Top Returning Defensive Stat Monsters

We have some impressively productive young men coming back to high school football fields across the state of Wisconsin. Today I want to focus on the dudes returning to the defensive side of the ball that posted the best stats in the state. We are going to look at the three players returning with the most tackles, sacks, and INTs from the 2020 fall or 2021 spring seasons. All of these student athletes are going to be names to know this fall and most have the abilities to play at the next level. Let’s get into these monsters! <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tackle Machines</strong></span> <strong>Gavin Tegels, 2022 LB- Cadott</strong> Season Stats: 115 Total Tackles, 10 TFLs, 4 Sacks The #1 returning tackle machine in the state is the LB out of Cadott High School. The LB was a major factor on a team that finished last fall 4-5, and is looking to take the next step forward. Major factor isn’t an understatement either as Gavin also led his team in every passing and rushing statistical category. To go along with the production on the football field, Tegels also is a dominant wrestler. This past winter he won the 220 lbs D3 Championship. This is definitely an athlete to keep an eye on this fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118363" first="Ben" last="Rehl"], 2022 LB- Mukwonago</strong> Season Stats: 98 Total Tackles, 12 TFLs, 7.5 Sacks The #2 returning tackler is a very talented 6’ 200 lbs LB prospect out of Mukwonago. Not only is Rehl very good and roaming sideline to sideline and getting to the football, he is also a consistent and talented pass rusher. Ben’s versatility offers a lot of potential uses for the next level. Rehl already has holds one offer from D2 Upper Iowa. Mukwonago is going to be a team to watch this fall as they return several key pieces of last season’s 7-2 record. One of those key pieces is Rehl who spearheaded a defense that allowed more than 14 points only twice in the nine games. I can’t wait to see what he does this fall and the recruitment that comes with it. <strong>Bryce Shoenberger, 2022 DL- Valders</strong> Season Stats: 97 Total Tackles, 6 TFLs Our third most productive returning tackler is the 5’9" 220 lbs LB out of Valders. The compact tackling machine has a nose for the ball as he picks through the trenches to make tackles at or near the line of scrimmage. Bryce is a sound tackler who is able to pack a solid punch at the point of contact. He also plays relentlessly in his pursuit. If the whistle hasn’t blown he is going all out. Valders is looking to have a far more successful this season than they did last fall, and Bryce would be a big factor in the turnaround. He is a potential D3 prospect with a good summer of development under his belt. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Sack Artists</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118444" first="Jake" last="Nesterick"], 2022 LB- Stanley- Boyd</strong> Season Stats: 54 Total Tackles, 14 TFLs, 12 Sacks The most productive returning athlete when it comes to getting after the QB comes to us from Stanley- Boyd. He ended the fall 2020 season as one of the leaders in sacks with 12 and spent a huge amount of his time in the opponent’s backfield as he added 14 TFLs to go along with his pass rush production. The 5’11" 195 lbs LB springs off the edge with good initial quickness and quick hands to get him past much larger offensive linemen. I’m looking forward to watching him battle for the sack title in 2021. To add to his great defensive production Jake is also one of his team’s top ball carriers. <strong>John Harman, 2022 LB- Stoughton</strong> Season Stats: 72 Total Tackles, 18 TFLs, 11 Sacks The #1 sack artist of the spring season comes from Stoughton. The 6’ 195 lbs LB does nothing but make plays in the backfield as demonstrated by his nearly 30 combined TFLs and sacks. Those stats are even more impressive when you look at the competition he had on his own team as he played with a Badgers wrestling commit, and the #2 and #3 leaders in sacks from the spring. Despite all that talent John was still able to come out as the most productive player on the Stoughton defense thanks to his ability to fly off the edge, and then win with power or agility against the OL. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does as he has to step up even more with the graduation of several key defenders from last season. Big year coming. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118366" first="Jack" last="Genzmer"], 2022 LB- Ozaukee</strong> Season Stats: 20 Total Tackles, 7 TFLs, 10 Sacks The final returning pass rusher on this list and the last one with double digit sacks is the LB from Ozaukee. The 5’11’’ 215 lbs LB/RB is a two way impact player who on offense posted over 1,100 rushing yards and 9 TDs to go along with his dominant pass rush ability. His film is all from his Honorable Mention All- State RB performance, but you can see the strength, body control, and speed that helps him win on the defensive side of the ball. Teams at the next level should consider him on either side of the ball. He is definitely a next level prospect. Look for Jake to be a key contributor on both sides of the ball as Ozaukee looks to improve on their 4-4 record. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Ball Hawks</strong></span> <strong>Sam Grieger, 2022 DB- Randolph</strong> Season Stats: 32 Total Tackles, 7 INTs On  of the state’s most productive ball hawks comes from Randolph HS. The 6’4" 170 lbs DB was able to generate 7 picks in a 9 game span that helped pave the way to a 6-3 record. It is clear that Sam has natural ball skills as also led his team in receptions, receiving yards, and tied for the lead in receiving TDs. Sam is also an accomplished basketball player. Clearly that has translated to the football field where he continued to play above the rim and attack the ball in the air on both sides of the ball. He is a name to know going forward as he enters his senior season. <strong>Brennen Dvorachek, 2022 DB- Reedsville</strong> Season Stats: 21 Total Tackles, 6 INTs, 1 Pick Six Our next top returning ball hawk is another impressive physical specimen. Brennen checks in at 6’4" 190 lbs. The two way impact player also plays QB for Reedsville where he led the team in passing yards and finished second on the team in rushing yards. As a safety, Brennen shows the ability to play at every level of the defense. He can come down in the box and make plays against the run as he picks through the trash and he has the range to roam a deep half of the field and make plays on the ball. Brennan is an intriguing prospect to follow. he will be on my radar going forward. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104374" first="Avery" last="Kurth"], 2023 DB- Slinger</strong> Season Stats: 42 Total Tackles, 6 INTs, 2 Pick Sixes The final ball hawk I want people to follow is incoming junior [player_tooltip player_id="104374" first="Avery" last="Kurth"]. As a sophomore Avery was one of the most productive players roaming any secondary in the state. The 6’ 195 lbs safety is proving to be one of Wisconsin’s top DB and currently holds our #1 DB rank for the Wisconsin Class of 2023. Even as a sophomore the recognition skills jumped off the tape and his natural ball skills allowed him to capitalize on his innate ability to be in the right place at the right time. Once he got the ball in his hands he proved to be a natural playmaker as he returned a couple of his picks for scores. The impressive athlete also was second on his team in receptions last fall. Definitely a name to know.