Blue White Illustrated

June 2016

Penn State Sports Magazine

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U P C L O S E & P E R S O N A L T here aren't many linebacker/defensive ends who double as sprinters in track, but Shaka Toney of Philadelphia's Imhotep High has never .t the conven- tional mold. Toney has been listed at a variety of sizes, but he said that 6-foot-4, 217 pounds is the most accurate measure- ment. Measuring him as a football player isn't so di0cult. Finding what position he can play at the college level might be more challenging, but that will be a puzzle the Penn State coaches will gladly attempt to solve in the coming years. Toney was a defensive end for a 15-0 Imhotep team that defeated Cathedral Prep, 40-3, to win the PIAA Class AAA championship. How disruptive was he on the .eld? Toney had a school-record 21 sacks as a senior, but coach Albie Crosby said that doesn't begin to tell the story. Quarterbacks were always aware of where he was on the .eld, and even when he didn't record a sack, he o1en chased QBs out of the pocket into the arms of another teammate. O/ensive linemen couldn't keep up with his quick .rst step, and quarterbacks couldn't outrun him. "He is not your typical defensive lineman with his size," Crosby said. "He can run and is very competitive." He's still running hard this spring as a member of Imhotep's track team, com- peting in the 100- and 400-meter dis- tances, along with the javelin and discuss. That's right: this feared defensive lineman runs the 100. Toney said he was recruited by Penn State to be a hybrid player – part line- Toney's speed keeps blockers on their heels | Rivals.com THE TONEY FILE STATS Helped Imhotep Charter compile a 55-5 record during his four varsity seasons... Played key role in team's success, as Imhotep won four Philadelphia Public League championships, reached the PIAA Class AAA semifinals in three of his four seasons and won its first state cham- pionship in 2015 with a 15-0 record and a 40-3 victory over Erie Cathedral Prep in the title game... Finished with 97 tackles, a school-record 21 sacks and 11 pass break-ups during his senior year... Helped Imhotep's 4x100 relay team win the Public League title as a junior HONORS Named a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 29 player in Penn- sylvania... Received first-team Class AAA All- State honors from the Pennsylvania Football Writers Association... Received first-team All- City honors from the Philadelphia Daily News... Named Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania Football News... Chosen to play in the Big 33 game

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