Cub Football - 2021 team preview - a large number of high end players return for defending league champs

2021 LOYOLA OF LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Loyola High School of Los Angeles was robbed of the chance to make major noise this spring when the pandemic-delayed CIF Southern Section football season was limited to a handful of games. The talented Cubs, though, took full advantage of the four-game slate they were fortunate enough to play.

Loyola defeated its three Angelus League foes by an average score of 42-7, which led to the Cubs (4-0) being crowned Angelus League champions. Big Blue fans wished the 2020 full ten-game regular season schedule and CIF playoffs could have taken place, as the program fielded one of its best teams since 2005, when it last won a CIF Division I title.

Indeed, there were some significant graduation losses from the undefeated squad that competed this spring, including All-American/State Defensive Back of the Year CEYAIR WRIGHT (USC); All-State safety ZAKHARI SPEARS (Washington); Angelus League MVP JEFFREY JOHNSON, a defensive lineman headed to Cal; team MVP FINNEGAN “FINN” POWELL, a dynamic outside linebacker; All-Angelus League DL JOSH LONG (Montana State); and All-League quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO (Arizona).

Despite the absence of those impact players, Loyola has a veritable wealth of high end talent, including 14 starters, returning, which will once again allow the Cubs to vie for a top ten state ranking. Loyola was ranked as high as ninth in California in the various post season rankings published by prep football outlets at the conclusion of the spring campaign.

Here is a look at the top Cub players in each position group:

OFFENSIVE LINE
Three-year varsity starter SAM YOON (6-5, 295, 350 bench, 525 deadlift) returns at left tackle to anchor the offensive line. Yoon’s recruiting stock soared after being named the OL MVP at one of the prestigious invitation-only camps in June. Yoon, who maintains a 4.8 GPA and scored 1550 on the SAT, has Pac-12 offers from Cal, UCLA, Colorado and Oregon State as well as multiple Ivy League schools, including Harvard and Columbia. 

Yoon is an excellent athlete who has played basketball. One of the top linemen in the state-he made the All-State junior team-Yoon should be a dominant force upfront. He earned both Angelus League and team Most Valuable Lineman honors this spring.

Junior JACK SUSNJAR (6-6, 305) started at right tackle as a sophomore, and excelled, allowing him to garner All-State Sophomore recognition. He and Yoon have the potential to be two of the best offensive tackle book ends in Loyola grid annals.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Two exceptionally talented three-year starters return at wide receiver, seniors JACOBY KELLY (6-2, 195) and PETER VANIS (5-10, 181). Both have been game changers during their varsity careers and will be part of a receiving arsenal that will be among the best in the Southland. Kelly currently has 11 FBS offers as well as an invitation from Yale. 

Vanis is also an electric kick and punt returner. He and Kelly were Co-MVPs on one of the best freshmen teams fielded at Loyola in the last 25 years in 2018. Vanis was selected by his teammates as the winner of the Offensive Excellence Award this spring.

Juniors WILKIE WILES (5-10, 180) and recent transfer BAYLIN BROOKS (6-2, 190) are also gifted receivers who possess big play ability.

RUNNING BACKS
Senior TAHJ OWENS (5-11, 195) is the first sophomore running back to earn All-CIF accolades (2019) in Cub Football history.  His career average is over seven yards per carry. Owens is garnering multiple FBS offers as he blends power, speed and elusiveness at a high level. He is also a clutch  receiver and a dangerous kick returner. Owens is an elite student (4.0 GPA), who is being courted by a number of the Ivies. 

Senior JUSTIN MURRAY (5-11, 207) returns as the squad’s starting fullback. A weight room warrior, Murray packs a powerful punch.

TIGHT END
Senior JOE TAYLOR (6-3, 220) is a tough athlete-he started on both the offensive and defensive lines aa a freshman in 2018. The returning starter at tight end is a rugged in-line blocker, but also combines his physicality with superior route running and catching skills. A number of Ivy League schools are pursuing Taylor.

