Two years ago, only 21 football players from the WPIAL signed with Division I-A colleges. At the time, that was possibly the lowest number of Division I-A signees from the WPIAL ever.

But this year's number of Division I-A players is even lower.

Today was national letter-of-intent day and only 18 players from the WPIAL were known to have signed with Division I-A colleges. Wow. That has to be the loweset total ever - or at least in the past 50 years.

Here are the WPIAL players who are known to have signed with Division I-A colleges.

PITT -- Tyler Boyd, Clairton (WR, 6-2, 175); Zach Challingsworth, South Fayette (WR, 6-2, 190); Titus Howard, Clairton (DB, 6-2, 180); Dorian Johnson, Belle Vernon (OL, 6-6, 280); Scott Orndoff, Seton-LaSalle, (TE, 6-5, 245); Jaymar Parrish, Gateway (FB, 6-2, 230); Terrish Webb, Clairton (DB, 5-11, 170).

WEST VIRGINIA -- Hodari Christian, McKeesport (LB, 6-0, 215); Chavas Rawlins, Monessen (QB, 6-3, 188).

AKRON -- Zach Guiser, Greensburg Central Catholic (DB, 6-0, 190); Michael Kish, Brentwood (TE); Thomas Woodson, Gateway (QB, 6-2, 225).

ALABAMA -- Robert Foster, Central Valley (WR, 6-2, 185).

MICHIGAN -- Pat Kugler, North Allegheny (OL, 6-4, 280).

OHIO -- Dorian Brown, Baldwin (RB, 5-10, 172).

TEMPLE -- Matt Barone, Montour (OL, 6-3, 275)); Tyler Haddock, Montour (DL, 5-11, 300).

UTEP -- Mack Leftwich, North Allegheny (QB, 5-11, 190).

Comments on Pitt-PSU

Tom Lemming is a well-known, longtime recruiting analyst. He puts Pitt's class No. 26 in the country. Here is what Lemming said about Pitt: "The quarterback out of Ohio (Tra'von Chapman) is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. Tyler Boyd is a go-to receiver they have been looking for. Scott Orndoff is one of the top tight ends. They have some other big-time players, too, like Dorian Johnson. Athletically, I think they are right where they want to be. As far as impact players, they got some of those with Boyd, Chapman and Johnson."

Adam Friedman is a Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. Here are some of his thoughts on Pitt: "The main concern for them was keeping Tyler Boyd because they lost out on Robert Foster. Getting Boyd was really big for them. In the ACC, I'd put Pitt sixth right behind Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida State.

"I think this class is a step forward for them. It might not have great overall talent, but it has some star power. When you combine that with the overall talent of last year's class, it should help them take a step forward. They definitely needed help on the offensive line and they got that with Dorian Johnson. Jaryd Jones-Smith has a lot of potential. Tra'von Chapman is going to be their future quarterback. He needs to improve his accuracy and decision making a little, but I like where they're headed with him.

Here is Lemming on Penn State's class: "Everyone was gloom and doom thinking they were finished. I wasn't. I thought it might take them three to four years to get back, but they may be back earlier. I think they'll be able to tell the kids in the class of 2015 that, if you redshirt, you can play in a bowl game for four years.

"The way they are playing and recruiting, I think they are going to be able to rebound much quicker than most people thought they would."

Other recruiting notes

California University of Pa. signed eight players from the WPIAL and one from the City League. A few of the best are Woodland Hills defensive end Jawan Turner, Woodland Hills linebacker Alex Beasley and Seneca Valley tight end R.J. McCauley. Turner was a Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection and Beasley is a Big 33 all-star game selection.

McKeesport quarterback Ed Stockett, who committed to Akron last summer only to eventually have his scholarship pulled, signed with IUP.

Seneca Valley's Forrest Barnes, a Fabulous 22 running back, signed with The Citadel.

Washington linebacker Jaylin Kelly, who was getting some interest from some Division I-A colleges, signed with I-AA Youngstown State

For Tyler Boyd, it was Pitt before - and it's Pitt now.

Boyd, a Clairton High School football standout and the Post-Gazette Player of the Year, signed his letter of intent with Pitt a few minutes ago. It puts an end to a two-week recruiting saga that saw Boyd simply come 360 degrees.

