Oak Ridge Vs. Folsom Preview: Top Players To Watch

The SFL is one of the most competitive leagues in all of Northern California and across the state with teams battling it out every Friday night. Having some of the top players seen in college football such as Ian Book playing in it during their high school days, this next group of players coming from the SFL have a range of P5 down to FCS and D-III potential that they have been patiently waiting to show for over a year. Here, we will break down some of the top players from Folsom and Oak Ridge that are squaring off in week 1 of the California high school football season.   LB Hunter Nabers-Oak Ridge Currently committed to Fresno State, Nabers is an instinctual hard hitting linebacker with quick play diagnosis and is a strong tackler in the box and in space. With the ability to violently get off blocks and take good angles to ball carriers in open space, he will be one of the top returning defenders in the SFL and have a huge last season before taking his talents to the Mountain West Conference.   WR Brandon Barthel-Oak Ridge One of the most dynamic and under-recruited prospects in Norcal, Barthel is an explosive playmaker with strong hands and good third level speed while being able to make defenders miss in space and has big play ability every time he touches the ball. A division 1 caliber prospect, Barthel will be the top receiver for the strong Oak Ridge squad.   OL Tyler Dean-Oak Ridge Having plus size for the next level and a frame that can add more weight, Dean is a very sound prospect that is well rounded in pass protection and moves well for his size while playing with good physicality at the point of attack. With a good frame that can add more size and weight while having good feet/body control in space, Dean can develop into a tackle at the Division 1 level.   LB Ryan Enney-Oak Ridge Another top tier SFL linebacker, Enney is a tackling machine that plays with good pad level, can get off blocks and is a high IQ and effort player that can make an impact at the next level. A high motor second level defender, Enney also plays with a quick trigger and play diagnosis while showing good lateral movement ability in space and closing speed.   DL Peyton Vota-Oak Ridge Still developing, Vota is a good pass rusher with natural bend and use of hands at the POA with good first step quickness. Vota should have a good Senior season and be one of the top edge defenders in the SFL and build off a solid Junior campaign.   ATH Michael Chavez-Folsom A transfer from Saint Marys-Stockton, Chavez is headed to play football at Morehead State and has big play ability from the WR position. Well built, Chavez is a versatile playmaker that displays strong lateral movement ability, strong hands in traffic and has terrific open field speed and big play ability. He is a dominant player on both sides of the ball and should also be one of the top defensive backs in the region.   LB Justin Eklund-Folsom Currently holding FBS offers from Idaho and ASU, Eklund sat out last year due to injury, but is poised for a monster Junior season for the Bulldogs. A big and physical second level defender that moves well for his size and can apply pressure from various different angles while bringing good thump at the POA, Eklund will turn heads around the league as he suits up for Folsom HS.   WR/DB Mitchell Anderson-Folsom Explosive in the return game, Anderson is a dynamic player that can play multiple positions across the offense. having a strong build and natural forward lean with the ability to break arm tackles and run tough in traffic, Anderson is also an effective punt/kick returner with a good initial burst and vision in traffic.   DB Dorian Blackwell-Folsom Headed to Nevada, the 2021 DB is a lengthy and instinctual prospect that will play corner at the next level. Having great speed and natural hip fluidity in space with good ball skills and the ability to come up and tackle/break well to ball carriers, Blackwell will be one of the top corners in the region this season.   WR [player_tooltip player_id="25378" first="Rico" last="Flores"]-Folsom Already holding power five offers from the likes of ASU, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon State among others, Flores is a smooth athlete that is a deep threat and a big time playmaker with the ball in his hands after the catch. Displaying terrific ball skills and tracking ability with a good initial burst out of his stance and return ability, Flores will be one of the top weapons in California for the next three season.   OL/DL Apollo Jeffs-Folsom A very technically sound player in the trenches, Jeffs is a powerful prospect with good bend and initial strike at the POA. Playing with heavy and active hands while able to rush the passer from various positions along the defensive front, he is also a dominant run defender that plays with a low pad level and can get off blocks in a hurry while athletic and strong enough to two-gap interiorly.   TE/DE Walker Lyons-Folsom What will be one of the top tight ends in the entire state by the time he graduates, Lyons currently holds offers from Arizona, ASU and Florida State. Having ideal size at the position and will only continue to grow, Lyons has a huge catch radius and moves very well out of his breaks and is a vertical threat with good speed, especially for his size.   DB Austin McMillan-Folsom A very active third level defender, McMillan is a natural ball-hawk with good instincts and has the ability to cover a ton of ground in zone coverage while being a very sound tackler in space and taking good angles to ball carriers/triggering without giving up ground or taking false steps. Posed for a huge Junior season, he should start to collect FCS interest during his Junior season.   OL Kian Khazeni-Folsom One of the top centers in all of Norcal, Khazeni moves very well for his size and can block in space while showing good leg drive/hand placement while blocking in the box and picking up blitzing defenders in pass pro. Playing with good physicality and finishing blocks well, he should see possible D-II and D-III interest as he continues on through his Senior season and could develop into a FCS+ caliber player if he decides to take the Junior College route and continues to develop.   OL Vinny Scalise-Folsom Helping anchor one of the top offensive lines in the region, Scalise is a physical and athletic prospect that has FCS level abilities and will only continue to add more weight/strength to his frame. Projected as a guard at the next level, he is athletic enough to block in space and does a good job climbing to the second level and sustaining blocks.