2022 Rankings Risers: LB

<em>Breaking down the rankings risers at the LB position in PRZ’s latest 2022 rankings, a list highlighted by several future Mountain West players and a PAC-12 signee. </em> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="25282" first="Malaki" last="Te’o"]- ILB, Mater Dei</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Te’o was a game-wrecker on the front seven for the No. 1 team in the country. He’s a tenacious ILB that plays with great motor and intensity. He’s an explosive tackler that likes to play downhill between the tackles and disrupts plays in the backfield. He’s a physical presence in the run game that can fill holes aggressively and break down and tackle in space. He’s a capable player in coverage showing instincts and spatial awareness making plays in zone. Te’o is uncommitted with offers from Hawaii, Utah St., and Colorado.</span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A [player_tooltip player_id="25282" first="Malaki" last="Te’o"] pick six puts Mater Dei ahead 14-0. 3:54 left in the first quarter. <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Morrissette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@C_Morrissette</a> <a href="https://t.co/4CwNCYtMeH">pic.twitter.com/4CwNCYtMeH</a></p> — SBLive California (@SBLiveCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBLiveCA/status/1469886489861365760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <a href="http://blockquote%20class=twitter-tweetp%20lang=en%20dir=ltrA%20Malaki%20Te’o%20pick%20six%20puts%20Mater%20Dei%20ahead%2014-0.%203:54%20left%20in%20the%20first%20quarter.%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/C_Morrissette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@C_Morrissette/a%20a%20href=https://t.co/4CwNCYtMeHpic.twitter.com/4CwNCYtMeH/a/p—%20SBLive%20California%20(@SBLiveCA)%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/SBLiveCA/status/1469886489861365760?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwDecember%2012,%202021/a/blockquote%20script%20async%20src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%20charset=utf-8/script"><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></a> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="141930" first="Justin" last="Stearns"]- OLB, St. Augustine</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Stearns led St. Augustine’s defense as one of the top LBs in San Diego. He’s an athletic OLB at 6’3”/210 that makes plays in coverage and provides a physical presence outside the tackles. He has great closing speed and moves extremely well in space. He’s an effective blitzer off the edge that can get in the backfield quick. Stearns is heading to San Jose St. after signing on Early Signing Day.</span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you to the Spartan Family!🟡🔵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpartanUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpartanUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/z16ShmRU5x">https://t.co/z16ShmRU5x</a></p> — [player_tooltip player_id="141930" first="Justin" last="Stearns"] (@JustinStearns19) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinStearns19/status/1471260745945944064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <a href="http://blockquote%20class=twitter-tweetp%20lang=en%20dir=ltrThank%20you%20to%20the%20Spartan%20Family!🟡🔵%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpartanUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw#SpartanUp/a%20a%20href=https://t.co/z16ShmRU5xhttps://t.co/z16ShmRU5x/a/p—%20Justin%20Stearns%20(@JustinStearns19)%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/JustinStearns19/status/1471260745945944064?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwDecember%2015,%202021/a/blockquote%20script%20async%20src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%20charset=utf-8/script"><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></a> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="143131" first="Jacob" last="Manu"]- ILB, Servite</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Manu was a defensive standout on one of the top teams in the country this season. The Arizona signee is an extremely fast and physical MLB that plays the position at 100mph. He’s a violent tackler with elite closing speed and leverage at the POA. He’s a disruptive player up the middle that likes to tackle downhill aggressively with explosive strength and athleticism. Manu will be a player to watch in the PAC-12 at the next level.</span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">YESSIR TIME TO T UP 🐻⬇️🇹🇴 <a href="https://t.co/sr2CMih8ar">https://t.co/sr2CMih8ar</a></p> — [player_tooltip player_id="143131" first="Jacob" last="Manu"] (@Jacobmanu6) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacobmanu6/status/1471178736368119810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <a href="http://blockquote%20class=twitter-tweetp%20lang=en%20dir=ltrYESSIR%20TIME%20TO%20T%20UP%20🐻⬇️🇹🇴%20a%20href=https://t.co/sr2CMih8arhttps://t.co/sr2CMih8ar/a/p—%20Jacob%20manu%20(@Jacobmanu6)%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/Jacobmanu6/status/1471178736368119810?