NCS Div. I Championship Preview: Must Know Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code <strong>PaulG30 </strong>at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>San Ramon Valley Wolves </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>OLB/TE [player_tooltip player_id='538957' first='Marco' last='Jones'], 2025</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is one of the top linebackers in the nation and is committed to Texas A&amp;M. The national recruit is a long and rangy pass rusher that covers a ton of ground quickly, has elite twitch and bend off the edge and will have to play a key piece if SRV pulls off the upset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>QB Rhett Thompson, 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson has been consistent the entire season for SRV with a live arm and elite deep ball throwing abilities with sneaky athleticism out of the pocket. The senior is one of the top signal callers in northern California and is currently committed to Byrant University</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RB Matthew Garibaldi, 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior back has had a very productive season so far for SRV and is tough to bring down in space and has rushed for 780 yards and 10 scores so far this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1212696' first='Kaleb' last='Pleis'], 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleis is currently committed to Cal Poly and is one of the top pass rushers across the region after having a truly breakout campaign for SRV this Fall. Pleis is a long and rangy edge prospect that covers ground quickly, can bend around the edge and collapse the pocket quickly with relentless pursuit to the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1295381' first='Owen' last='Scott'], 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The UC Davis commit is the Wolves top offensive weapon and rightfully so. He is a quick twitched runner after the catch, has elite ball skills and tracking abilities over the top while able to easily beat man and zone coverage. Scott is currently rated as a 3-star prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LB Braeden Forschler, 2025</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior all-league selection is one of the more active linebackers in the region, and is a high IQ kid that is always around the ball and applying pressure from various angles of the defense. He currently has 60 tackles on the year and averages just over 8 tackles per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>S Dylan Deitsch, 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deitsch is one of the better ball hawking safeties in the Bay Area and has been severely under-recruited so far in his prep career. He can truly play the entire back half of the defense for SRV and is a long and rangy safety that reads quarterbacks eyes well and triggers quickly in run support. He is a no brainer D2/FCS late add here as we near national signing day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other top names to note...</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>OL/DL Julian Cambra, 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>RB Sammy Avalos, 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB Henry Ellis, 2025 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Pittsburg Pirates </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>S [player_tooltip player_id='282716' first='Jadyn' last='Hudson'], 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The UCLA commit is a national recruit and one of the top safeties in the country per 247-sports. He will be a big part in stopping the SRV passing attack Friday night and is also very effective coming down into the box and is a big time hitter from the open field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>QB Marley Alcantara, 2025</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although a bit undersized for the position, the senior signal caller has one of the best throwing mechanics and natural arm strength of any quarterback in the state of California. He shows pinpoint accuracy, the ability to throw on the run and has elite placement downfield while able to make plays with his legs were needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RB/S [player_tooltip player_id='349219' first='Jamar' last='Searcy'], 2025</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top running backs in the north coast section, he is a two-way player for Pittsburg it is an elite safety that comes downhill and is a violent hitter in space. He's currently committed to Washington state and has been severely under recruited through out his prep career and will look to get the Pirates back to another state title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DL Charlie Taufa, 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taufa is currently committed to Southern Utah and one of the better defensive linemen Northern California has to offer in the 2025 class. He has violent hands, plus change your direction skills and is an elite run defender that also shows pass rush abilities as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='723728' first='Elijah' last='Bow'], 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bow is another RB/LB two-way guy for the Pirates and is extremely tough to take down in the open field. He is a vertical runner that looks for contact in the hole and has tremendous contact balance. Currently, he holds offers from Houston Christian, Campbell and Army. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>ILB [player_tooltip player_id='406691' first='Dominik' last='Calhoun'], 2025 </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calhoun is one of the hardest hitters across northern California and is committed to Boise State. He is a rangy and athletic linebacker with plus cover abilities and can cover good ground in space while able to make plays outside the tackles as well and rush the passer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DL/OL [player_tooltip player_id='976944' first='Osana' last='Vaeao-Saga'], 2025</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tennyson transfer has made a big time impact this season for the pirates and he is one of the more technically sound players the region has to offer in the trenches and is violent with his hands and hips out of his stance with short area twitch and is extremely athletic for his size/holds his weight well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Players...</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='282722' first='Makari' last='Kenion'], 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>ILB, [player_tooltip player_id='723693' first='Etene' last='Pritchard'] 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>DE, [player_tooltip player_id='406638' first='Jewelous' last='Walls'] 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1000955' first='Rolph' last='Mosley'], 2026 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1621190' first='Kenneth' last='Ward'], 2028 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>O/DL [player_tooltip player_id='406739' first='Bradley' last='Ruffin'], 2025 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>LB <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/pittsburg/pittsburg-pirates/athletes/japheth-tofaeono/?careerid=l5jihno5ub8m6">Japheth Tofaeon</a>, 2026 </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->