Top 20 linebackers in California high school football entering 2025

Top 20 linebackers in California high school football entering 2025 originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Sporting News’ preview for California’s 2025 high school football season rolls on with a look at the state’s top 20 linebackers.

Following the top 20 are the names of 10 more LBs who were heavily considered for a top-20 ranking. With only 30 players mentioned, there are future Division 1 college players who are current high school standouts who didn’t even make the cut – that’s how deep the talent pool is.

The primary criteria are production and team success relative to strength of schedule, awards for the 2024 season from other sources, and recruiting rankings/accolades.

For two-way stars, contributions on offense may be noted but were not factored into the selections.

1. Dash Fifita, Santa Margarita – Sr.

One of the toughest pound-for-pound defensive players in California and probably the whole nation. Fifita, a 3-star Arizona commit, won DPOY last year in the nation’s toughest league as a 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior linebacker with 100 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception against arguably the most difficult schedule in high school football.

2. Shaun Scott, Mater Dei – Sr.

The 4-star USC commit was second on the national champion with 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions as a junior. Scott might project better as an EDGE than a pure OLB going forward and could just easily make the defensive line list instead of linebackers. His other 22 offers included Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Penn State, Texas, and Tennessee.

3. Jonathan McKinley Jr., Corona Centennial – Sr.

The most productive defensive player for one of high school football’s top programs, McKinley was the Big West League (Upper) Defensive Player of the Year with 10.5 sacks, 21 QB-hurries, 57 tackles, and a pick. Fluid between OLB and rush end, he’s a 3-star Cal commit with 10 other offers including Boise State, SMU, Arizona State, Arizona, and UNLV.

4. Isaiah Phelps, Pacifica (Oxnard) – Jr.

Isaiah Phelps football

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As just a sophomore, Phelps racked up 174 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks, and two interceptions to help lead Pacifica to a CIF-SS D4 title and the 2-AA state finals. He also managed to play a major role at running back with 767 yards and seven touchdowns rushing to go with four catches for 33 yards and a TD. Phelps is a 4-star recruit with 23 offers that include Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, and USC, and enters his junior year with 268 tackles, 16 TFLs, and four picks.

5. Tristan Phillips, Ventura – Sr.

JOE LUMAYA/VENTURA COUNTY STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn

California’s top-ranked senior linebacker per 247Sports. The 4-star Oregon commit enters his senior year with career totals of 182 tackles, 20 TFLs, and five sacks after recording career-highs in most categories as a junior. Greg Biggins of 247Sports wrote, ” Long, athletic 6-foot-3, 215 pound frame and shows the ability to play inside or outside ‘backer at the next level. Might be best suited as a will ‘backer because of his athleticism, ability to play in space and strong cover skills.”

6. Taylor Johnson, Cajon – Sr.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Johnson

One of the state’s top breakout stars as a junior, Johnson erupted for 174 tackles (82 solo), nine TFLs, and four sacks for a Southern Section D3 playoff team that averaged fewer than 18 points a game allowed. He can also cover at quite a high level for a linebacker that predominantly plays inside. Johnson’s recruiting took off shortly after the 2024 season, as he’s now a 3-star prospect who chose USC out of a dozen offers.

7. Taven Epps, Tustin – Jr.

While Epps’ No. 7 ranking is based more on potential and recruiting accolades than 2024 production, we are confident that he will live up to and perhaps exceed it. The 4-star Texas commit was a Cal-Hi Sports Second Team All-State (Sophomores) selection with 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven sacks, 11 QB-hurries, one interception, six pass break-ups, and a blocked punt for a CIF-SS D3 playoff team. At upwards of 6-4, 220 with standout athleticism, Epps has played both linebacker positions and safety, and might eventually land at weak-side defensive end. He has at least 33 more offers including Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame.

8. Ronen Zamorano, Sierra Canyon – Sr.

The reigning Mission League co-DPOY and the top unranked linebacker in California. At 6-2, 225 Zamorano looks and produces the part of a bone-crushing Mike, leading a nationally-ranked program with 113 tackles (four for loss) and 71 solo tackles as a junior. Zamorano has been offered by Colorado State, San Diego State, and San Jose State.

9. Leki Holani, Santa Margarita – Sr.

Holani broke out for 72 tackles, 19 TFLs, six sacks, six QB-hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four pass break-ups as a junior. And the 3-star Sacramento State commit did it all against one of the toughest schedules in high school football. He makes up the top returning linebacker tandem in California with Dash Fifita.

10. Ezaya Tokio, Oceanside – Sr.

As a junior, Tokio totaled 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles – all in just four games. The previous season at St. Augustine, he registered 98 tackles (4.5 for loss). With a full senior season in his second year at Oceanside, Tokio could easily emerge as a statewide DPOY candidate. He’s a 4-star Washington commit who has considerable upside at 6-4, 220 with speed and motor.

