Talented San Diego area 'backer in process of lining up Colorado visit

After earning second-team all-section honors as a sophomore in 2014, Ezekiel Noa put together an even more impressive junior campaign.

The 6-foot-0, 225-pound inside linebacker from La Mesa (Calif.) Helix was rewarded with first-team all-state and San Diego Section Player of the Year honors in 2015 after he racked up 105 tackles and nine-and-a-half quarterbacks sacks.

Noa has also been rewarded for his hard work with scholarship offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, Washington State and Wisconsin.

While Noa is not ready to name recruiting favorites yet, Wisconsin and Colorado have both made a strong impression on him early on.

“I like Wisconsin and what I have heard from them,” he said. “I like what they have said about their academics and even small things like the meal plans they offer the players.”

Noa is in the process of scheduling an unofficial visit with Colorado for either this spring or sometime in the summer. He said he just needs to finalize the trip with his parents.

“I have been talking to the coaches at Colorado a lot and they have been sending me pictures of their practice facility and their other facilities. It seems like a great place," he said. "I have even heard the weather is pretty nice out there.”

Noa, who plays both ways for Helix, is currently ranked as the nation's 24th best inside linebacker prospect and the 52nd best recruit in the Golden State from the Class of 2017.

“Most of the colleges that have offered me say they simply like the way I play and how I carry myself,” Noa said. “I want to say I am good at team building. I am not a very vocal leader but I lead by example.”

Noa is part of a program called Gridiron Ministry, which combines bible study and football workouts. He also recently attended a Rivals camp and a regional tryout camp for The Opening.

"I am working to improve my speed. That is my main priority this off-season," he said.