Interview: 2019 California LB Jake Medders Brings Lunch Pail and an Attitude to the Field

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There are certain high school players that are fun to watch go about their business. Some guys take the field making ESPN stylized highlight reel plays while others are just physically dominating the opposition making for a fun David verses Goliath scenario. When watching Class of 2019 Jake Medders in action, the California defender brings his lunch pail to the field play after play working over offensive linemen and running backs as a sure-fire playmaker.

Tim Duncan may have been Mr. Fundamentals on the hardwood but one could easily but Medders in the same category at the high school level. He is a technician on the field reading keys and using technique to put himself into position to make plays cemented with his 6-3, 210 pound, frame. In the box, he meets the running back in the hole or behind the line of scrimmage not three to four yards past the line of scrimmage. He stays square and uses his power and leverage to upend even the best of well-designed plays.

Incomplete stats were posted for Medders during his sophomore campaign, but he came up starting at tight end while also playing defensive tackle. Medders’ 2017 season for Arcadia has started off with a bang playing linebacker. In stats posted through six games, he has five receptions for 35 yards with two touchdowns and has 67 tackles, 27 solo, with six tackles for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The Apaches are 4-3 on the season fighting for a playoff spot working through the Pacific League. The big plays and tough workman like approach has already brought scouting attention from Mountain West, Big Ten, and Ivy League schools for Medders.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Medders covering his junior season to date receiving an overview on the team with an update on college teams taking a look at his skillset on the gridiron.

Interview

Jake, the Apaches got above .500 with a big 47-18 win over Hoover on Friday night, how did the game go for the team overall?

“It went well. We started off a little slow on defense but picked it up in the second quarter. On offense, we were strong throughout the game.”

Arcadia has three games left in the regular season, what does the team need to do to finish strong heading into the playoffs?

“Heading into the playoffs, we need to keep getting better at practice every day. We can’t goof around at practice every day.”

Is there one game of the three you are a little more hyped to play than the others?

“Crescenta Valley, they are our rivals. We lost to them last year (49-28). We are looking to beat them this year.”

You are logging time in on both sides of the ball, starting with offense, how is your game improving at tight end?

“It is getting better. I’m better this year at catching and running routes. I’m getting better at the top of my routes.”

What are you doing well at inside linebacker this year?

“I think throughout the season I have improved in all areas. I am reading plays and keys faster and getting into my drops faster.”

What are you working on week after week to improve upon as you keep racking up game experiences?

“Reading faster. I’m reading pullers faster and showing up downhill in the hole.”

What is your weekly preparation for each game?

“I go over film every night. I’m going over key formations and plays out of each formation. I’m calling stuff out in practice against our scout team getting myself and my teammates ready for the game.”

Which schools are already showing recruiting interest in you?

“Fresno State, Boise State, Northwestern, Wyoming, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth and Hillsdale College.”

Do you have any planned visits for this fall?

“We are planning on visiting Fresno State, Hillsdale, and Boise State.”

Back to the field, which game has been your best this season?

“Stat wise Burbank. I would say Muir based off how I played. Against Muir, I felt like that was the first game I showed what I could do. I squared my shoulders up meeting the running backs in the hole. I had 21 tackles against Burbank, but I could not have done it without my line. They funneled everything back to me.”

Is there a lineman or running back you have gone up against this season that challenged you and made you a better player in the process?

“The running back from Burbank, Darnell Williams. He was a hard runner and a good opponent to go against. He is the best running back we have seen this season so far. He runs low and hard. It helped me to get lower. I knew I had to meet him in the hole or in the backfield or he’ll get his yards.”

What gets you hyped for each game?

“I like to listen to music, any hype hip-hop song with a good beat. Seeing everyone there to watch us play and cheer us on gets me hyped as well.”

Jake, good luck with the Glendale on Friday night.

“Thank you.”

Click the link to see Jake Medders mid-season highlight reel

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Photo credit: Apache News; No. 12 Jake Medders in action