2022 Season Recap: Midwest Tackle Leaders

Lots of good football on today so I'll keep this one short! PrepRedzone is rolling along with our featured Midwest series recapping the 2022 season and highlighting statistical leaders from every state in America's Heartland. Today, we're moving over to defense and the always-important skill of tackling. The Midwest saw some outrageous defensive efforts take place this past fall, and some of the kids on this list put up impressive personal stat lines defensively that are sure to catch your eye and keep your attention. Today, we made sure to include both 11-man and 9/8/6-man competitors, and I also want to make sure to thank Maxpreps, MNFootballHub, DZone, and BoundIA for their keeping of stats during the season. Now, let's get to know the Midwest's tackle leaders of 2022. Who came out #1? Scroll down to find out!   --   Dakotas   Tackle Leader: [player_tooltip player_id='160924' first='Matthew' last='Gray'] (Faith, SD) Senior. LB. 6'1, 200 lbs. = 133 tackles (101 solos).   North and South Dakota's tackle leader comes out of the Mount Rushmore State's 9man ranks and Faith High School senior LB and RB [player_tooltip player_id='160924' first='Matthew' last='Gray']. At a firm 6'1, 200 lbs., Gray brings a ton of thump when we sets his feet and brings his hips through contact and laid some huge hits in 2022 on defense, special teams, and even as a RB carrying the rock. I also like his pursuit speed and angles, and he's strong when attacking and getting off blocks. Gray was all over the field in 2022 and a brick wall when he lined up a ball carrier. The senior has a Dakota State offer but is currently uncommitted! He also visited Northern State and Augustana this fall. I will always be a fan of 9man stat-monsters and Gray is a good one out of South Dakota.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/matthew_gray82/status/1589458315637313536?s=20&t=N-UtULt8_DI-RynlrVoDIA </div></figure>   Illinois   Tackle Leader: [player_tooltip player_id='267771' first='Luke' last='Zimmerman'] (Villa Grove) Senior. LB. 5'11, 190 lbs. = 179 tackles   The Land of Lincoln's tackle leader [player_tooltip player_id='267771' first='Luke' last='Zimmerman'] comes out of the small school, 11-man ranks and Villa Grove High School, located three hours south of Chicago. The senior posted four 20+ tackle performances this past fall and never finished with less than 14 tackles in any of the Blue Devil's 2022 contests. He plays the position with a ton of speed and range and set Villa Grove's single-season tackle record with his 179 total tackles as a senior and holds the career tackle record to boot. He also earned All-State HM honors this fall, has been named All-Conference thrice, and is an All-Area pick. Zimmerman is committed to the prestigious Grinnell College to play his college football and get a heckuva degree as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LukeZim51772082/status/1579499477270138881?s=20&t=N-UtULt8_DI-RynlrVoDIA </div></figure>   Indiana   Tackle Leader: [player_tooltip player_id='358675' first='John' last='Purdy'] (Castle) Senior. LB. 6', 210 lbs. = 200 tackles (70 solo, 123 assisted)   A Top-10 tackler in the entire country, Castle, Indiana senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='358675' first='John' last='Purdy'] averaged 15.4 tackles a game in 13 games to finish with a whopping 200 total tackles, plus 9 TFLs, 2 INTS, and 2 sacks. A lot of his tackling prowess comes from his powerful lower body, highlighted by his 465x3 back squat he hit in-season in November. A complete and balanced LB skillset, Purdy can get off blocks, hold a gap, and tackle strongly around the box, pursue out to the edge, run down faster ball carriers and tackle in space, blitz, and contribute in pass coverage. Also a fun and physical RB to watch, you can see Purdy's hard work in the weight room paying off on the field. He visited Marian University in July but is currently uncommitted and hasn't reported a college offer yet.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/johnjpurdy9/status/1553389081392021510?s=20&t=Z0iK_0RNargXVX_inolp_Q </div></figure>   Iowa   Tackle Leader: [player_tooltip player_id='152874' first='Sage' last='Evans'] (West Harrison) Senior. LB. 6'1, 210 lbs. = 121 total tackles (82 solo)   Coming out of the 8-man ranks of the Hawkeye State, West Harrison High School senior had a monster senior season and finished 2022 with 121 tackles, 82 of which were solo, as well as 16 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and 3 INTs. A key leader in West Harrison's 9-1 2022 campaign that saw them reach the Second Round of the 8man playoffs, Evans, with his thick build and throwback neck roll, looks like a tank on tape and was a crushing tackler and defeater of blocks. Opponents looked scared to get in his way on tape, and when Evans got his hands on a QB or RB they were sure to go down. Also showed solid COD skills and did his best work in the box. West Harrison's opponents are still breathing sighs of relief that they don't need to see the 6'1, 210+ pounder again.   Kansas   Tackle Leader: Josh Ferguson (Thunder Ridge) Junior. LB. 6'2, 210 lbs. = 174 tackles (84 solo, 90 assisted)   Another tackle leader out of the non-11man ranks of high school football, Kansas' 2022 tackle machine comes out of Thunder Ridge High School, located in Kensington, a town of a little over 400 residents. Junior Josh Ferguson, who weighs in at a strapping 6'2, 210, finished his junior season with 174 tackles (13.4 a game), with 10 TFLs and 3 sacks and has another season to build on those stats and his defensive influence. Sadly, as it goes with smaller schools, Ferguson doesn't have an updated Hudl tape, so I can't give you guys as much of a glimpse into his game as I'd like to. Stay posted with PRzKS for more info on Ferguson as we find it!   