Under the Radar Deep Dive: Rising Norcal Linebackers
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Derek Keeley HEIGHT 5'11" WEIGHT 188 POS LB CLASS 2025 Derek Keeley School: Rocklin Keeley is one of the best two-way players in the loaded SFL, and excels from both his running back and his linebacker position for one of…
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Continue ReadingDerek Keeley
Derek Keeley
Keeley is one of the best two-way players in the loaded SFL, and excels from both his running back and his linebacker position for one of the top programs in northern California. He is a very active outside linebacker that can come up and set the edge against multiple blockers, shows he can get off blocks in space and has closing speed into the backfield with a relentless motor when pursuing backside. He is a fluid athlete that can redirect, and provide a pass rush off the edge with an active use of hands, bend and explosive first step near the LOS. He should have no shortage of D3+ interest and be one of the regions best in 2024.
Max Mankins
Max Mankins
Mankins finally picked up his first offer from Brown, and should see other Ivey League schools come calling at some point this Spring as he heads into his Senior year with tons of Varsity experience. He is an explosive hybrid edge rusher/outside linebacker with a good balance of both pass rush abilities, in the box violence and cover abilities in the flats and downfield. He is a very strong kid with a powerful punch off the line, can set the edge with violent hands and shows a variety of different moves at his disposal when pass rushing with closing speed and an elite first step off the ball. Mankins is extremely physical at the POA, shows quick block recognition with pullers/reach blocks, and is a very balanced stand-up defensive end that is a no brainer FCS caliber player.
Campbell is one of the best all around linebackers in the entire SJS, and is a no brainer next level caliber kid at the inside linebacker position. He is a true banger in the box with a downhill play style while bringing a nice thump at contact and exploding though ball carriers in the hole. Outside the box, he moves extremely well showing strong lateral movement abilities when scraping over the top, takes good angles to ball carriers in the open field and is a sure tackler out in space with redirect abilities as well. He also does a nice job at reading guards and sniffing out draws/screens before triggering. One of the more under the radar kids in the region over the last year, he should have a monster Senior season for Christian Brothers.
Highlights
Nico Tatom
Nico Tatom
Tatom is one of the top linebackers in the loaded WCAL, and is coming off a stellar Junior campaign where he was one of the top tacklers for the Bells as a Junior. He can play both inside or outside backer, and is a very smooth athlete in space that is not afraid to get into the box and make tackles in tight windows, while able to knife around bigger blockers without giving up ground and is a strong tackler against bigger backs as well. He shows he can drop in coverage on film, and is a high IQ player in zone coverage while also showing he can turn and run in man coverage if need be. He should draw D3+ interest through this off-season and his Senior year and be one of the top tacklers in the WCAL this Fall.