Lancaster Catholic lineman Adam DePietro and Columbia wide receiver Mike Burke IV made news for their commitment to Northwestern and Villanova, respectively.

But the list of Lancaster-Lebanon League athletes who will play football at the next level doesn't stop there.

Manheim Central QB Caleb Walton, headed for Lock Haven University, is one of several L-L stars who have committed to play college football.

In his first year as a starter, Walton keyed an offense that averaged 283 yards per game by averaging 217 combined yards passing and running.

Walton completed 112 of 200 passes (56 percent) for 1,492 yards and averaged 136 yards passing per game. He threw for 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions in leading the Barons to a second-place finish in L-L Section Two with a 6-1 mark, a District Three Class AAA playoff berth and an 8-3 overall record.

Walton also led Central in rushing, gaining 890 yards on 142 carries and averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He averaged 81 yards rushing per game and ran for 15 TDs.

• From the Class AA state champion Crusaders, wide receiver/linebacker Rob DePietro and quarterback Andrew Dzurik will attend Lafayette College.

DePietro starred on both sides of the ball as Catholic enjoyed an historic season, becoming the first Lancaster County school to win two state football titles and joining 2008 Steelton-Highspire as the only District Three teams to complete 16-0 seasons.

DePietro had 15 catches for 183 yards and was also a force at linebacker.

In his first year at Catholic after transferring from Hempfield, Dzurik stepped into the starter's role in a Week One overtime win at Trinity after starter Mac McCafferty was sidelined by an injury. Dzurik went on to complete 110 of 174 passes (63 percent) for 1.994 yards. He threw for 21 TDs against five interceptions.

• Solanco running back/defensive back Joe Welk and QB/DB Tyler Stitz will continue their careers at East Stroudsburg.

Welk paced the Golden Mules by rushing for 1,335 yards on 114 carries, averaging 11.7 yards per carry and 134 yards rushing per game. He ran for 12 TDs and had a long run of 96 yards.

Welk added 21 catches for 320 yards and one TD and averaged 15.2 yards per reception. A return specialist, he had 22 returns for 521 yards (23.7) and owned a long return of 95 yards.

On defense, Welk had a team-high three sacks and was fourth on the team with 47 stops, including 32 solo.

Stitz completed 59 of 131 passes for 770 yards and three TDs. He ranked second on the Mules in rushing with 547 yards on 122 carries (4.5 average) and scored seven TDs.

Stitz led Solanco in stops with 86 (59 solo), and had nine interceptions.

• Ephrata's Tim Murray will attend Clarion University and teammate Kevin Sollenberger will head to Towson.

Murray was the main man in the Mountaineers' offense. He posted team-high numbers with 104 carries for 638 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. He ran for four scores and also led the Mounts in receiving, hauling in 40 catches for 529 yards and one TD.

Murray was also a return specialist, returning 28 kicks for 541 yards. He also converted seven PATs.

Sollenberger, a receiver/defensive end, had seven catches for 86 yards and three TDs. He led Ephrata in sacks with 2.0 and was third on the team in tackles with 78.

• Manheim Township offensive lineman/linebacker Clayton Hoffmaster will attend Bucknell. Hoffmaster contributed to an offense that averaged 374 yards and 34 points per game. He also had 30 tackles on defense.

• L-L baseball athletes who have signed include Lampeter Strasburg's Ray Lopez (Virginia Military Institute), Dan Neff (Coastal Carolina) and Nate Shank (St. Joseph's); Lancaster Catholic's Ian Bentley (New Jersey Institute of Technology) and Chris Mattison (East Stroudsburg); and Manheim Central's Ryan Wilson (Kutztown).

SLIDE SHOW: Signing Day

egruver@lnpnews.com