Michigan   Tackle Leader: [player_tooltip player_id='241271' first='Chase' last='Kern'] (Hartland) Senior. LB. = 140 tackles   There was some competing statistics and leaderboards when I was looking for the Michigan high school football tackle leader of this past fall, but I think I can say with some confidence that Hartland's [player_tooltip player_id='241271' first='Chase' last='Kern'] led the pack for Michigan defensive contributors. Sitting at 140 total tackles (81 solo), 13 TFLs, and a sack, Kern averaged 14 tackles a game and helped his Hartland squad compete impressively in every contest of this past season. They finished with a 6-4 record behind the defensive dominance of Kern. Sadly, he doesn't seem to have updated his senior tape, but I'm hoping he'll get on it soon.   Minnesota   Tackler Leader: Ashton Toll (Springfield) Junior. LB. 6'1, 190 lbs. = 199 tackles (84 solo)   Class A 2022 runner-up Springfield High School produced some outrageous personal stat lines in 2022, most notably in the passing, receiving, interception, and in this case, tackling departments. The state of MN's tackle leader came out of their ranks in junior Ashton Toll, who led MN with 199 tackles, including 84 solo. A huge part of Springfield going 11-3 in 2022 and limiting their quality opponents to small offensive outputs, Toll possesses speed, length, and instincts, and his ability to identify the play, track the football, and trigger and close on the ball carrier helped him considerably as a tackler. Toll is also strong in 1-on-1 tackling situations, whether it's in space or around traffic, and has a heckuva motor that never stops pumping. I'll be very interested to see if Toll can break the 200-tackle mark next season as a senior.   Missouri   Tackle Leader: Wyatt Miller (Dekalb) Senior. LB. 5'10, 190 lbs. = 177 tackles (108 solo, 69 assisted)   Another non-11man tackle machine who led his state in tackles, Show-Me State senior Wyatt Miller went off for Dekalb High School, located North of Kansas City. As a senior, he posted 177 tackles with an impressive 108 solos to go along with his 14 TFLs. There were a lot of losses for Dekalb in 2022, but Miller was able to get a lot of action on the defensive side of the ball and made the most of it. No updated tape, but from his junior film I can tell he's a technically sound tackler who goes hard in pursuit of the football. The numbers back that up!   Nebraska   Tackle Leader: Aiden Kuester (Neligh-Oakdale) Senior. DB. 6', 185 lbs. = 184 tackles (82 solo, 102 assisted)   Love seeing a DB make the list of Midwest states tackle leaders, and Nebraska's representative is a good one in senior safety Aiden Kuester. The non-11man competitor finished his senior season with 184 tackles, 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, and is just seeing his recruitment pop off in December. DII Chadron State and NAIA heavyweight Morningside just reached out with offers, and I'd be surprised if more didn't join the fray, especially after they check out the film. Kuester is super slippery when avoiding blocks, closes on ball carriers with impressive pace, and is comfortable pursing the ball through traffic. Kuester also has some noticeable pop at the point of contact and sticks ball carriers at 185 pounds. Could play strong or free safety and play either or both well.   Ohio   Tackle Leader: Leighton Loge (Nelsonville-York) Senior. DB. 5'11, 185 lbs. = 204 tackles (50 solo, 154 assisted)   One of the most decorated defensive players on this list, Nelsonville-York senior and Ohio product Leighton Loge is an All-State pick, D6 SE defensive POY of the year, Conference DPOY twice, and All-District twice, and totaled a monster 204 tackles in his last season of high school football. He also finished with 29 TFLs, 11 PBUs, 7 FFs, 2 sacks, and an interception, and did so in impressive fashion, reading plays like he's on offense, closing like he's shot out of a cannon, and showing the awareness to get his hands on the football and create turnovers for his team. No formal offers for the senior, but Ohio has been in contact and whoever lands Loge's talent is going to be one happy camper. Get at him, college coaches!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LeightonLoge8/status/1578862513348755456?s=20&t=Z0iK_0RNargXVX_inolp_Q </div></figure>   Wisconsin   Tackle Leader: Marcus Getsinger (Pittsville) Senior. LB. 6', 210 lbs =168 total tackles   An All-Conference pick this year, Wisconsin's tackle leader in 2022 finished the year with 168 tackles,13 TFLs, 6 FFs, 2 sacks, and a blocked kick. Getsinger, a 6', 210 lber. was also an All-Region pick and recently received a WIAC roster spot from UW-Stevens Point. The senior can shoot gaps at the LOS, work off blocks with either speed or strength, and shows some giddy-up in his start-stop ability. I also like his footwork and patience when reading the play and tracking the path of the ball. If he lands in the WIAC he's got a chance to be a baller.

Lots of good football on today so I'll keep this one short! PrepRedzone is rolling along with our featured Midwest series recapping the 2022 season and highlighting statistical leaders from every state in America's Heartland. Today, we're moving over to defense and the always-important skill of tackling. The Midwest saw some outrageous defensive efforts take place this past fall, and some of the kids on this list put up impressive personal stat lines defensively that are sure to catch your eye and keep your attention. Today, we made sure to include both 11-man and 9/8/6-man competitors, and I also want to make sure to thank Maxpreps, MNFootballHub, DZone, and BoundIA for their keeping of stats during the season. Now, let's get to know the Midwest's tackle leaders of 2022. Who came out #1? Scroll down to find out!