When you play varsity football at De La Salle of Concord you’re more than just a member of the Spartans team. You're part of a legacy.
It’s a legacy that started back in 1979 when legendary coach and movie man Bob Ladouceur took the De La Salle helm, and includes a national record 151-game winning streak, seven national championships, and a program that has produced 11 California No. 1-ranked teams since 2000.
Obviously, to have that kind of long-term success not only takes good coaching but good players, and junior wide receiver and defensive back Zeke Berry is one of the current cast’s best.
So when Berry, who is listed on some of the major recruiting sites as a wide receiver, some as a defensive back, and on all a Major D1 recruit, was named the overall Defensive MVP at the National Preps Collegiate Showcase last November at Vacaville Christian High, it was not really a surprise.
“I was a bit surprised, but my goal was to get the MVP and I felt like it was expected with all the hard work I’ve put in during the COVID,” Berry said.
Brandon Huffman, the National Recruiting Editor for 247Sports, has Berry listed as a cornerback in Zeke’s Prospect Info. He referred to him as such in a story after Berry was a top performer at the Stack Sports Showcase at Vacaville Christian the week before the National Preps event, but sees his abilities at other positions as well.
“With Zeke, I like his versatility,” Huffman remarked. “He could play safety, corner, running back or slot. His best football is ahead of him.”
“He started to come along late in his sophomore season and has really emerged in the offseason,” continued Huffman.
Berry more than realizes he’s part of a legacy and has a recent Spartans’ star he looks up to.
“I mean it’s crazy to me to be able to play behind some of the De La Salle legends,” Berry said. “Just recently we had a guy named Henry To’oto’o who now plays for Tennessee.”
“I was a freshman when he was a senior and just being able to practice with him and play with him – it was crazy,” Berry continued. “He inspires so much it's unbelievable. I look up to him, he’s like my role model, and being able to play for the same coach and program as him is a true blessing.”
The coach Zeke is referring to is De La Salle Coach Justin Alumbaugh, who took over for his mentor Ladouceur in 2013 and hasn’t missed a beat.
“To be honest the sky is the limit for Zeke,” Alumbaugh said. “If he keeps working and continues to stay humble and coachable, it’s hard not to see him playing this game for a long, long time.”
Someone else that sees Berry playing for a long time is Trent Herzog, the National Preps Director of Collegiate Showcases and College Football Scout for Northern California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and the current head coach at St. Vincent de Paul in Petaluma.
“Zeke is a tremendous athlete with great ball skills who understands the game and loves to compete,” Herzog said. “He has big-time potential and the ability to be playing in the NFL in four years.”
Besides Huffman, Alumbaugh and Herzog, the college coaches have taken notice of Berry’s progress. The 6-foot, 189-pounder, who ran a laser-timed 4.59 40 and has a 74-inch wingspan, currently has eight major D1 offers, including seven from the Pac-12, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State and Utah, with San Jose State rounding out the current list which likely is going to grow, and it could be soon if we have some kind of season.
“The recruiting process has been pretty good, but just not being able to visit the schools due to the pandemic makes it a little tough,” Berry said. “But other than that, I’ve been shown a lot of love from different schools.”
If we do have a season, Berry will be looked to by Alumbaugh and the other Spartans coaches to be a factor on both offense and defense.
“Zeke will be looked at to be a major contributor on both sides of the ball,” Alumbaugh said. “He will likely play multiple spots on both offense and defense.”
There was little doubt De La Salle would be the No. 1 team in the Prep2Prep NorCal preseason rankings, and it wasn’t just Berry that helped the Spartans garner that top spot.
“We have some talented guys this year, people like (Cal-bound senior) Lu-Magia Hearns, (Sacramento State-signed senior) Dorian Hale, Brodie Tagaloa and more guys,” Berry said. “Our goal as a team every year is to win the state championship game and I have a strong feeling a victory is possible with the special group of guys we have this year.”
Being a top-notch recruit, Berry, like stars at all levels, has tremendous attributes, but also areas in which he can improve.
“His demeanor and overall athleticism,” responded Alumbaugh to Zeke’s best assets. “He’s a great teammate that loves being with the guys, which helps.”
What does Berry see as his best attributes?
“From a game standpoint, I believe my greatest attributes is that I can be versatile. I can come down in the box and serve as a linebacker and can play man to man, and I can sit back in coverage,” Berry said.
“I also believe that when the ball is in the air and I’m near I think to myself either I’m getting the ball or nobody is getting it, a ball hawk in a way,” continued Berry.
What does Zeke feel separated him from others at the Vacaville showcase?
“I believe what separated me from the others was getting in and out of my break cleaner, my speed out of my break, and having better body control in my back peddle and turns,” Berry said. “I was just able to showcase my talent and what I’ve been working on since the whole COVID thing happened.”
What about areas where he can improve?
“There is always a need for improvement,” Berry responded. “What I would say is that I can get my footwork better, get my mental game stronger, speed always, and things like that.”
Berry also plays baseball for De La Salle as an outfielder, and we won’t even get into the fact he only got in four games last season before baseball season got cancelled.
It’s pretty obvious that in all likelihood Berry has a major D1 college scholarship in his future, but what about beyond that?
“Long term goal would be to play pro ball,” Berry said. “After that I would say getting into the sports medicine field after football is over. I would still be able to surround myself around football, but in this case I would help the players.”
Does Zeke have any final thoughts?
“All I want to say is I can’t wait to get back on the field on Friday night, strap up my helmet and play some football.”
There are a lot of high school football players, coaches and fans in California that are hoping that very thing comes to pass this school year.
