'08 PA LB Mike Yancich (Penn State Verbal)

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Washington (PA) Trinity Senior

Ht: 6-foot-1
Wt: 216 lbs
Forty: 4.47 secs
Bench max: 410 pounds
Squat max: 540 pounds
Vertical: 33 inches
GPA: 3.3

Originally Posted by Rivals Bio

Set state weight lifting records as a sophomore. As a junior first team all-conference as a linebacker.

Originally Posted by Scout Bio

As a junior, Yancich recorded 117 tackles, 2 INT's, 2 Fumble Recoveries and 4 sacks. He was named first team All-Conference by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rated the #8 WLB in the country by Scout.
Rated the #9 OLB in the country by Rivals.
Rated the #6 player in Pennsylvania by Rivals.

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Scout $

7/6

Breakdown of Yancich, who comes in at #9 in the PA state rankings.

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Scout $

7/8

Photo gallery of Yancich in his recent 7 on 7 drills.

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Free Scout

7/8

Free gallery by Lichtenfels of Mike at the IUP camp.

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O-R Online

7/24/07
Trinity-TJ game goes national

By Mike Kovak, Staff writer
mkovak@observer-reporter.com

Ohio State recruit Andrew Sweat and Penn State recruit Michael Yancich provided Trinity High School football with a significant level of local and national attention in recent months.

Now, the rest of the Hillers get to show their stuff on a very large stage.

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Blue Chip Chat: Mike Yancich

The skinny: Along with teammate Andrew Sweat, Yancich makes up one of the premier linebacking tandems in the country. A physical presence, Yancich is quick and has shown an ability to work the field sideline to sideline.

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Trinity's Yancich rides energy wave - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By Tricia Lafferty
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 23, 2007

Trinity coach Ed Dalton calls senior linebacker Mike Yancich "Tarzan."

Trinity linebacker Andrew Sweat described the long-blond-haired Yancich as a California boy on the exterior with a hint of A.J. Hawk on his interior.

But on an early July morning, the 6-foot-1, 216-pound Yancich was just a teenager eager to start his senior year of high school football and even more anxious to continue his college football career at Penn State.

For Yancich, it's still difficult to fathom that he'll be playing in the Big Ten, in front of more than 100,000 fans on Saturdays. Up until February of this year, he didn't have a single scholarship offer, but then he garnered Division I interest and committed to the Nittany Lions in June, shortly after they offered.

"Maybe (it worked out) because we prayed about this since we were 3," Yancich said of his and Sweat's dreams of playing college football. "It's not going to hit us until we get (to college), like literally hit us, literally like smack us."

Yancich reminisced with Sweat, an Ohio State recruit, about how maybe this was the plan all along. After all, they used to flash the touchdown signal as they crossed home plate after hitting a home run in baseball. They played against each other in grade school, but were reunited in high school. The best friends will be opponents again in college when Penn State plays Ohio State, which is usually the Lions' most anticipated game of the season.

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O-R Online

8/28/2007
Canon-Mac-Trinity rivalry still hot

By Mike Kovak, Staff writer
mkovak@observer-reporter.com

When the WPIAL football playoffs begin, Friday's game between Canon-McMillan and Trinity will bear little meaning.

With the exception of potential postseason seeding, there's not much at stake when the Hillers travel to Big Macs Stadium for a non-conference game between two programs looking to impact their respective classifications.

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"I'd probably have to say Canon-Mac is our biggest game," senior Michael Yancich said. "I mean half of Washington and probably all of Canon-Mac will be at that game. It's going to be packed and it doesn't get much better than playing in front of all those people."

Yancich is one of three Trinity seniors with a Division I pedigree. He orally committed to play linebacker at Penn State this summer, just weeks after fellow linebacker Andrew Sweat selected Ohio State. Brandon Weaver, who broke his wrist last year, has an offer from Ohio University. And Trinity, like Canon-McMillan, boasts several talented and able-bodied underclassmen.

"Brandon being healthy is going to help us a lot," Sweat said. "He's kind of like me. Off the field, we're both pretty mellow but on the field we play with a mean streak. He's a great player. If he didn't have that setback, people would know about him like they know me and Mike."

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Class AAA: Five players to watch

MIKE YANCICH -- TRINITY LB

Mike Yancich is hoping.

With all his might, he wants to be one of those greats.

