Underrated Senior LBs in San Diego

<p><em>Breaking down some of the underrated talent at the LB position in San Diego's 2026 class.</em></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Mallory is a linebacker prospect on the rise after picking up his first offer from Carnegie Mellon this week. The 6'2"/230 senior quietly produced a strong season for La Costa Canyon totalling 34 tackles and 3.5 TFLs as a junior. He's a strong and physical defender that showed his ability to attack off the edge and filled a utility FB/H-Back role on offense last season. Look for Mallory to continue to generate interest and establish himself as a leader on LCC's defensive front seven this fall. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/hmals8835/status/1868506971105874384 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Wells put his name on the radar as one of San Diego's most high-upside linebackers in the county last season. Totaled 90 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 TFLs as a junior. He's a fast and physical OLB that shows his athleticism in space and flies to the football with impressive closing speed. Quick and efficient in his angles of pursuit and beats blockers to the spot with his first step. Wells is one of the top unoffered senior LBs in San Diego coming into this season. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BraydonWells_/status/1866748332124905679 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Devore established himself as one of the most effective run-stoppers at the LB position with his breakout junior season in 2024. Totaled 71 tackles (54 solo) and 2 TFLs last fall. He's a downhill thumper that can stop RBs in their tracks between the OTs and create pressure as an off-ball blitzer. Lacks ideal length at 5'10"/200 but offers promising range and ability to avoid traffic around the LOS. Look for Devore to turn in another productive season as the leader of Madison's front seven this fall.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Kawika_56/status/1863464502483964119 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Smith is one of the top returning defenders in San Diego's south bay coming into the 2025 season. Coming off a breakout sophomore season in 2023, Smith put together another productive campaign with 104 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 10.5 TFLs as a junior. He's an athletic three-down LB that can tackle and cover at a high level. Shows great range getting sideline to sideline, hits with power, and plays with an extremely high motor. Smith likely translates as an OLB at the next level with the size, range, and athleticism he brings to the table and should be one of the most productive tacklers in the south bay this season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DavidSmith08_/status/1852413844448334296 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Valencia is coming off a breakout junior season in which he racked up 132 total tackles (60 solo), 3 sacks and 2 INTs for the Rancho Bernardo defense. He's a versatile linebacker that can create negative plays as a downhill attacker and shows his range and athleticism in coverage. Packs a punch at the LOS, can track out wide with good lateral speed, and is quick to read and react. Valencia's an under-the-radar prospect right now that should be in the mix to pick up his first offer in the coming months.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/gavinvalencia_3/status/1876002499066544538 </div></figure>

Breaking down some of the underrated talent at the LB position in San Diego's 2026 class.