PRESEASON ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
LINEBACKERS
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Sosefo “Money” Akuila, Tennyson, 6-3, 240, senior
First-team all-Oakland Athletic League selection also played quarterback for Fremont-Oakland before transferring to Tennyson. Three-star prospect has offers from Cal, Arizona, BYU.
Marley Alapati, Serra, 6-0, 205, senior
The first of Serra’s three terrific linebackers had 41 tackles and two interceptions. Named WCAL outside linebacker of the year. Committed to play for Army.
Zaire Calhoun, Liberty, 6-3, 205, junior
Earned first-team all-BVAL honors as a defensive lineman last season, but can also line up at linebacker. Had four sacks in just six games as a sophomore.
Ben Coulter, Bellarmine, 5-11, 195, senior
Led all WCAL juniors in tackles with 98. Also had 13 TFL and grabbed two interceptions for NorCal Division 3-A champions.
Drew Cunningham, De La Salle, 6-4, 225, senior
First-team all-EBAL Mountain Division selection had 56 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as the Spartans reached another state title game. Expected to be one of the team’s leaders.
Devin Hyde, Menlo-Atherton, 6-5, 228, senior
First-team all-PAL Bay selection had 83 tackles for Bears. Three-star prospect with offers from Cal and Washington. Will team with Khayri Jett on the front seven for Menlo-Atherton.
Marco Jones, San Ramon Valley, 6-4, 215, junior
First-team all-BANG and all-EBAL selection had 149 tackles, nine TFL, two INTs for NorCal 2-A champions. Has offers from Alabama, USC, Oregon, Notre Dame and other elite programs.
Tu’unahala Leao, James Logan, 5-11, 182, senior
Named first-team all-WACC Foothill LB for a second year in a row, and dubbed team MVP.
Jeremiah Lewis, Wilcox, 6-2, 215, senior
PAL De Anza defensive player of year had a team-leading 109 tackles and also had 14.5 TFL. Helped hold Wilcox’s opponents to 13.9 PPG.
Jabari Mann, Serra, 6-0, 210, senior
WCAL junior of the year and BANG San Mateo County player of the year had 87 tackles and five sacks for Padres. San Jose State commit also has offers from UNLV and Pittsburgh.
Danny Niu, Serra, 6-1, 215, senior
First-team all-WCAL selection had 51 tackles and seven TFL while splitting time at running back. San Diego State commit with offers from Pittsburgh and Arizona State.
Etene Pritchard, Pittsburg, 6-2, 185, junior
First-team all-BVAL selection was a tackling machine for the Pirates. Had 101 tackles, 68 of them solo, and 13.5 TFL for the NCS Division I champions.
John Stowers, Overfelt, 6-2, 240, senior
BVAL Santa Teresa-Valley defensive player of the year had 192 tackles with 39 TFL. San Jose State commit can also rush the passer, as evidenced by his 16 sacks a year ago.
John “Sharky” Tamale, McClymonds, 6-1, 205, junior
Led OAL and NorCal champion McClymonds with 63 tackles as a sophomore. Also chipped in three tackles for loss for a team that also has all-OAL selection Amir Gobar lining up next to him at linebacker.
Josh Tsai, Campolindo, 6-2, 215, senior
Played defensive line for the DAL Foothill champions, moving to middle linebacker this season. Expected to help lead Campo into its first season in NCS Division I.
Coming the next two weeks
The Bay Area News Group’s high school football preview package will roll out over the next two weeks. If you have not already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.
Correspondent Mike Lefkow contributed to this report.