2023 Tackling Machines: 5 of NJ’s Top Tacklers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Racking up tackles all season, these five defenders flew up and down the field all season reeking havoc on all ball carriers that crossed their path. Here are some of the top tacklers from the 2023 season. </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":"Corey Woolridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Orange","_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":"Corey Woolridge accumulated some of the most tackles in the state this past season for East Orange. The 2025 middle linebacker was able to bring the ball carrier down 142 times as he put on a dominant performance. A quick twitch backer, Corey pierced offensive lines game after game to make a play in the backfield. Corey is a flawless tackler that rarely lets the ball carrier get away from him. When going in for the tackle, he gets low and wraps them up fully. While he is a smaller linebacker, he makes up for it in his quickness and ability to blow up a play before it gets started. More collegiate eyes need to be directed Corey's direction.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a0be"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12713018/63686804664c8506587823f0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc470"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["999497"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the top tacklers in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='999497' first='Christian' last='Magliacano'] had an impressive defensive performance in 2023 for St. Thomas Aquinas. Racking up 162 total tackles and finding the quarterback two times, Christian was a menace to every ball carrier. He has the capability to decleat every runner with the amount of speed he builds up as he approaches them. With his speed, he is able to force the runner to take it to the outside where they usually don't prevail in evading him. Colgate is getting themself a special talent in Christian.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a169"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19227653/654f9a4b3449040b9c3f845c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc520"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["723594"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Union's [player_tooltip player_id='723594' first='Kordal' last='Hinton'] was a wrecking machine in 2023. With elite quickness from the linebacker position, Kordal was able to bring the ball carrier to the ground 136 times this fall. Kordal is extremely quick, able to pounce as soon as the ball is snapped. He will meet the runner in the hole to deliver a big hit, or if they are heading to the outside, he will run after them relentlessly to make a play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a1de"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18154289/654e8b0a90eec0085876263a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6573b8a818f84"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172521"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Recently signing with Ohio State, [player_tooltip player_id='172521' first='Jaylen' last='McClain'] was a special talent for Seton Hall Prep. The only DB on this list, Jaylen accumulated 126 tackles for the Pirates. One of the hardest hitting safeties in the state, few receivers or runners had success going up against him. As a receiver, you have to be weary of going across the middle. Jaylen would be waiting there ready to take the route runner out. And with an extreme range in coverage, Jaylen can reliably get close to the line to make a stop up short or he can open his hips up and B line it to the sideline to prevent the deep route. A true playmaker, get ready to see Jaylen shine on Saturdays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a24e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14534020/657367ff0dc04c057411db55' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a26c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["462997"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Cherokee's [player_tooltip player_id='462997' first='Austin' last='Lenart'] fits the definition of a true run stuffer. Bringing the runner to the ground 129 times and sacking the QB 3 times, Austin used his size to drive blockers backwards into the backfield and blow up the play immediately. And with his quick acceleration he is able to get to the edge and chase down runners from behind. Equipped with quick, choppy feet, Austin rarely let runners cut back and get by him successfully. Austin is another talent schools should be calling up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a2cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15948270/656915cb5ef6e409543139ef' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656741a275c00"} /-->