QUARTERBACK
Senior JOE TATUM (5-11, 185) piloted the 2018 freshman team to the Mission League championship with superior throws and uncommon leadership. He is in a battle with junior XAVIER RICE (6-4, 200), who was an All-League varsity punter this spring. Rice transferred into Loyola as a sophomore last fall, and his prowess as a left handed slinger has already earned him two FBS scholarship offers.

Sophomore MARK HYAN (6-3, 207), who earned All-League recognition as the varsity kicker this spring, is also a strong-armed field general who could make his presence felt in the QB competition.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior SHAWN LIN (6-5, 257) will be the alpha on the Cub defensive line. Exceptionally strong, Lin could end up being the surprise senior standout of the fall after a very solid junior outing. He creates substantial havoc in opposing backfields. 

KEENAN TARBET (6-4, 210) arrived this summer from Oregon. The athletic junior defensive end was rated as the seventh best Class of 2023 player in Oregon this spring. Tarbet’s addition to the defensive line is a huge addition to Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Senior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN (6-1, 191) brings uncommon skills to Loyola’s outside linebacker corps. He was a youth phenom in the sprints and played corner for two years on the lower levels before being moved down to outside linebacker this spring. The move was propitious as Enigbokan’s speed and downhill hitting prowess made him a key component on a defensive squad that relinquished an average of just 11 points a game. Look for Enigbokan to emerge as on of the state’s best at his position and a probable scholarship recipient.

Junior ZACH BOWLES (5-11, 202) had an outstanding sophomore campaign as an inside linebacker. His much improved speed allowed him to make the move outside where he is certain to make big plays this fall.

INSIDE LINEBACKER
Senior All-Angelus League inside linebacker PATRICK SODL (6-0, 205) led the varsity in tackles this spring. A tough-as-nails defender, Sodl controls the middle of the field with uncommon ferocity. He recently committed to Columbia of the Ivy League, which demonstrates the intelligence he utilizes in diagnosing and stopping plays. Sodl will be a definite tone setter for the ‘Wolfpack’ defense.

TYE SMITH (6-1, 221) has to rank as one of the best sophomore inside linebackers in California. It is extremely rare for any Loyola football player to see substantial playing time as a freshman, but Smith did just that in an impressive manner at inside LB. The big-time thumper will have an impactful season.

SECONDARY
Senior JACKSON SHEA (6-0, 181) returns at one of the safety posts, where he enjoyed a solid outing during his junior campaign. The multi-sport (baseball) athlete uses his athleticism and high intelligence to thwart opposing aerial assaults. Shea is expected to be the main leader of a young secondary.

Junior JORDAN HEWETT (5-10, 180) secured a varsity starting spot at corner in the spring season, and matured as a pass defender in what amounted to a baptism by fire. The talented defender is expected to make another quantum leap this fall. 

Athletic junior KYLE SOMERVILLE (5-11, 182) is in the hunt to start at the other corner position.

KICKER AND PUNTER
Sophomore kicker MARK HYAN (6-3, 207) earned All-League recognition as a freshman on the varsity, while sophomore punter XAVIER RICE (6-4, 200) earned All-League accolades for his towering, long distance punts.

KICK AND PUNT RETURNERS
Both senior kick returner TAHJ OWENS (5-11, 195) and senior punt returner PETE VANIS (5-10, 181) have to be among the elite kick and punt returners in the state. Every time the electric duo catches a kick or punt each is a threat to take the ball to the house.

SUMMARY
The 2021 Cubs possess big strike capability on offense with so many game breakers on the field. Defensively. Loyola should be solid, especially with the addition of Tarbet and a strong group of returnees. Special teams could be a big factor in putting numbers in the win column.

With the CIF Southern Section now making playoff division placement at the end of the regular season, the Cubs could find themselves in rarefied air come November.

Loyola scrimmages Gardena Serra at Smith Field in less than a month on August 12, and kicks off the 2021 season at home against Pasadena Muir on August 20.