11. Balen Betancourt, Newbury Park – Sr.

Newbury Park's Balen Betancourt — Newbury Park’s Balen Betancourt

JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK

One of the most underrated linebackers in all of high school football. Betancourt helped lead the Panthers to a CIF-SS Division 2 title last year with 122 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. It was the second season in a row that he eclipsed 120 tackles and 17 TFLs.

12. Josh Williams, Palos Verdes – Jr.

An athletic edge rusher who could be listed at OLB or DE and the reigning Southern Section D5 DPOY. Williams racked up 76 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles to lift Palos Verdes to a section title and 2-A state title. He’s a 3-star recruit with offers from Akron, Marshall, and Georgia State.

13. Oscar Aguilar, Downey (Downey) – Sr.

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The 3-star Arizona state pledge enters his senior year with career totals of 258 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. His junior season was his best yet, as he registered 102 tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks, and five forced fumbles to help Downey go 9-2 with a CIF-SS D2 playoff berth. Aguilar is at his best against the Vikings’ top opponents and is reportedly still growing after checking in at 6-3, 215 a year ago.

14. Chase Cahoon, Saint Francis (Mountain View) – Sr.

Despite missing a bit of time both seasons, Cahoon was quite productive as a sophomore and junior against one of Northern California’s toughest schedules. In 17 combined games, he totaled 172 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 16 QB-hurries. Cahoon is a 3-star Stanford commit whose other offers include Boise State, UNLV, Washington, and Arizona State.

15. Kenneth Goodwin III, Bishop Montgomery – Sr.

Goodwin’s ranking here is watered down by the fact that he missed his junior season at Narbonne after transferring from Desert Pines (NV). But he’s definitely not a 4-star SMU commit with two-dozen offers by accident. While he’s already a star in the recruiting world thanks to impressive camp performances and athleticism, look for Goodwin to break out as one of one California’s top defensive players on the field this fall.

16. Isaiah Leilua, Servite – Jr.

Leilua exploded out of the gate as a freshman in 2023 to help lead Servite to the CIF-SS D2 title game, and as a sophomore he was already the focal point of opponents’ game plans, earning First Team honors in the Trinity League and on Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Sophomores teams. He enters his junior year with totals of 158 tackles, 10 TFLs, five sacks, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. Leilua is a high 3-star recruit with Arizona State, USC, and Washington considered the favorites among 16 schools to offer him.

17. John McClellan, Rancho Cotate – Sr.

The top-ranked senior linebacker prospect in Northern California per 247Sports, McClellan wreaked havoc with 157 tackles and five sacks in 10 games as a junior. The 3-star recruit committed to Colorado State shortly after visiting in June and also has offers from NAU, UNLV, Sacramento State, and Nevada.

18. Ryder Smith, Great Oak – Sr.

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One of California’s top returning two-way stars and a recent Idaho State commit, Smith somehow went under the radar despite putting up ungodly numbers as a junior. He went off for 133 tackles (80 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 15 QB-hurries seeing action pretty much everywhere in the front seven, and he also emerged as a standout running back with 1,369 yards and 16 touchdowns on 8.2 yards per carry.

19. Aidan Dagher, Burbank – Jr.

In just seven games as a sophomore, Dagher ran wild for 86 tackles, 15 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. In the seven games he played, Burbank went 6-1, losing only in the second round of the CIF-SS D9 playoffs to eventual champion Highland (Palmdale) following a 3-2 start. Dagher is a 3-star prospect with offers from SMU, Sacramento State, Campbell, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas Baptist.

20. Landon McClendon, St. Mary’s (Stockton) – Sr.

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A versatile outside backer who thrives in space, McClendon is more impactful than his merely solid junior year numbers show. He totaled 48 tackles (35 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, and a blocked field goal for one of NorCal’s top programs, and some of his best work was in coverage. McClendon also brought his A-game in most of the Rams’ biggest games while also seeing his numbers deflated by sitting in the second half of a few total blowout victories. He’s a 3-star prospect with offers from Portland State and Sacramento State.

ALSO IN CONSIDERATION:

Jeremiah Brown, San Jacinto – Sr. (Oregon State)

DJ Clanton, Mater Dei – Jr.

Aiden Gomez, Downey (Downey) – Sr.

Maxwell Mapstone, Portola – Sr.

Matthew Muasau, St. John Bosco – Sr. (UCLA)

Josiah Poyer, St. John Bosco – Jr.

Weston Reis, Palos Verdes – So.

Ezekiel Su’a, Mater Dei – Jr.

Fifita Tauteoli-Moore, Corona Centennial – Sr. (Princeton)

Philip Wilson III, Pacifica (Oxnard) – Jr.

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