"Guys like Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor and Sean Lee, those are the guys whose lead I want to follow," said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Trinity senior linebacker who is a Penn State recruit looking to be the next great one at Linebacker U, falling in line with the aforementioned in-state products who have starred for the Nittany Lions.

But, before looking too far ahead, Yancich understands the task at hand this high school season. Along with Andrew Sweat -- an Ohio State linebacker recruit -- Yancich will be a major factor for coach Ed Dalton's Hillers, who come off a 6-4 season, but are looking for greater things this year.

"I have thought about everything and looked at the whole situation and I know what has to be on my mind as we head into this year," Yancich said. "There are a lot of guys who I talk to who committed to big schools and it is like their heads are already up at college and they forgot about this high school season.

"Well, that wouldn't be fair to my teammates at Trinity. You know it would be like I was abandoning them, so right now my focus is on winning games at Trinity."

-- By Colin Dunlap

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Observer Reporter

Hillers hold off Hampton, 21-14

...Yancich, who rushed for 155 yards on 20 carries, rumbled 43 yards to score with 6:33 remaining to give the Hillers the lead.

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Washington Sunday: Hillers trying to play up to their high expectations

It's hard to imagine what some of them might be. Trinity was averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game entering the Chartiers Valley contest and its defense was performing at a high level behind senior linebackers Mike Yancich and Andrew Sweat, who are recruits of Penn State and Ohio State, respectively.

The team has run the ball extremely well with Yancich at tailback and Sweat at fullback behind a senior-dominated offensive line. Center Frank Dobbin, guards Taylor Deep and Eric Stultz, tackles Ed Gray and Ian Killen and tight end J.D. Berry all are experienced players who have provided the foundation for the offense.

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WPIAL Class AAA Roundup: Montour stuffs Keystone Oaks in 33-0 non-conference win

Trinity 47, Elizabeth Forward 6

Mike Yancich rushed for 200 yards on 26 carries and scored on runs of 36, 36, 6 and 16 yards, as the Hillers (4-2, 2-1) rolled to an easy road victory against the Warriors (0-6, 0-4) in the Big Seven Conference. Trinity also scored on a 34-yard interception return by Brandon Weaver, an 8-yard pass from Andrew Steratore to Graham Cowleson, and an 80-yard run by Andrew Sweat.

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BuckeyeGrove.com - New Video: Thomas Jefferson at Washington Trinity

Check out video of Jefferson standouts Lucas Nix and Brock DeCicco take on Washington Trinity and stud linebackers Mike Yancich and Andrew Sweat.

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BuckeyeGrove.com - From the Road: Names to watch

Big Ten 'backers: For Trinity Senior, Yancich was the more impressive of the two linebackers. He has a longer frame, longer arms and has better pursuit speed. Yancich avoids blockers well and keeps his feet although he can be swallowed by bigger blockers at times. He has fluid hips and drops into coverage well.

Sweat was a little more stocky than expected as he doesn't have a long frame or long arms. He's a physical player and good at the point of attack and takes good angles, but he's not as fast as Yancich sideline to sideline. Sweat looks like a pure inside linebacker while Yancich could play either outside or inside.

Both linebackers also play running back on offense but neither has a future on offense at the next level. Sweat is built more like a fullback and is a more physical runner while Yancich has lighter feet and is more elusive but can get tripped up more easily.

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WPIAL Class AAA Roundup: Chartiers Valley pounds Keystone Oaks in Big Seven

Trinity 38, Peters Township 18

The Hillers (6-3, 4-2) clinched third place in the Big Seven Conference with this win over visiting Peters Township (3-6, 2-4). Mike Yancich led the Hillers with 217 yards on 33 rushing attempts. Yancich scored on runs of 1, 9 and 12 yards. He also caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ian Haley.

Scout.com: Friday Night Lights

MLB Andrew Sweat, Washington (Pa.) Trinity - Mike Yancich had 217 yards on 33 carries with four touchdowns in Trinity’s 38-18 win over McMurray Peters Township.

Yancich scored on runs of 1, 9 and 13 yards and added a 9-yard touchdown catch from Ian Haley.

The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League playoff pairings have not yet been announced. Trinity finished the regular season 6-3.

BuckeyeGrove.com - Weekend round up

Andrew Sweat: It has been an up and down season Washington (Pa.) Trinity High School, but on Friday they were on the good side. Washington won the game 38-18, and Sweat made double-digit tackles to help control the game Trinity on defense.