2024 Stat Monsters: Tackle Leaders in the State of Illinois

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Defense wins championships" might be the most popular phrase in the world of football, and there is a lot of truth to that. Having an elite defense means that all 11 guys on the field need to be strong tacklers. No matter where the ball is on the field, getting the ball carrier on the ground and living to see another day is instrumental in a defense's success. With all of that being said, here is a look at some of the state's top tacklers in the class of 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Dominique Dixon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East St. Louis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e109 Solo Tackles - 35 Assists - 144 Total Tackles - 11 Sacksu003c/strongu003ernrnComing from one of the most dominant teams in Illinois last year, Dominic Dixon is an absolute weapon on the defensive side of the ball. With a stat line like that, it is clear that Dominic was the heart and soul of the defense last year and racked up a ton of stats while he was on the field. At linebacker, Dominique plays fast with high intensity. With the speed that he has, he can easily track the ball down when the ball carrier is moving side to side and bring the ball carrier down. In coverage, Dominique does a very good job spying on the quarterback and getting the timing right on when to put pressure on him. With him being a proven finisher at the point of attack, I am not surprised to see him at the top of the stat boards on defense. With a number of his teammates joining him at the top of various stat boards in the state, it is clear that East St. Louis is due for another big season next year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Cameron Schroth","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Mt. Zion","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e77 Solo Tackles - 63 Assists - 140 Total Tackles - 1 Sack - 9 Tackles for Lossu003c/strongu003ernrnCameron Schroth is another certified stat monster who put together an impressive 2022 season. At Mt. Zion, Cameron is one of those kids that you don't want to see on the football field on friday nights. With the high motor that he plays with, there is nothing that he can do on the defensive side of the ball. Cameron is a quick twitch kid who has a nose for the football. Once he identifies where the ball is going, Schroth gets there in flash and brings the ball carrier down effectively. From what I have seen from Cameron, it is obvious to see that this kid goes hard. With the way that he plays under the lights, I wouldn't be surprised to see him have another big season this fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["354314"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e56 Solo Tackles - 66 Assists - 122 Total Tackles - 9 Sacks - 15 Tackles for Lossu003c/strongu003ernrnKenwood Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='354314' first='Marquise' last='Lightfoot'] is another stat monster on the defensive side of the ball. With one of the more impressive statlines as a defensive linemen, it is obvious as to why Lightfoot has collected several big time offers recently. Off the edge, Marquise runs with devastating speed and explosiveness. With the variety of different moves that he uses to get into the backfield, there is no wonder why he is so effective on the line of scrimmage. Lightfoot is also an incredible tackler who has no problem bringing ball carriers down effectively and violently. With everything that I have seen from Marquise, there is no doubt that he has already become one of the state's best defensive linemen. I am looking forward to Marquise conquering the 2023 football season with another impressive statline.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Joseph Clayton","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Whitney Young","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e31 Solo Tackles - 84 Assists - 115 Total Tackles - 3 Sacks - 21 Tackles for Lossu003c/strongu003ernrnJoseph Clayton is an all-around athlete for Whitney Young. With him excelling on both sides of the ball, Joseph is a human swiss army knife on the football field. There are several aspects to Clayton's game that helps take him to an elite level. With his speed, Joseph can cover a ton of ground when he is in pursuit of the ball. He also plays with a level of physicality on the field that makes tackling look easy when he is doing it. From what I can tell, Joseph is a standout player for the Dolphins. Whether he is on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, Joseph has proven that he can produce at a high level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["271837"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e71 Solo Tackles - 23 Assists - 94 Total Tackles - 2 Sacks u003c/strongu003ernrnLeontre Bradford is another East St. Louis Flyer who joins this list of the top tacklers in the class of 2024. With him already beginning to stack up some big-time offers, it is clear that Leontre has made some moves with his recent performances on the field. Leontre plays on the backend of the Flyer's defense but has shown to be heavily involved in the run game and blitz fits. Leontre is phenomenal at driving down from the third level and making plays around the line of scrimmage when he reads run. His speed and physicality also help make him a sure tackler. From everything that I have seen from Leontre, it is clear as to how he is already accumulating so many offers this early on in the process. If he keeps this up, he will continue to pile up more big-time offers during his senior season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Daniel Zebrowski","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Crystal Lake South","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e2022 Stats:u003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e28 Solo Tackles - 63 Assists - 91 Total Tackles - 4 Sacks - 15 Tackles for Lossu003c/strongu003ernrnu003cstrongu003e u003c/strongu003eDaniel Zebrowski is another Outside Linebacker to join this list. Coming out of Crystal Lake South High School, Daniel is fast off the edge with the capability of stopping any run that comes his way. With his speed and strength, Daniel is one of the better tacklers in his class. Daniel has a nose for the football and also shows to be strong in block destruction. This all allows him to find the football, shed the block, and make a play. Overall, Daniel has a ton of upside potential. I am excited to see what Daniel can do heading into his senior season. Big things are coming for him and that Crystal Lake South defense.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640e01e8f0660"} /-->