School: Buchanan

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 6-1, 215

He’s qualified because: Three-year starter at inside linebacker was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Tri-River Athletic Conference.

He was in on 170 tackles, including 81 assisted and 21 for losses, for the 9-3 Bears, who tied for the TRAC title and reached the Central Section Division I semifinals.

He also had 6.5 sacks, forced three fumbles and intercepted six passes — an unusually high amount for the position.

With a 4.4 grade-point average boosted by advanced placement courses, he has received a scholarship offer from UC-Davis, but may also attend Stanford or aim for the Ivy League with Princeton, Yale or Columbia.

The word: “He’s our team leader. He’s been calling our defensive fronts and checks for three years. He’s a really smart kid who gets to the ball really fast. He was our Bear Award winner, which is the highest award we give, representing achievement on and off the field. It’s a little beyond being MVP. — Bears coach Mike Vogt.