All-Americans
The Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area has produced scores of All-American football players, dating back to 1894.
The father of American football, Walter Camp, selected his first All-America team in 1889. He chose two ends, guards, tackles and halfbacks; one center, quarterback and fullback. The 11 best players in the sport.
Today’s All-America football teams look a lot different. First, second and third teams are chosen by numerous publications, individuals and groups who select players on offense, defense and special teams. In 2023, the Associated Press alone selected 81 All-Americans.
It’s important to note that the increase in All-American selections does not diminish the accomplishment. If anything, it highlights that more colleges and universities offer the sport today — a sport that has become more complex and nuanced with specialized positions and roles. The pool of eligible players is deeper and more competitive now than ever.
With that in mind, I’m attempting to compile a list of every major college (NCAA Division I/DI FBS) All-American football player who grew up in and/or attended school in the Wyoming Valley and Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Some exceptions may be made, but generally speaking, that area includes all of Luzerne County, Lackawanna County and Wyoming County, as well as parts of Columbia, Susquehanna and Wayne counties; players who attended schools like Lackawanna College or Wyoming Seminary, regardless of their origins, will also be included.
There is no truly definitive way of compiling the greatest and most impactful players who represented Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on the sport’s biggest stage. For instance, one couldn’t write the story of the region’s impact on national college football without mentioning Berwick’s Ron Powlus and Pittston’s Jimmy Cefalo; and yet, neither achieved All-America.
However, All-Americans are the best of the best. That has been, is and will always be the case.
3x Selections
Charles Gelbert, Hawley, Lackawanna County — 1894, 1895, 1896 at the University of Pennsylvania
Pete Overfield, Meshoppen, Wyoming County — 1897, 1898, 1899 at the University of Pennsylvania
2x Selections
Frank Piekarski, Nanticoke, Luzerne County — 1903, 1904 at the University of Pennsylvania
James Cooney, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1904, 1906 at the University of Pennsylvania
George McCaa, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1909, 1910 at Lafayette College
Joe Donchess, Wyoming Seminary — 1928, 1929 at the University of Pittsburgh
Joe “Muggsy” Skladany, Larksville, Luzerne County — 1932, 1933 at the University of Pittsburgh
Charley Trippi, Pittston, Luzerne County — 1945, 1946 at the University of Georgia
Ron Beagle, Wyoming Seminary — 1954, 1955 at Navy
Lou Michaels, Swoyersville, Luzerne County — 1956, 1957 at the University of Kentucky
Cosmo Iacavazzi, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1963, 1964 at Princeton University
Charlie Wysocki, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1979, 1980 at the University of Maryland
Raghib Ismail, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1989, 1990 at Notre Dame
Greg Skrepenak, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1990, 1991 at the University of Michigan
Bryant McKinnie, Lackawanna College — 2000, 2001 at the University of Miami (Florida)
1x Selections
Alfred E. Bull, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1895 at the University of Pennsylvania
Tom Butkiewicz, Nanticoke, Luzerne County — 1904 at the University of Pennsylvania
Marshall Reynolds, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County — 1904 at Princeton University
Harry Vaughan, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1909 at Yale University
Rudy Probst, Archbald, Lackawanna County — 1912 at Syracuse University
Gib Cool, West Pittston, Luzerne County — 1915 at Cornell University
Percy “Red” Griffiths, Taylor, Lackawanna County — 1920 at Penn State
Jack McBride, Wyoming Seminary — 1924 at Syracuse University
Ralph Chase, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1925 at the University of Pittsburgh
George “Mike” Wilson, Wyoming Seminary — 1926 at Lafayette College
Bill Kern, Kingston, Luzerne County — 1927 at the University of Pittsburgh
Eddie Burke, Larksville, Luzerne County — 1928 at Navy
John Utz, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1929 at the University of Pennsylvania
Eddie Baker, Nanticoke, Luzerne County — 1930 at the University of Pittsburgh
*Joe Tormey, Avoca, Luzerne County — 1932 at the University of Pittsburgh
Izzy Weinstock, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1934 at the University of Pittsburgh
George Shotwell, Hanover Township, Luzerne County — 1934 at the University of Pittsburgh
Frank Souchak, Berwick, Columbia County — 1937 at the University of Pittsburgh
John Mellus, Hanover Township, Luzerne County — 1937 at Villanova University
Edgar Jones, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1941 at the University of Pittsburgh
Nick Chickillo, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1952 at the University of Miami (Florida)
George Welsh, Wyoming Seminary — 1955 at Navy
John Paluck, Swoyersville, Luzerne County — 1955 at the University of Pittsburgh
Chuck Sieminski, Swoyersville, Luzerne County — 1962 at Penn State
Mike Munchak, Scranton, Lackawanna County — 1981 at Penn State
Harry Hamilton, Nanticoke, Luzerne County — 1983 at Penn State
Ron Solt, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1983 at the University of Maryland
Bo Orlando, Berwick, Columbia County — 1988 at West Virginia University
Qadry Ismail, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County — 1991 at Syracuse University
Tim Ruddy, Dunmore, Lackawanna County — 1993 at Notre Dame
Martin Bibla, Mountain Top, Luzerne County — 2001 at the University of Miami
Kevin White, Lackawanna College — 2014 at West Virginia University
Jaquan Brisker, Lackawanna College — 2021 at Penn State
* Joe Tormey was born in Avoca and also raised in the borough through at least age 12 or so, but moved to Erie as a teen.
** Wylie G. Woodruff, who played guard at Penn, was a first-team All-American in 1896. I suspect, but am currently unable to confirm, that Woodruff may have grown up in Tunkhannock and graduated from Wyoming Seminary.
*** Jac Weller, who played guard at Princeton, was a consensus All-American in 1935 and a second-team All-American in 1934. Weller prepped at Georgia Military Academy and Hun School. Growing up, he resided for some time in Wilkes-Barre.
# This list will be updated and revised, if and when corrections need to be issued. It was last updated June 27, 2025. Please email mattbufano@icloud.com with questions, thoughts or suggestions.