2021 Under-Recruited Norcal Linebackers
Northern California is once again loaded with top tier FBS level linebackers with the likes of Cal bound Moses Oladejo Moses Oladejo 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Cosumnes Oaks | 2021 State CA , uncommitted Kaleb Elarms-Orr Kaleb Elarms-Orr 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Moreau Catholic | 2021 State CA , SDSU bound Brady Anderson Brady Anderson 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Liberty | 2021 State CA and Dominic Oliver Dominic Oliver 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Valley Christian | 2021 State CA , uncommitted Je’Kob Jones and Air Force bound Jacob Tafoya, among many others. Here we will take a deep look into what some of the top under-recruited linebackers did in their Junior seasons and what the breakdown of their film shows.
Kairo Reid Kairo Reid 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB De La Salle | 2021 State CA , 6’2″ 215., De La Salle HS
Anchoring the defense for one of the most historic programs in the nation, Reid is looking to build off of a huge Junior campaign that resulted in picking up his first offer from Army. The 2021 prospect is a downhill defender with quick play diagnosis and plays with great pad level and leverage while taking good angles to ball carriers. A versatile defender that plays all over the field pre-snap, he projects as an inside linebacker at the next level.
Isaiah Bobbitt-Byars, 6’0″ 210 Ibs., Cosumnes Oaks HS
Currently holding a Valparaiso offer, the First Team All League defender is poised for a huge final season for the Wolfpack. On film, the 100+ tackle rising senior displays good closing speed and the ability to blitz from all over the field while bringing good thump/physicality at the point of attack. The physical defender plays with a great motor, is always around the ball and has the hip fluidity to play in coverage/space. A very high IQ player that should continue to see more division-1 offers roll in as he enters his senior season.
Emiliano Murillo, 6’1″ 214., Yuba City HS
The Yuba City product currently holds one offer from Whittier College but should be seeing more offers roll in as he continues through his Senior season. Murillo is a very high IQ player that has a compact frame with great strength and does a great job of converting speed to power while playing in the box and plays with great physicality and good pad level. Another versatile linebacker, he can play in space and has fluid enough hips to play in zone coverage while breaking well to ball carriers. The high motor and aggressive defender will continue upon his Junior season success and should see his recruiting stock rise in the coming months.
Siaki Gallegos-Hunkin, 6’0″ 215 Ibs, St. Ignatius HS
Still awaiting his first offer, the San Francisco prospect is a throwback linebacker that projects as a mike backer at the next level. On film, he is a physical and downhill in the box defender but has the speed to track and take down ball carriers outside the pocket and sideline to sideline. A very strong and sound tackler, Gallegos-Hunkin is a well balanced overall prospect that plays with good toughness and aggression at the POA while flashing his natural instincts and ability to play bigger then he is.
Ryan Enney, 6’0″ 220 Ibs, Oak Ridge HS
One of the top defenders in Northern California, Enney is coming off of a huge Junior season in which he helped lead his Oak Ridge squad to a Northern California Championship and recorded 100+ tackles and 10+TFL’s while playing in one of the toughest leagues in Northern California. The First Team All SFL selection and Second Team All State selection is a tackling machine that reacts quickly and is a downhill and aggressive playmaker from the second level. On film, Enney also displays good closing speed and ability to shed blockers while taking good angles to the ball carrier and bringing good pop upon contact. The all SFL defender does not currently hold any offers but that will quickly change heading into what will be a huge senior season for him.
Grant Garretson, 6’4″ 218 Ibs., Pleasant Valley HS
The Chico, California hybrid DE/OLB prospect is coming off a very solid Junior campaign where he was able to show his versatility as an edge defender and from the tight end position. On film, Garretson is a very fundamentally sound defender that plays with good leverage and physicality at the POA while using his length to keep blockers away from his body and diagnoses plays quickly. The 2021 two-way prospect also displays good closing speed and flashes natural instincts while bringing good thump and aggression upon contact.