Early Northern California Breakout Candidates for the 2026 Season

Cadet is a long and athletic linebacker that can rush the passer, drop in coverage and has elite closing speed and open field tackling abilities while playing at the highest level. He diagnosis plays quickly, shows he can change direction and break quickly to the ball and can provide well timed pressures from various angles from the second level. He has the ideal size and length for the position and can play inside or outside backer with a unique ability to take on multiple responsibilities. Cadet is one of the top returning linebackers in northern California and holds one offer from Sacramento State and should see others come in this spring and offer before his senior season.     The King City product is another hidden gem at the linebacker position, and has the size/speed combination the next level will be looking for from a edge player. He is explosive off the ball with violent hands and power rush moves and shows he can track down ball carriers backside or in the open field with long strides and covers tons of ground. He is a high motor kid that can redirect outside the tackles, packs a punch at contact and is athletic enough to cover in space or in the flats. His length and frame makes him a intriguing prospect for the next level as he should be able to pack on muscle over the next couple years and has all the base tools to be a true edge rusher at the next level and is one of the top returning players at the position across the CCS.     Newman is the PAL conference player of the year as only a Junior and another one of the top linebackers coming back across northern California. In his Junior season he was all over the place and totaled over 100+ tackles and made explosive plays from his inside linebacker spot. He is a violent hitter that is always around the ball, a efficient tackler and closes quickly while playing with a high motor and pass rush abilities up the middle with applying pressure. Newman also flashes he can cover, break quickly in space and has solid fluidity and change of direction in the open field and is one of the very best the region has to offer and should be drawing college interest soon.     Dawes is one of the top returning signal callers across the north coast section, and is a very accurate passer that can navigate the pocket well and make big plays while buying time with his legs. He is a high IQ passer that processes quickly, gets the ball out on time and throws a tight spiral with touch over the top and zip in tight windows. He shows he can throw on the run across his body and has a strong feel for when the pocket is collapsing and is not afraid to take a shot to deliver the ball. He is great at improvising under pressure and buying time with his legs, while showing he can throw his receivers open and is accurate at the second and third level with throw anticipation and ball placement. Dawes should be drawing plenty of next level interest and is in line for a huge senior season after his breakout Junior year for the Wolves.     Another King City prospect, Tidwell is a 2,000 yard rusher returning and had one of the more productive seasons from any player in the central coast section. He is a elusive and explosive ball carrier with short area twitch, start/stop abilities and has open field home run speed in the clear. He is a natural runner that gets behind his pads and can run tough inside with patience and leg drive through tacklers while also able to bounce it outside the tackles and force tacklers to take poor angles with sneaky speed. Tidwell is a natural pass catcher out of the backfield with consistent hands and a good route running IQ and is a complete back that should draw plenty of D3+ attention this off-season.