football as an underclassman last season, and the offensive lineman made an impact.
A 6-foot-3, 317-pound tackle, Hillegas steamrolled his way to Washington County Athletic Association Third Team honors.
With Hillegas leading the way, North Hagerstown led the LocalNews1.org coverage in scoring offense with 22.9 points per game.
Larry Taylor, Junior, Waynesboro
Waynesboro will be counting on Taylor to excel in multiple roles on offense this fall.
Listed as a running back, Taylor has been seeing action since his freshman season. He totaled 198 rushing yards (4.7 average) and rushed for three TDs, and was also dynamic in the air attack, where he piled up 337 receiving yards and two TDs.
Taylor is the area’s top returner in receiving yards.
Lucas Semler, Senior, South Hagerstown
It won’t be fun for opponents to gameplan for Semler, a 5-foot-9 athlete who can do damage from all over the field.
When Semler lines up at QB, he’s shown that he can make all the standard throws required at the high school level, but it’s his legs that make him especially dangerous. Not only can Semler scramble to keep plays alive, he can also dial his own number and make plays in the running game.
Just in case that’s not enough for the competition to worry about, Semler also shines at wide receiver, where he can create even more chaos in open space. Superb focus enables Semler to make catches in traffic.
Last fall he was named to the Washington County Athletic Association’s Honorable Mention squad as an All-Purpose player.
Luke Scott, Senior, Smithsburg
No returning player from the area recorded more TDs than Scott did last fall.
A Third Team selection on the Washington County Athletic Association as a QB, Scott showed plenty of poise in the pocket last season and totaled 11 TDs.
He posseses a strong arm and delivers a nice long ball, which keeps defenses honest and opens up opportunities in the short game for quick and accurate passes. Scott is calm under pressure and has demonstrated the ability to deliver strikes with defenders in his face.
Scott commits to play fakes, hustles on every play, and can catch opponents off guard on designed run plays.
Zach Linn, Senior, Smithsburg
Smithsburg will be happy to bring the services of Linn, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound running back.
Linn, who doubles as a standout lacrosse player for the Leopards, is a patient back who excels at reading and following his blockers before accelerating through the holes.
After posting 222 rushing yards last season, Linn was named to the Washington County Athletic Association’s Third Team.
Marquis Weakfall, Senior, Smithsburg
Weakfall’s football future is most likely on the defensive side of the ball, but he could very likely be due for a breakout season at wide receiver this fall.
He made 11 catches for 120 yards in 2025 and showed flashes of playmaking. Also an unselfish blocker, Weakfall was honored with a selection to the Washington County Athletic Association’s Third Team Offense.
