Under Recruited Prospects: 2023 Northern California Linebackers

<strong><em>There are plenty of top tier linebackers across the region with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="190338" first="Blake" last="Nichelson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="145235" first="Jerry" last="Mixon"] leading the way with multiple power five offers, but there are several others that can make a big impact at the next level and who are in line for huge 2022 seasons coming off 2021 campaigns. Below, we will highlight some of the top linebackers across the region that are flying under the radar but who are some of the top defenders all of Northern California has to offer. </em></strong> <hr /> &nbsp; <em><strong>Derek Houston, Rocklin HS</strong></em> Houston is easily one of the most under recruited prospects regardless of class or position across the state. He is a tackling machine and the leader of one of the top defenses Northern California has to offer. A 100+ tackle kid in 2021, Houston is a well put together linebacker prospect with tons of power at the POA and plays with extreme physicality. Able to play both in the box and in space, he flashes quick play diagnosis while taking good angles in the open field and exploding through contact. He has very disciplined eyes and fluid hips in space while showing good ball skills and return athleticism. In the box, he is a downhill thumper that can get off blocks quickly and fills gaps with a quick trigger and low pad level. A very balanced and well-put together kid, he is a no brainer Division I player that should gather his first offer soon. &nbsp; <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="261794" first="Santino" last="Acevedo"], Cardinal Newman HS </strong></em> Acevedo is one of the top players across the Bay Area and is a two-way thumper for the North Bay power. He is very physical in the box with elite closing speed and tackling abilities while flashing good open field when tracking down ball carriers backside and can perform well timed pressures off the edge and up the middle while exploding through bigger blockers and playing with a violent edge. When scraping over the top, he shows good lateral movement/COD abilities and can weave through traffic while diagnosing screens/draws quickly. Also able to play running back, he is a bruising runner with elite contact balance and good vision in tight windows and likes to get vertical in a hurry. He is another no brainer Division I talent across the Bay Area. &nbsp; <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="201365" first="Collin" last="Mennie"], Aptos HS</strong></em> Mennie is another one of the top inside linebackers across the Bay Area and is a true in the box bumper that attacks vertically quickly and has had a very productive career for the CCS power. He is a longer kid that also is productive off the edge as he is a natural bender and shows a quick use of hands at the top of the rush while flashing good closing speed and change of direction abilities when flushing quarterbacks out of the pocket. Playing with heavy hands and a strong punch when getting off blocks, he is a longer strider that can track down ball carriers backside and will be one of the top defenders across the Central Coast in 2022. Depending on the scheme at the next level, he could also possibly transition to the defensive end position due to his natural size and length. &nbsp; <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="25405" first="Dubee" last="Lopa"], Grant HS</strong></em> Lopa is one of the most violent players in all of Northern California from his inside linebacker position and can make a big impact at the college level. He is a downhill run stopper that flashes a quick play diagnosis and is a strong tackler both inside and outside of the box. Able to get underneath blockers and apply pressure from multiple different angles, he is a high motor kid that plays with extreme toughness and physicality. A multi-year starter for Grant, he is in line for a monster 2022 season and will be one of the top defenders the Greater Sacramento Area has to offer in 2022. &nbsp; &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Other Top Under-Recruited Prospects...</strong></em></span> <em><strong>Shamonte Brown, Inderkum HS</strong></em> <em><strong>Tristyn Quintana, Lincoln-Stockton HS</strong></em> <em><strong>Davion Smith, Archbishop Riordan HS</strong></em> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="190441" first="Nathan" last="Rooks"], St. Vincent de Paul HS</strong></em> <em><strong>Tyler Jacklich, Central Catholic HS</strong></em>