Bay Area 2025 Breakout Candidates (Defense)

Modena is one of the more under the radar 2027 prospects we have seen across the region this off-season, and is a no-brainer FBS caliber player that should be adding offers soon. He is coming of a good season for Serra where he played inside linebacker, but has the frame, length and athleticism to most likely find his home on the edge in college. He is a physical and violent player that runs well for his size, can make plays behind the LOS and shows he can quickly get off blocks and knife into the backfield. Modena shows well timed pressures, pass rush abilities off the edge and closing speed when collapsing the pocket. San Jose State has been the first school to offer him and he should see a slew of others come in sooner rather than later.     Williams is one of the most talented pass rushers across northern California regardless of class that has the ideal frame and length for the position at the FBS level. He is a explosive and twitchy pass rusher that wins with both speed and power and does a good job of keeping blockers away from his chest using his length, twitch, and natural bend around the edge. Williams also flashes closing speed when collapsing the pocket and good change of direction abilities when tracking down ball carriers backside. He is just scratching the surface of his potential and hold offers from Kansas state, Minnesota, Sacramento State, SDSU and Colorado State. By the this time next year, he will be another 10+ offer guy and one of the Bay Area's top available.     Fungula is coming off a stellar Junior season campaign for Amador Valley in which he led the Dons to a state title appearance in Southern California. He is a long in rangy safety that has tremendous natural instincts, ball skills, and closes quickly to ball carriers in the open field. He shows he can bait quarterbacks into bad throws over the middle before breaking on the ball and has man cover abilities downfield with fluid hips and change of direction abilities. He is a very smooth athlete that can control the whole back-half of the secondary and should see other FCS+ offers role in through the spring and his senior season. He currently holds one offer from Northern Arizona.     <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kaimani-keanaaina/">Keanaaina</a> is a true outside linebacker and one of the best defenders across the bay Area that has been also flying under the radar. He's coming off a solid Junior season campaign for St. Francis and should take a big step in his Senior year and start hauling in college interest/offers. He has elite speed for the position and closes quickly the ball carriers, while bringing a good thump at the point of attack and does a excellent job of coming up to set the edge in space. In coverage he shows fluid hips and transition and can play man downfield while breaking quickly to ball carriers in zone coverage and triggering into the backfield from various angles when blitzing. He is a high motor kid that is a sure tackler in a no-brainer college prospect.     Purcell is one of the top linebackers across the bay area and can play both inside or outside linebacker depending on the scheme. He is a high motor player that closes quickly and shows quick play diagnosis while a very sure tackler in the open field and explodes through contact at the point of attack. Purcell moves well laterally through traffic while able to get around bigger blockers and provide a pass rush off the edge where needed. In coverage he is a fluid athlete that can turn and run with bigger backs and tight ends down field. Overall, he is a well-balanced linebacker that should start to get FCS+ interest heading into his Senior season.