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Updated by Battle Prep West on Jan 08, 2023
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NorCal Top Linebackers

Here is our Top Class of 2017 Linebackers in Northern California. This list will expand as the off-season moves on with additional film review, recruiting news and camp/combine performances. Please submit any players you would like us to review to battleprepwest@gmail.com. This list consists of players from CCS, NCS and SJS sections.

On this list are both outside and inside linebackers. Most of these guys also play other positions and could play them at the next level as well, true athletes.

We are starting with players that we project at the Division 1 (FBS) and (FCS) Levels.

6'4, 210 Ariel Ngata (Folsom) SJS

Offers: Utah, Washington, Washington St, Hawaii, UNLV, BYU
2015 Stats: 80 Tackles, 4 Sacks, 3 Total TD’s

  • Great athlete, stand up OLB or hand down edge player if need be
  • Smooth and strong, mature player
  • Truly an ATH, valuable at TE and WR, can flex out and go deep or block you
  • Great tackler
6'4, 215 Addison Gumbs (Stellar Prep) NCS

Offers: Cal, Oregon State, Tennessee, Troy, Utah St, New Mexico, Ole Miss, UCLA, Nebraska, Iowa St, Hawaii, Vanderbilt, Pittsburg, Oklahoma, Oregon

  • Fastest player on the field at all times
  • Great rush moves and ability to track the QB
  • Potential offensive weapon in the passing game
  • Prototype Safety/OLB Size
6'3, 210 Nate Landman (Monte Vista) NCS

2015 Season Stats: 6 Sacks (tackles unavailable)
OFFERS: Nevada

  • Active and agile OLB with scary closing speed
    • Outstanding tackler, wraps up well and makes great reads
    • Can get after the QB from depth or rush off the edge
6'1, 190 Paul Scott (McClymonds) OAL

OFFERS: Northern Colorado

  • Hard hitting tackler, explosive
  • Fast and athletic, can play inside or outside
  • Excellent in coverage, could possibly play SS at the next level
6'1, 210 Kyle Harmon (Freedom) NCS

2015 Season Stats: 137 Tackles, 11 TFL, 2 Sacks

  • 4.0 GPA
  • Great on reads, times snap well on blitzes
  • Hard hitting linebacker
  • Outstanding closing speed on ball carrier
  • Plays with intensity
6'1, 190 Ryan Gatoloai (Inderkum) SJS

Offers: Nebraska, Northern Colorado
2015 Season Stats: 50 Tackles, 4 Sacks, 1 Int

  • Great athleticism and solid tackling ability
  • Always around the football, tough to block
  • Can possibly play SS at next level, athlete
6-2, 245 Mustafa Noel-Johnson (Turlock) SJS

2015 Season Stats: 67 Tackles, 8.5 Sacks

  • Big, strong and fast - Dominant this season as a junior
  • Athletic enough to play anywhere in the box, extremely versatile
  • Can also rush the QB from anywhere
  • Nice TE, good hands and understands how to get open
6'3, 230 Alex Cruz (Concord) NCS

2015 Season Stats: 110 Tackles, 15 TFL, 2 Int, 1 Sack

  • Big, fast and strong. Roaming sideline to sideline tackling everything.
  • Playmaker - gets after the QB on blitzes
  • Excellent tracking and tackling ability
  • Top quality football player
6'3, 220 Jackson Burrill (Bellarmine Prep) CCS
  • Big, physical athlete who can play multiple positions (FB, TE, OLB, LB)
  • Utilized as a punishing lead blocker on a primary run team
  • 4.03 (20 Yard Shuttle) at 6'3, 220 shows his quickness
  • Good tackler
6'1, 215 Seth Tennis (Mcnair) SJS

2015 Season Stats: 70 Tackles, 9 Sacks, 6 TFL

  • Plays with big time energy
  • Relentless chasing after the ball
  • Tackling machine, does not miss often
  • Good size and speed
6'1, 195 Brad Jenner (Folsom) SJS

2015 Season Stats: 144 Tackles, 1 int, 4 Total TD's

  • Great tackling ability, wraps up well, can cover in the pass game
  • Legit threat in passing game, effective flexed out at WR or at TE
  • Smart football player, extremely versatile
  • Nice hands and route running
6'1, 215 Jake Bellecci (Elk Grove) SJS

2015 Season Stats: 89 Tackles, 1 Sack

  • Takes on blockers well, always involved
  • Big and strong, sure tackler
  • Also plays TE on offense
  • Great against the run, can also play coverage
6'0, 220 Eyad Mansour (Granite Bay) CCS

2015 Season Stats: 56 Tackles, 3.5 Sacks, 2 FF

  • Super active linebacker that makes plays everywhere
  • Great with hands, sheds blocks well
  • Athletic in space and hard hitting tackler
  • can also contribute at TE
6'1, 200 Spencer Torkelson (Casa Grande) NCS

Committed: Arizona State (Baseball)
2015 Season Stats: 64 Tackles, 15 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Int - 10 Rush TD's

  • Good athlete with good size and speed
  • Carries the load for team at RB, extremely productive
  • Downhill tackler, always around the ball
6'1, 218 Jovan Kitchen (St. Mary's of Berkeley) NCS
  • Top quality athlete, looks like he could be dominate at WR
  • All over the field, hustles to be involved in every tackle defensively
  • Big, fast and strong ball player
  • Versatile football player who can be used in multiple spots at next level
6'2, 203 Grady Ryan (Oak Grove) CCS

2015 Season Stats: 133 Tackles, 18 TFL, 6.5 Sacks, 2 Int's - 3 Rec TD

  • Reckless tackler with good instincts for the ball
  • Great on the blitz
  • Oustanding TE who can also flex out, excellent hands and concentration
6'3, 215 Cullen Bearden (Oakdale) SJS

2015 Season Stats:

  • Prototype middle linebacker, great reads
  • Great tackler, finds the ball in traffic well
  • Runs sideline to sideline and hustles
6'1, 225 Iffy Joyner (Pittsburg) NCS
  • Excellent tackler, constantly after the ball
  • Good strength and size, can play different positions in the box
  • Hustles on every play
6'1, 200 Dylan Eldred (Elk Grove) SJS

2015 Season Stats: 90 Tackles, 5.5 Sacks, 2 Int

  • Great athlete with perfect size and speed combination
    • Versatile LB who can play inside or outside
    • Uses hands well to defeat blocks
6'4, 225 Killian Rosko (Sonora) SJS

Committed: Sacramento State

2015 Season Stats: 78 Tackles, 2 Sacks

  • Big, physical and fast
  • Great tackler and good against the run
  • Active on defense, plays sideline to sidleine
6'1, 210 Jahari Kay (San Leandro) NCS

2015 Season Stats: 71 Tackles, 8.5 Sacks

  • Super active and fast defensive player
  • Can put his hand down and come off the edge
  • Great tackler in traffic
6'0, 190 Christopher Iliili (Pinole Valley) NCS

2015 Season Stats: 113 Tackles, 5 Sacks, 3 Int's

  • Good tackler, always finds a way to get ball carrier down
  • Good speed and athleticism, can also play offense
  • Very hard to block, elusive in traffic and has a nose for the ball
6'0, 205 Alii Matau (Milpitas) CCS
  • Tackling machine, takes on blocks well
  • Active OLB possible SS type at next level
  • Great ball skills dropping into zone
David Peterson (Sacred Heart Prep) CCS

2015 Season Stats: 112 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 3 Int's

  • Plays LB for his time but project as a SS/OLB Type
  • Great tackling ability, tough LAX player
  • Good instincts in pass coverage
  • Extremely productive junior season