Interview: Gaudy Stat Line for 2018 California LB Christian LaValle Drawing Recruiting Interest

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Every now and again the idea about how wonderful it would be to play for a dominating team takes a backseat to reality. Sure, it is great knowing that pretty much every time you take the field that your team is going to steamroll over the opposition but the flip side for the starters, most games come to a conclusion by halftime. One can only wonder where the stat line would be for Class of 2018 linebacker Christian LaValle had he played all four quarters of an entire season’s worth of games.

Mission Viejo High School is quite cleverly nicknamed the Diablos because it has been a hell of a time hanging a loss on the squad over the past two seasons. In 2015, head coach Bob Johnson and staff guided the team to a perfect 16-0 season capturing a state title with a 24-0 win over Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose). The 2016 schedule looked like a repeat performance with the Diablos strolling to an 11-0 start before a five turnover game against Rancho Cucamonga ended in a 34-25 defeat in the playoffs. Yes, Mission Viejo was that good that they could turn the ball over five times, several giving Rancho a very short field, and still make a game out of it.

One of the top performers for Mission Viejo during their 27-1 run over the past two years has been middle linebacker Christian LaValle. LaValle was a leader on the team as a sophomore coming up with 115 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. His junior season was essentially a repeat tallying 108 tackles, an estimated 15 tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble – all in four less games than the previous year.

The gaudy stat line is one that any linebacker would want yet does not give LaValle due justice. As the Diablos scored an average of 45.5 points per game, their defense held their southern California opposition to an average of 16.1 points per game. Starters were on the sidelines coming out of the locker room at halftime staying fresh for the next game cheering on the second and third string players until the clocked hit triple zeroes. Somehow the 6-1, 215 pound, rising talent managed to put a season’s worth of work in on the gridiron in half the time.

One would think that college coaches would be all over LaValle. Interest is there from teams like Vanderbilt, Boston College, San Diego State, Yale, and Nevada but there seems to be a bias against Mission Viejo players despite their proven record on the field. Guys like Arizona Class of 2017 linebacker commit Colin Schooler, 2017 quarterback Matthew McDonald, and LaValle are working hard to break that recruiting bias. The perception should have been broken after former Mission talent Brenden Schooler wanted until the summer of 2016 to get his offer from the Ducks and then led Oregon with four interceptions as a true freshman from his safety position. He also ended up third on the team in total tackles with 74 playing in all 12 games.

For LaValle, if his athleticism was in question, he proved to be a two-way asset for the Diablos hauling in 11 passes for 207 yards with five scores playing tight end.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the rising California Class of 2018 talents getting an overview on his junior season and an update on his recruitment to date.

Interview

Christian, when did you get the nod at the varsity level?

“It was a really big transition for me. I transferred from Orange Lutheran after my freshman year after growing up in Ohio. When I transferred I had to prove myself. I was playing a different position but then they threw me into the middle, the position I had played my whole life. All the sudden I was a sophomore starting on a high caliber program.”

The Diablos played some very talented teams in 2016. How did your game get better against all the top competition?

“A lot of it came from the offseason work. I knew I had to prove myself. I put in a lot of time and hard work to have an explosive season. I feel like I did. Against the Long Beach Poly and Santa Margarita teams, it showed. I was dominating lines and making tackles that I would not have been able to my sophomore year. I was going side line to sideline and feeling like a force on the field. Watching a lot of game film helped my game.”

Which team was the toughest for you during your junior season?

“For me personally, it was Long Beach Poly (Mission won 42-14). Their line was very good and bigger than most of the teams we had played all season, and there were really well coached.”

What did you learn from that game that has or will make you better going into your senior season?

“Long Beach Poly was a great learning experience. I did not have a great game against them. I got down on myself. I realized no matter what I had the rest of the season to play at a high level and that I needed to treat each team the same. I think it honestly taught me to trust my instincts more to play at that higher level. Play with my form that I was taught and trust it all the time. Trust all the film, and practice time that I have received to play loose during games.

“Against Rancho, all the juniors realized we had faced big adversity with five turnovers. As a team we learned to overcome that and not give up in a game. It installed a chip on our shoulder knowing what we have to work for next year.”

What honors have you earned over the past two seasons?

“My sophomore year I was second team All-League and I won our Touch the Hat Award for always being around the ball. My junior year I got first team All-League, second team All-County, and Defensive MVP of the team. I was nominated for a MaxPreps Player of the Week Award, named Defensive Player of the Week, and was the MVP of the Honor Bowl played at Mission.”

Are you staying at middle linebacker for your senior season?

“No. I will be playing Will – Colin’s position.”

How do you feel about moving to Will?

“I think it is a great idea. People know I can play middle linebacker. At Will, I can be a game changer blitzing off the end and I will be in more plays in the backfield instead of being the big guy in the middle that plugs plays.”

Will you have a bigger role on offense in 2017 after catching 11 passes for 207 yards with five touchdowns during your junior season?

“Yes, I believe so. I think they will feed me the ball more at tight end. I was about 90 percent blocking last year. I think they will use me to catch the ball deep and short. I think I will play some fullback next year. I did some of that last year but not much.”

What are you working on during the off-season?

“I’m working on the little things. My play right now is pretty solid, but I need to work on the technique that will allow me to play at the next level. I’m working on speed, explosiveness, and strength.”

Have you maxed out in the weight room yet this off-season?

“Not yet, but last year I was able to do 315 on clean. Right now on bench I can rep out 225 pretty easy 12 to 14 times.”

Do you know which camps you might attend coming up?

“Yes. I will be doing the Under Armour All-American camp on President’s Day weekend, I’m doing the (Nike) Opening in LA, and my linebacker coach is getting me into the Rivals Camp. Those are the only ones I know for sure right now.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you?

“I visited Vanderbilt three months ago. I spoke to Yale at school once. Boston College, San Diego State, and Nevada are all coming this week to talk to me. That is about all the somewhat serious connections I have right now.”

How did your visit to Vandy go?

“I absolutely loved it. Nashville is a great city. I loved the facilities and the campus is beautiful. I liked their game day feel there.”

Do you have any other planned visits?

“Not yet. I plan on asking San Diego State if I can visit when we meet.”

Are you playing any winter or spring sports for Mission?

“Yeah, I’m throwing the shot put and discus.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“3.7.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT?

“Not yet. I have dates planned to take them coming up.”

The Diablos have had tremendous back-to-back seasons going 16-0 in 2015 and 11-1 in 2016. What kind of team will return in 2017 and what all does the team need to work on to keep this type of on the field success going?

“Well our team is very close. Our senior class will be a very close group of kids. We have Jamari Ferrell (RB), Jarrett Patterson (OL), Akili Arnold (CB), Austin Osborne, and (WR) Olaijah Griffin (CB/WR) coming back. Four of our offensive linemen coming back next year were starters. We have 10 defenders that started at least a game last year returning. I think if we put in hard work in the offseason the sky is the limit.”

Christian, thanks for your time today and good luck with your upcoming in-school visits.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin; No. 5 Christian LaValle brings down Jaylon Redd.

Photo credit: LaValle family; Christian LaValle post-game.

Photo credit: LaValle family; Christian LaValle at Vanderbilt.