Dawson Wolfe Commits to Mercyhurst Football
The Southmoreland linebacker and quarterback is the first Division I football commit from his school since 2015.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
Southmoreland senior Dawson Wolfe announced a verbal commitment to play football at Mercyhurst on Tuesday, after the program offered him a scholarship in July and he made an official visit. Wolfe is the first Division I football commit from Southmoreland since Jake Beistel in 2015.
Why it matters
The commitment gives Mercyhurst a two-way prospect who played both linebacker and quarterback in high school, and it marks a rare Division I recruit for Southmoreland. Wolfe cited the coaching staff, the atmosphere and the opportunities ahead as reasons for choosing the Erie program.
Wolfe rushed for 565 yards and 11 touchdowns, second on the team and the team lead respectively, while completing 53 of 104 passes for 635 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded 37 tackles and one caused fumble this season, though he missed three games with a concussion, and how his role will translate at Mercyhurst has not been stated.
The players
Dawson Wolfe
Dawson Wolfe is a senior linebacker and quarterback at Southmoreland High School in Pennsylvania who committed to play football at Mercyhurst.
Mercyhurst University
Mercyhurst University is a private university in Erie, Pennsylvania, whose football program recruited Wolfe.
Jake Beistel
Jake Beistel is a former Southmoreland football player who committed to Saint Francis and later transitioned from nose tackle to wrestling.
The details
Wolfe, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior linebacker, also played quarterback for Southmoreland. He announced the verbal commitment on Tuesday after Mercyhurst offered him a scholarship in July and he visited the campus.
Timeline
July: Mercyhurst offers Wolfe a football scholarship.
Tuesday: Wolfe announces his verbal commitment to Mercyhurst.
2015: Jake Beistel becomes the last Southmoreland Division I football commit before Wolfe.
Season Trajectory
Wolfe's commitment ends an eleven-year drought in Division I football commitments from Southmoreland, the last of which was Jake Beistel to Saint Francis in 2015. For a Mercyhurst program recruiting from western Pennsylvania, a multi-position prospect with a 565-yard rushing season adds depth to its future roster.
Wolfe's dual-position background at linebacker and quarterback gives Mercyhurst coaches flexibility in planning his development. Fantasy and recruiting followers tracking Pennsylvania high school prospects can note his 11 rushing touchdowns as a benchmark for his production.
The takeaway
Recruiting from smaller high schools can still reach Division I programs, as Wolfe's commitment shows after a decade without one from Southmoreland. Athletes with experience at multiple positions often gain the most attention from college staffs evaluating their versatility.
Further reading
Find more recruiting coverage in our Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
