Photo Provided West Liberty’s De’Aveon Perkins makes a catch during one of the Hilltoppers’ summer practices.

WEST LIBERTY — The West Liberty Hilltoppers enter the 2025 season looking for playmakers to emerge in the passing game. Head coach Roger Waialae has said that the wide receiver unit has talent, but will need consistency and depth to become a true offensive threat.

Leading the way is junior Osama Hurst, the top returning pass catcher. Hurst appeared in all 11 games last season, finishing with 27 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns. He opened the 2024 campaign in style, posting a season-high seven catches for 106 yards and a score against Limestone on Sept. 5 at West Family Stadium.

He also found the end zone at UNC Pembroke (Oct. 12) and against West Virginia Wesleyan (Oct. 19).

Waialae thinks Hurst’s production will be a key factor in the Hilltoppers’ offensive success this fall.

To complement Hurst, the staff is counting on several young receivers who stood out during spring practice. Trey Singleton, a sophomore transfer from Fairmont State, showed his explosiveness as both a receiver and return man in 2023, as he caught two passes for eight yards and returned 19 kicks for 419 yards, including a long of 40 yards. At Beaver Falls High School in Pennsylvania, Singleton earned 2022 WPIAL First-Team All-Conference honors, racking up 1,080 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior while helping his team reach three straight WPIAL 2A Championship games.

Jaylin Harcum, a sophomore, saw limited action in 2024 but showed flashes, finishing with three catches for 25 yards in four games, including a season-best nine-yard grab at West Virginia State on Sept. 21. Waialae says Harcum has picked up right where he left off and expects him to be a factor in 2025.

Rashad Murray, another sophomore, joins the Hilltoppers after two seasons at California (Pa.), where he played in three games and had a 43-yard reception. He adds another big-play option to the rotation.

New faces in the room include sophomore transfer Marcel Holyfield III (Seton Hill), a two-time All-City honoree at Taylor Allderdice in Pittsburgh, and junior transfer Silas Hinson from Holmes Community College, who has also caught Waialae’s attention this offseason.

At tight end, the Hilltoppers will have to replace the production of injured Second-Team All-MEC selection Will Balgo, but Waialae is encouraged by what he’s seen from Caleb Ratcliffe. The junior emerged as one of the team’s most improved players during the spring and caught a 34-yard touchdown in the Black and Gold Spring Game. Waialae says Ratcliffe’s versatility gives the offense multiple options.

Freshmen Wes Houston and Gavin Cummins bring the size and physical tools to contribute at tight end, but will need time to learn the offense and get comfortable at the college level. Junior Joey Shafstall, a transfer from the Community College of Allegheny County, adds more depth and experience to the group.

With a proven leader in Hurst, a mix of returning contributors, promising transfers, and emerging tight ends, the Hilltoppers’ receiving corps has the pieces to take a step forward in 2025 — it’s just a matter of who seizes the opportunity.