Boyd made a verbal commitment to Pitt on national television in early January at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. But the past two weekends, he visited West Virginia and Tennessee, causing quite a stir among Pitt fans. Last night, Clairton coach Tom Nola said Boyd was "confused" and didn't know where he would sign. Boyd said on his Twitter account that it was between all three schools.

But Boyd and Clairton teammates Terrish Webb and Titus Howard all signed with Pitt this morning, with a number of media members on hand.

Clairton coach Tom Nola said Tyler Boyd will definitely sign with a college tomorrow. But apparently not even Boyd knows who college he will choose.

It's just another chapter in Boyd's recruiting soap opera.

Boyd is the star senior receiver-defensive back at Clairton. He made a verbal commitment to Pitt in early January on national television. And then a few hours later was talking about how he would probably visit a few other schools.

Over the past two weekends, Boyd, who is being recruited as a receiver, has visited West Virginia and Tennessee. On his Twitter account last night, Boyd "tweeted" that he has not decommitted from Pitt, but still hasn't decided among Pitt, West Virginia and Tennessee. Ultimately, the visits to West Virginia and Tennessee only muddied Boyd's recruiting waters. 

Nola spoke with Boyd earlier today.

"I only talked to him briefly, but he's just very confused right now," Nola said. "Everything is still pretty much up in the air."

Tomorrow is the first day high school seniors can sign a binding letter of intent with colleges. Clairton is having a signing ceremony at its school library at 10 a.m. No matter what, at least two Clairton players will sign with Pitt - Terrish Webb and Titus Howard.

I'm just sayin'

Clairton football star Tyler Boyd said on his Twitter account tonight that "never said I was down to 2 schools still the same 3 #pitt #UT #WV"

Then a little while later he tweeted "Never said I decommitted to Pitt."

Huh???? I'm done trying to figure out this one.

****This is the final week of section play in WPIAL basketball and it is full of big games in all classifications.

The WPIAL usually pits rivals against each other on the final night of section play, which is Friday. This year, a number of those rivalry games could decide section titles.

Tomorrow night, it's Kiski Area at Hempfield, Gateway at Central Catholic and Blackhawk at Central Valley. All of those teams are either tied for first, or in first and second place. Don't forget about North Allegheny at New Castle also tomorrow.

On Friday, some big rivalry games could decide section titles - Laurel Highlands at Uniontown, Jeannette at Greensburg Central Catholic, Central Catholic at Fox Chapel, Beaver at Blackhawk and Imani Christian at Wilkinsburg.

***** The WPIAL basketball committee will meet Monday and Tuesday and pairings will be announced next Tuesday night. The playoffs will start Feb. 15 and 16.

Barring total collapses by a few teams, I think the top seeds in two of the classes have been decided. It will be New Castle in Class AAAA, unless the Red Hurricanes lose their final two games. That is unlikely, and I still don't think that would drop the team out of the No. 1 seed.

I think Lincoln Park has the Class A No. 1 seed. Is Beaver Falls the No. 1 seed in Class AA? Greensburg Central Catholic has only one loss while Beaver Falls has three. But Beaver Falls' losses are to New Castle, Montour and Lincoln Park while GCC's only loss is to Gateway. What if GCC ends the regular season with only one loss? Who gets the No. 1 seed? I say Beaver Falls.

The No. 1 seed in Class AAA, I think, is still up in the air. Mars isn't going to lose one of its final three games. The Planets are the P-G's No. 1-ranked team, but will they be the No. 1 seed? Depending on how things play out, you could make a point for Montour, Chartiers Valley or possibly Beaver being the No. 1 team.

***** Things can change during the playoffs, but who do you think is the WPIAL-City League Player of the Year? I say it's either New Castle's Shawn Anderson or Montour's Devin Wilson. I don't think enough people realize how good Anderson is.

***** What about coach of the year? Again, things can change. But right now, I think it's a pretty easy pick. Ralph Blundo has been absolutely terrific with what he has done with New Castle's team - and the entire program.

***** If you want to know what rankings would look like for the top teams in the state, regardless of class, the Middle Atlantic Sports News and LLhoops.com have this week's top 25 at LLHoops.com.

***** Here are the Harrisburg Patriot-News state rankings for boys basketball in all classifications: