Bee’s Best prep football: The top 15 defenders in Sacramento

The Sacramento region is home to some of the best high school linebackers and defensive backs in Northern California.

Whether it’s hard-hitting backers such as Lincoln’s Jordan Wagner or Elk Grove’s Pita Vi or ball-hawking backs like Capital Christian’s Kayne Clark, the area has stars in the making. This is an unranked list, in alphabetical order, of the top 15 defenders in the greater Sacramento area. This list is linebackers and defensive backs only. Linemen will be a separate story. Included is a list of honorable mentions who just missed the cut.

Nick Afato, Yuba City, Jr.

Why he made the list: Afato is versatile. He is Yuba City’s starting quarterback, but his natural position is linebacker. He started last season on varsity as a sophomore and was one of the leaders on the defense. Afato leads his team in tackles (48) and is second in tackles for loss (three). At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, if Afato continues to develop, he will be a college prospect to keep an eye on.

Zach Annis, Granite Bay, Sr.

Why he made the list: In order to compete in the mighty Sierra Foothill League, you need defenders who can stop the run and pass. Annis has done both for the fourth-ranked Grizzlies. He leads his team in tackles (60) and interceptions (two). He also has racked up four tackles for loss, which is tied for first on his team.

Kanye Clark, Capital Christian, Jr.

Why he made the list: Clark has been one of the top defensive backs in the Sac-Joaquin Section. He has six interceptions, which ranks second in the section. Two of those six interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Clark also leads Capital Christian in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Justin Eklund, Folsom, Sr.

Why he made the list: The San Jose State commit has been as good as advertised. Eklund missed his sophomore season due to a hand injury and played only six games during the spring because of the shortened season. Eklund leads the top-ranked Bulldogs in team in sacks (four) and is third in tackles for loss (six). He is one of the best outside linebackers in the state.

Jackson Hagopian, Jesuit, Sr.

Why he made the list: Hagopian has been a shutdown defensive back for the surging Marauders. He has three interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns. His first such interception came in the Holy Bowl last month in front of more than 9,000 people.

Derek Houston, Rocklin, Jr.

Why he made the list: Houston started as a sophomore for a stout Rocklin defense during the spring. He has grown and taken tremendous strides to become one of the best linebackers in the section. Houston leads the second-ranked Thunder in tackles (61), tackles for loss (10) and sacks (four).

Garrett McCray, East Nicolaus, Sr.

Why he made the list: McCray is one of the best small-school players in the state. In four games, he has 61 tackles (five for loss), which both rank second on his team. During the spring season, McCray led his team in both categories. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, McCray has the size to play at the next level.

Elias Mullican, Rocklin, Sr.

Why he made the list: Mullican is a long, lengthy cornerback with great speed. He plays on both sides of the ball for Rocklin, but he likely projects as a defensive back at the college level. Mullican has three interceptions in seven games this season. He will be key to Rocklin’s playoff success.

Wayshawn Parker, Rosemont, So.

Why he made the list: Parker has been a tackling machine for Rosemont. He ranks first among all sophomores in the Sacramento area with 79 tackles. His breakout performance came against Amador, where he racked up 23 tackles. He followed that performance with 17 tackles against Liberty Ranch.

Corie Radcliffe, Sacramento, So.

Why he made the list: Radcliffe is having a breakout season for The Bee’s ninth-ranked team. Radcliffe as a sophomore leads his team in tackles with 51. His best performance of the season came against El Camino, where he had 10 tackles with an interception.

Mitchell Sarmento, Woodcreek, Sr.

Why he made the list: Sarmento currently leads the Sacramento area in tackles (81) and trails only Mariposa County’s Tyler Crockett (91) and Orestimba’s Kai Brazil (83) for the section lead. He is averaging 11.6 tackles per game and has recorded five tackles for loss and three sacks. Sarmento is the heart and soul of the Woodcreek defense that is enjoying the best start in school history.

Josh Tremain, Folsom, Sr.

Why he made the list: Tremain was The Bee’s large-school co-player of the year with his brother Tyler during the spring. Josh is a fearless tackling machine at middle linebacker. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Josh Tremain is a hidden gem on The Bee’s top-ranked team.

Peter Vi, Elk Grove, Sr.

Why he made the list: Vi is one of the hardest-hitting linebackers in the section. He has nine sacks in six games this season, which ranks third in the section. Vi has also forced a fumble and recovered two. He will be critical if Elk Grove wants to make a deep playoff run.

Jordan Wagner, Lincoln, Sr.

Why he made the list: Wagner said he loves playing linebacker because of the physicality of the position, and he enjoys contact. He does a lot of it in violent fashion. His best performance came against Elk Grove, where he racked up almost 20 tackles. He followed it up with 4.5 tackles for loss against Placer in a shutout.

Brandon Wong, Whitney, Sr.

Why he made the list: Wong helped anchor one of the best linebacker duos last spring with The Bee’s defensive player of the year Austin Hauptman. It’s now Wong’s defense to lead, and the third-year varsity player has done just that. Wong leads Whitney in tackles with 65.

Honorable mention: Austin Adams, Rocklin; Aemon Aldrich, Foresthill; Kaiden Baker, Rocklin; Jayden Bendure, East Nicolaus; Caden Bienvenue, Folsom; Hunter Binns, Delta; Mekhei Bryd, Natomas; Greco Carrillo, Folsom; Steven Duran, Cosumnes Oaks; Dylan Fear, Lincoln; Dylan Forbeck, Bradshaw Christian; Jake Hall, Oak Ridge; Landon Howard, Christian Brothers; Trae Huber, Del Oro; Jamaree Johnson, Burbank; Dubee Lopa, Grant; Miles Mitchell, Inderkum; Edgar Montess, Sheldon; Rio Patton, Rocklin; Carson Phillips, Whitney; Giovanni Pifferini, El Dorado; Phoenix Rose, Whitney; Desmin Rushton, Capital Christian; Caelan Sallander, Bella Vista; Aiden Santos, Vista del Lago; Teeg Sloan, Rocklin; Braden Shinaut, West Park; Tanaki Tonga, Monterey Trail; Adam Wanlin, Rosemont; Evan Ward, El Dorado.