Tackling Machines: Top Returning Players for Each Class

During the 2021 season, while there were plenty of prospects who made a name for themselves, the highly productive defensive players in the state were the ones who stole the show. While we have taken some time to track the leaders in tackles for each of the returning classes, we also have recognized the impact that had on their team's overall defense. Below, we included some of the biggest tackling machines from last season who will be returning this year. Expect for them to have an immediate impact, making their team's highly productive on the defensive side of the ball. 2025: [player_tooltip player_id='286966' first='Jonathan' last='Hinnant'] (DE)- Hunt Not only did Hinnant finish the year with 132 total tackles as a true freshman, but he allowed his natural ability to read ball carriers, and passers to be a huge factor in his early success at the high school level of play. Simply put, Hinnant had a dominant freshman season, putting up 12 sacks as well, within a 12 game span. In addition to this, by the end of the season, he averaged around 11 tackles a game, with some of them contributing to his overall 36 tackles for a loss that he racked up by the end of the year. Hinnant could also be seen to be a force for his team, as 85 of his total tackles ended up being solo tackles, proving that he was able to handle the big stage at a young age. 2024: [player_tooltip player_id='263959' first='CJ' last='Landrum'] (DE)- Hendersonville For Henderson High, Landrum was a dream come true for his defense last year. During the duration of his team's 12 game season, not only was he a tackling machine, but he was a sack machine as well. By the end of the year, he finished with 159 tackles, and 10 total sacks. This not only made a huge impact for his team, but it put them in place to make key defensive stops, and timely tackles that put his offense in an even better position. Ultimately, over time, it also helped put them in place to make it to the playoffs. In addition to this, Landrum finished the season with an average of 13.2 tackles a game, with 46 of his tackles during the season being solo tackles. In addition to this, he also impressed many fans, as 16 of his tackles were for a loss. Look for him to continue to expand upon his defensive catalog next season. 2023: Carson Jenkins (LB)- Northern Nash Jenkins' Junior season was everything he could have asked it to be, as he finished with 184 tackles in a 13 game span. This total amount of tackles speaks for itself, and the reasons in which his defense, and team made it so far into the playoffs. His success was largely predicated on the players around him, as well as his natural burst, speed, and ability to use his leverage and strength in ways that helped him to make tackles at the point of attack. Because of this, on a game-to-game basis, he averaged about 14.2 tackles. Ultimately, when it was all said and done by the end of the year, these tackles led to 138 of them being from assists, and 46 of them being solo tackles. While we would have liked to see more solo tackles from his game, we have no doubt that he will continue to add this to his totals next season. 2023: [player_tooltip player_id='290896' first='Keyaan' last='Abdul-Rahim'] (LB)- Providence Day Not only is Providence Day one of the most productive, and successful teams in the state, but it also tends to be one of the programs that develops its talent the best. While Abdul-Rahim does not have a large amount of offers, he has still received a decent bit of attention from colleges. This is due to his raw ability to play the game of football, and the way that he produces in multiple ways for his defense. By the end of the 2021 season, he totaled 182 tackles, and averaged around 16.5 tackles a game in an 11 game span. Out of these tackles, 97 of them were assists, with 85 of them being solo tackles. Out of all of these tackles, impressive enough, 18 of them were for a loss, and this does not include the 7.5 sacks that he also had. Needless to say, we believe Abdul-Rahim has a bright future ahead of him, which will likely continue to take off this upcoming season.

During the 2021 season, while there were plenty of prospects who made a name for themselves, the highly productive defensive players in the state were the ones who stole the show. While we have taken some time to track the leaders in tackles for each of the returning classes, we also have recognized the impact that had on their team's overall defense. Below, we included some of the biggest tackling machines from last season who will be returning this year. Expect for them to have an immediate impact, making their team's highly productive on the defensive side of the ball.
2025: Jonathan Hinnant (DE)- Hunt
Not only did Hinnant finish the year with 132 total tackles as a true freshman, but he allowed his natural ability to read ball carriers, and passers to be a huge factor in his early success at the high school level of play. Simply put, Hinnant had a dominant freshman season, putting up 12 sacks as well, within a 12 game span. In addition to this, by the end of the season, he averaged around 11 tackles a game, with some of them contributing to his overall 36 tackles for a loss that he racked up by the end of the year. Hinnant could also be seen to be a force for his team, as 85 of his total tackles ended up being solo tackles, proving that he was able to handle the big stage at a young age.
2024: CJ Landrum CJ Landrum 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Hendersonville | 2024 State NC (DE)- Hendersonville
For Henderson High, Landrum was a dream come true for his defense last year. During the duration of his team's 12 game season, not only was he a tackling machine, but he was a sack machine as well. By the end of the year, he finished with 159 tackles, and 10 total sacks. This not only made a huge impact for his team, but it put them in place to make key defensive stops, and timely tackles that put his offense in an even better position. Ultimately, over time, it also helped put them in place to make it to the playoffs. In addition to this, Landrum finished the season with an average of 13.2 tackles a game, with 46 of his tackles during the season being solo tackles. In addition to this, he also impressed many fans, as 16 of his tackles were for a loss. Look for him to continue to expand upon his defensive catalog next season.
2023: Carson Jenkins (LB)- Northern Nash
Jenkins' Junior season was everything he could have asked it to be, as he finished with 184 tackles in a 13 game span. This total amount of tackles speaks for itself, and the reasons in which his defense, and team made it so far into the playoffs. His success was largely predicated on the players around him, as well as his natural burst, speed, and ability to use his leverage and strength in ways that helped him to make tackles at the point of attack. Because of this, on a game-to-game basis, he averaged about 14.2 tackles. Ultimately, when it was all said and done by the end of the year, these tackles led to 138 of them being from assists, and 46 of them being solo tackles. While we would have liked to see more solo tackles from his game, we have no doubt that he will continue to add this to his totals next season.
2023: Keyaan Abdul-Rahim Keyaan Abdul-Rahim 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Providence Day | 2023 State NC (LB)- Providence Day
Not only is Providence Day one of the most productive, and successful teams in the state, but it also tends to be one of the programs that develops its talent the best. While Abdul-Rahim does not have a large amount of offers, he has still received a decent bit of attention from colleges. This is due to his raw ability to play the game of football, and the way that he produces in multiple ways for his defense. By the end of the 2021 season, he totaled 182 tackles, and averaged around 16.5 tackles a game in an 11 game span. Out of these tackles, 97 of them were assists, with 85 of them being solo tackles. Out of all of these tackles, impressive enough, 18 of them were for a loss, and this does not include the 7.5 sacks that he also had. Needless to say, we believe Abdul-Rahim has a bright future ahead of him, which will likely continue to take off this upcoming season.