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwDecember%2015,%202021/a/blockquote%20script%20async%20src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%20charset=utf-8/script"><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></a> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="141932" first="Tim" last="Thomas"]- OLB, Lincoln (Stockton) </b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas signed his LOI with Fresno St. after his strong senior season at Lincoln. He’s a versatile defender playing SS/OLB that provides physicality in run support. He can play near the LOS racking up TFLs and showing great lateral speed tackling sideline-to-sideline. He shows athleticism and length (6’2”/220) pass-rushing off the edge and has the speed to drop into coverage. Thomas could fill several positions at the next level given his athleticism and skillset.</span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Roll the tape // <a href="https://twitter.com/TimThomas7_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimThomas7_</a></p> 💪 LB 🏠Stockton, Calif.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrictlyBusine22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrictlyBusine22</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoDogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoDogs</a> <a href="https://t.co/CplvdrQcNP">pic.twitter.com/CplvdrQcNP</a> — Fresno State Football 🧸 (@FresnoStateFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/FresnoStateFB/status/1471249962495143942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <a href="http://blockquote%20class=twitter-tweetp%20lang=en%20dir=ltrRoll%20the%20tape%20//%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/TimThomas7_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@TimThomas7_/a%20brbr💪%20LBbr🏠Stockton,%20Calif.a%20href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrictlyBusine22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw#StrictlyBusine22/a%20|%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoDogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw#GoDogs/a%20a%20href=https://t.co/CplvdrQcNPpic.twitter.com/CplvdrQcNP/a/p—%20Fresno%20State%20Football%20🧸%20(@FresnoStateFB)%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/FresnoStateFB/status/1471249962495143942?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwDecember%2015,%202021/a/blockquote%20script%20async%20src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%20charset=utf-8/script"><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></a> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="141927" first="Clayton" last="Lynam"]- OLB, St. Francis</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynam was one of the top LBs to watch in the Bay Area before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury early in the season. He played a crucial role on St. Francis’ front seven for three seasons serving as a physical edge-setter and effective pass-rusher at the OLB/DE spot. He’s a powerful athlete at 6’4”/245 that can drive OTs off the ball and uses his length to fight off blocks. He shows violent hands and good leverage as a pass-rusher off the edge. Lynam is a SDSU decommit with offers from Nevada, SJSU, Army, Navy, Colorado St., UC Davis, and Princeton.</span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">After a great home visit with <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJerryBrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachJerryBrady</a>, I’m grateful and excited to receive an offer from UC Davis! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aggiepride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aggiepride</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkSpeckman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarkSpeckman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHawkinsUCD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHawkinsUCD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Mattkitchen6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mattkitchen6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/stfrancis_fb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stfrancis_fb</a> <a href="https://t.co/nvFzPpWhKu">pic.twitter.com/nvFzPpWhKu</a></p> — [player_tooltip player_id="141927" first="Clayton" last="Lynam"] (@ClaytonLynam) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaytonLynam/status/1468965632611794954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <a href="http://blockquote%20class=twitter-tweetp%20lang=en%20dir=ltrAfter%20a%20great%20home%20visit%20with%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/CoachJerryBrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@CoachJerryBrady/a,%20I’m%20grateful%20and%20excited%20to%20receive%20an%20offer%20from%20UC%20Davis!%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/aggiepride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw#aggiepride/a%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/MarkSpeckman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@MarkSpeckman/a%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/CoachHawkinsUCD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@CoachHawkinsUCD/a%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/Mattkitchen6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@Mattkitchen6/a%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@BrandonHuffman/a%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/stfrancis_fb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@stfrancis_fb/a%20a%20href=https://t.co/nvFzPpWhKupic.twitter.com/nvFzPpWhKu/a/p—%20Clayton%20Lynam%20(@ClaytonLynam)%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/ClaytonLynam/status/1468965632611794954?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwDecember%209,%202021/a/blockquote%20script%20async%20src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%20charset=utf-8/script"><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></a>