Our preseason list of Bay Area’s top linebackers revealed
(Listed in alphabetical order) Colin Borrelli, Liberty, 6-0, 210, senior:
Back from an injury that kept him out most of the spring, Borrelli is an “athletic, playmaking linebacker,” coach Matt Hoefs said. Made 41 tackles starting as a sophomore in 2019, and also drops into coverage.
Andrew Buck, Menlo-Atherton, 6-0, 200, senior: Coach Chris Saunders’ pick for PAL Bay Division’s defensive MVP this season. As a junior, made 33 tackles in five games, the most on a defense that limited opponents to 11 points per game.
Jakobe Harmon, Pittsburg, 6-0, 205, senior: Led Pittsburg with 36 tackles, including eight for loss, in the spring and earned a second-team All-Bay Valley selection.
Justin Ibarra, De Anza, 6-3, 210, senior: Returning starter, rated two stars by 247Sports, who will anchor a new and improved De Anza squad.
Clayton Lynam, St. Francis, 6-4, 230, senior: A three-year starter who should wreak havoc off the edge. Committed to San Diego State this summer following a spring season with 20 tackles and two sacks.
Salesi Moala, Tennyson, 6-1, 225, senior: Owns an offer from Oregon State and could see more with a strong senior season. Led Tennyson with 28 tackles in four games in the spring and was also one of the top ballcarriers in the NCS with 629 yards and 11 touchdowns. Even opposing coaches rave about his character.
Damonie Perkins, De La Salle, 6-4, 205, senior: Committed to San Jose State after a spring season with 23 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in six games. Coach Justin Alumbaugh expects him to be the team’s defensive MVP, and he’ll also see time in the Spartans backfield.
Jake Ripp, Los Gatos, 6-3, 210, senior: Leading tackler in the CCS last spring landed an offer and committed to Boise State after a hard-working summer.
Sam Ross, Miramonte, 6-4, 220, senior: Miramonte’s leading tackler last season with 40 in five games, including 4.5 sacks. Rated three stars by 247Sports with a dozen
D-I scholarship offers in his pocket. The last full season he played, in 2019, Ross was the only sophomore named secondteam All-Diablo Athletic League.
Tanner Salisbury, San Ramon Valley,
6-1, 200, senior: Back from a season at heralded Mater Dei, Salisbury, a three-star prospect with Pac-12 offers, adds to an already loaded SRV squad. With 21 catches for 249 yards as a sophomore in 2019, also another weapon for QB Jack Quigley. Nathan Williams, Live Oak, 6-0, 195, senior: First-team all-BVAL Mt. Hamilton selection last spring who will be asked to step up as the leading returning tackler from this spring. Acorns lost six of their top
eight tacklers to graduation.
Watch list: Omar Aaroile, Overfelt; Douglas Adams, Menlo-Atherton; Tyrion BernardBurks, Ygnacio Valley; Janari Boone, Benicia; Jack Catterton, LB, San Ramon Valley; Cameron Clanton, Deer Valley; Amarion Houston, De La Salle; Jalen Lakstigala, Lynbrook; Jeremiah Lolohea, Pioneer; Lenny Sinapati, Fremont-Sunnyvale; Dominic Spivey, Clayton Valley; Quinton Toga’i, Overfelt