SoCal LB makes plays
Lake Balboa (Calif.) Birmingham has one of the best programs going over the last few years. Every year under the direction of head coach Ed Croson, Birmingham has been sending players to the D-I level. This year linebacker Luke Laolagi (6-3, 200, 4.6) is going to the head of the class.
“Luke is big, fast and also has an outstanding understanding of the game,” Croson said. “He reads offensive schemes extremely well and doesn’t waste any steps.”
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Laolagi is a talented athlete who has been on the varsity squad since his freshman year and he will be a three-year starter when his senior season rolls around.
This talented linebacker is a two-time all-city selection.
“Luke is a playmaker,” Croson said. “He makes a ton of plays. When were on Fox for the game of the week against Taft he had something like 20 tackles.”
“Luke had that amount of tackles in about three games last season,” Croson said. “That’s the kind of player he is, he’s just so quick to the ball and has a nose for it.”
“As a football player and as an athlete,” Croson said. “Luke is in the same class as (former Birmingham greats) Dennis Keyes (UCLA), Chad Green (ASU) and Ramal Porter (SDSU).”
“To give you an idea of how talented an athlete Luke is,” Croson said. “He was getting looks for his baseball skills by major league baseball during his sophomore year.”
“Luke has given up baseball in favor of football,” Croson said. “He has a great future in football.”
USC, UCLA, Miami, Nebraska and Michigan are all interested in Laolagi. Michigan invited him to their camp this summer.
Croson feels that USC and Miami are Laolagi’s early favorites.
Laolagi is a solid student and benches 250 pounds.