Players to watch: linebackers and defensive backs

Our position-by-position preview of the high school football season continues with a look at some of the area's premier linebackers and defensive backs.

Pennridge's Nick Tarburton, arguably the region's most powerful and hardest-hitting linebacker, gave an oral commitment to Penn State in February.

"He's a downhill kid, tough, and a good run-stuffer," said Brian Dohn, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "Those are things a Big Ten team can always use."

Two Catholic League linebackers, Archbishop Wood's Matt Palmer and La Salle's Liam Trainer, are ticketed to Delaware. St. Joseph's Prep's Phil O'Connor is bound for Colonial Athletic Association rival Richmond.

Two linebackers from the Inter-Ac League, Germantown Academy's Tanner Long and Malvern Prep's Cole McCabe, have pledged to Penn and Bucknell, respectively. Malvern's Keith Maguire, an inside linebacker, has drawn interest from Army, Temple, and Virginia.

Haverford High's Jordan Mosley, who is also a huge threat as a receiver, is projected as an outside linebacker at Maryland.

Imhotep Charter's Isheem Young, Wood's Nasir Peoples, and Coatesville's Avery Young head the list of top defensive backs.

Young, ranked the No. 4 safety in the country by Scout.com, will join Tarburton at Penn State; Peoples committed to Virginia Tech; and Coatesville's Avery Young is headed to Rutgers.

St. Joe's Prep back Dawson DeIuliis has committed to the admissions process at Princeton.

Trainer and Austin Lemke form a solid one-two punch at linebacker for La Salle. O'Connor and Bradley Cobaugh, who notched a team-high 81 tackles last year, do the same for St. Joe's Prep.

Elsewhere in the Catholic League, West Catholic's Rovny Dasilva is a fierce tackler at outside linebacker. The 6-2, 230-pounder, who doubles at tight end, recorded 98 tackles, with 11.5 sacks, last year.

The Suburban One League has solid linebackers in Abington's Jackson Taylor, Central Bucks South's Matt Norris, Central Bucks West's Jake Reichwein, and Upper Dublin's Max Winebrake.

Central's Basheer Steed, Frankford's Kyle Powell, Northeast's Kyle Morasch, Imhotep Charter's Symear Williams, and Bartram's Zaire Witherspoon are among the Public League's best linebackers.

North Penn's Justis Henley and Jonathan Haynes are speedy backs who also boost the Knights, who reached the PIAA Class 6A state semifinals last season, as receivers and kick returners.

Others backs to watch are Imhotep's Tykee Smith, Simon Gratz's Tarell Stewart, Bensalem's Keith Parrish, Downingtown East's Brassir Stocker, Archbishop Carroll's Dahmir Ruffin, and Bonner-Prendergast's Kyrin Jackson.

Smith, a 5-11, 185-pound junior and four-star recruit, has scholarship offers from Temple, Syracuse, and West Virginia.

Linebackers

J.T. Aloisio, West Chester Rustin, Sr. – Has bench-pressed 335 pounds.

Sean Crowley, Ridley, Sr. – Helped the Green Raiders to an 11-2 record.

Devan Freeman, Chester, Sr. – Kutztown and Temple are interested.

Jack Hayward, Downingtown East, Sr. – Strong tackler in a 4-3 scheme.

A.J. Katrakazis, Marple Newtown. Jr. – Posted 52 tackles last season.

Mark Maguire, Father Judge, Sr. – He finds his way around blockers.

Jamir Redd, Cardinal O'Hara, Sr. – He was a first-team all-Catholic pick.

Noah Shine, Perkiomen Valley, Sr. – He's a 6-foot-2, 240-pound force.

T.J. Simmons, Downingtown West, Sr. – Also a ballcarrier for Whippets.

Tyler Smith, Archbishop Wood, Sr. – He doubles at fullback for the Vikes.

Ty Tracy, Central Bucks East, Sr. – Set to make a big impact for Patriots.

Matt Weisberg, Pennridge, Sr. – Transferred from Chelsea High (Mi.).

Tyrone Willis, Harry S Truman, Sr. – Arguably the Tigers' hardest hitter.

Joe Zubillaga, Unionville, Sr. – Strong playmaker at outside linebacker.

Defensive backs

Dejuan Dandridge, St. Joe's Prep, Sr. – He can play cornerback or safety.

Carlos Davila, Northeast, Sr. – Leads Vikings as a cornerback and receiver.

Ryan Jakeman, Father Judge, Sr. – One of the Crusaders' poised returnees.

Ryan Kendra, Upper Perkiomen, Sr. – The Indians count on his experience.

TyGee Leach, Malvern Prep, Jr. – A free safety and receiver for the Friars.

Antaun Lloyd, Wissahickon, Sr. – Also a running back and kick returner.

Kyle Long, Springfield (Delco), Sr. – He will play lacrosse at Maryland.

Jermal Martin, Academy Park, Sr. – The safety's play is key for the Knights.

Taji Redd, Abington, Sr. – A second-team all-conference pick last season.

Nate Richards, Haverford School, Jr. – He has drawn Division I interest.

Nasan Robbins, Pennsbury, Sr. – He is a third-year starter for the Falcons.

Jacir Savoy, West Catholic, Jr. – He was a second-team all-Catholic pick.

Devon Smith, La Salle, Sr. – He has a scholarship offer from Bryant.

Shuaib Young, Ben Franklin, Sr. – He's a 5-foot-7, 165-pound speedster.