Tackle Leaders After Week Three In Kansas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are far enough along in the season to really begin digesting the statistical leaders in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note not all teams make their stats public, also some teams who do make their stats public are sometimes 48 hours behind in reporting based on the stat app used.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another pet peeve of mine is that I won't include a player who I can't find a height and weight for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five defensive players who are among the unofficial league leaders in tackled through three games played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122010' first='Luciano' last='Riggi']</strong>, LB, 5'11”, 192, Lansing, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riggi is the unofficial tackle leader in Kansas with 55 total tackles. I saw Riggi play in week three in a win over rival Leavenworth. Riggi has a nose for the football and makes big plays on defense in crucial situations. Riggi has one sack and one fumble recovery early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braden Young</strong>, MLB, 6'1”, 180, Northeast (Arma), ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young was among the state leaders in tackles last season and he has let up through three weeks this season. He leads the Vikings in tackles with 49 and has three tackles for lost yardage after three games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicholas Griffin</strong>, MLB, 6'1”, 210, Eisenhower (Goddard), ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin is a big part of Eisenhower's quick start to the season. He leads his team with 38 total tackles after three games. He also has two sacks and a fumble recovery. He is a quick and physical middle linebacker who can shed blockers and make open-field tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='263240' first='Spencer' last='Dohm']</strong>, MLB, 5'10”, 210, St. James Academy ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just in case you are missing the pattern – linebackers are killing right now across Kansas. Dohm has 38 total tackles after three games. He is getting in the backfield as he has two sacks and five tackles-for-loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103633' first='Tucker' last='Jackson']</strong>, MLB, 6'2”, 207, Clay Center, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is lean and mean and reminds me of a former Clay Center Tiger, Ben Peterson, who played collegiately for Pittsburg State. Jackson has 36 total tackles. He plays linebacker, while Peterson played defensive end, but what they both have in common is the speed to get to the quarterback. Jackson has three tackles-for-loss and one and a half sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->