Heading into 2017, there’s been a lot of talk about the Mater Dei offense, because of ten of eleven starters back from the 2016 team that averaged over 53 points a game. Defensively, the Monarchs will be rebuilding, but head coach Bruce Rollinson has three linebackers that will be able to serve as a good foundation for the rebuild from his team that is ranked No. 2 in the High School Football America Preseason Top 100 rankings created with our proprietary algorithm.
Editor’s note: for our purposes, we consider Southern California to be the CIF-Southern Section and LA City Section.
Heading the list is Solomon Tuliaupupu, who is the No. 1 linebacker in the area, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Tuliaupupu, who transferred from Claremont, is considered the No. 3 overall inside linebacker prospect in the nation. He has 32 scholarship offers.
Joining the 4-star Tuliaupupu is senior Jack Genova, who had 21 solo tackles in just six games before going down with a season-ending knee injury.
Then there’s junior Mase Funa, who is a 4-star prospect, who is listed as the No. 19 overall recruit in California in the 247Sports’ composite rankings.
The No. 2 linebacker in the area is Narbonne’s Raymond Scott, who’s already given his verbal commitment to USC. Scott is one of two area linebackers to commit to the Trojans — Bo Calvert of Oaks Christian is the other.
Scott had 100 tackles last season, 65 of the solo variety.
Calvert had 11-and-a-half sacks last season, along with 11 quarterback hurries.
Scott and Calvert are two of seven linebackers, who have given their verbal commitments from the area.
Great Oak’s Jack Lamb, who gave his verbal to Notre Dame a week ago, is ranked No. 3. Last year, Lamb record 117 tackles with four sacks.
No. 4 is Serra (Gardena) linebacker Merlin Robertson with 88 tackles last year, 15 for a loss.
No. 6 Reggie Hughes of Calabasas has committed to Arizona State. He had 69 tackles last season.
No. 8 Issaiah Johnson of Los Alamitos has said yes to Arizona, No. 9 Clyde Moore of Corona del Mar has committed to Colorado, No. 12 Chris LaValle of Mission Viejo has given his verbal to Arizona State and No. 13 Kendron Williams of St. John’s Bosco has committed to Washington State.
Narbonne, ranked No. 29 in the Top 100, has two linebackers on the list, like Mater Dei.
Joining Raymond Scott on the local list from Narbonne is Darien Butler at No. 14 in the area.
Corona Centennial’s Camron Pitcher is ranked No. 10. Pitcher had 116 tackles last year, 18 for a loss with nine sacks and one interception.
Aside from Tuliaupupu, Jermayne Lole of Long Beach Poly is the highest ranked Southern California linebacker, who hasn’t given his verbal commitment. Lole, who transferred from Paramount has nine college offers, is ranked No. 7 in the area, according to the 247 composite.
In the Class of 2019, De’Gabriel Floyd is a 4-star prospect from Hawkins that has given his verbal to USC. Floyd is the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. Junior linebacker Jonathan Perkins from Cajon has given his verbal to UCLA. Perkins is the No. 36 overall prospect in California in the Class of 2019.
Class of 2018 Linebackers in CIF Southern & LA City Sections by 247Sports Composite Rankings
No. 1 Solomon Tuliaupupu – Mater Dei – Uncommitted
No. 2 Raymond Scott – Narbonne – USC
No. 3 Jack Lamb – Great Oak – Notre Dame
No. 4 Merlin Robertson – Serra – Uncommitted
No. 5 Bo Calvert – Oaks Christian – USC
No. 6 Reggie Hughes – Calabasas – Arizona State
No. 7 Jermayne Lole – Long Beach Poly – Uncommitted
No. 8 Issaiah Johnson – Los Alamitos – Arizona
No. 9 Clyde Moore – Corona del Mar – Colorado
No. 10 Camron Pitcher – Corona Centennial – Uncommitted
No. 11 Lemusa Toailoa – Carter – Uncommitted
No. 12 Christian LaValle – Mission Viejo – Arizona State
No. 13 Kendron Williams – St. John Bosco – Washington State
No. 14 Darien Butler – Narbonne – Uncommitted
No. 15 Craig Francois – Cathedral – Uncommitted
No. 16 Isaak Togia – Pacifica (Garden Grove) – Uncommitted
No. 17 Jack Genova – Mater Dei – Uncommitted
No. 18 James Townsend – Crespi – Uncommitted
No. 19 Zechariah Holifield – Corona – Uncommitted
No. 20 Travis Plantier – Vista Murrieta – Uncommitted
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Related: SoCal Top Defensive Linemen
Editor’s Note: a majority of statistics are taken from team sites on MaxPreps. If you have didn’t stats, please feel free to email Jeff Fisher at jeff@highschoolfootballamerica.com
