The Bay Area is gearing up for an exciting 2025 high school football season, with standout linebackers emerging from St. Francis, Clayton Valley, Los Gatos, De La Salle, and Pittsburg.

At St. Francis, senior Marco Jones leads the way, tallying an impressive 315 tackles across two seasons and ranking among California’s top recruits.

Clayton Valley’s Jonathan Blanchard anchors his defense as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the Santa Teresa Valley Division, posting 72 tackles and two sacks last year.

Junior Kaleb Pleis shines for Los Gatos, drawing college offers for his size and versatility at both linebacker and edge.

De La Salle features Bradley Ruffin, whose strong stats earned him first-team accolades in the Bay Valley Athletic League.

Meanwhile, Pittsburg’s Isaia Vandermade returns as a rising defensive star, expected to make a major impact this season.