5A Tackle Leaders Include Impressive Class of 2025 Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six down and one to go. Today's scouting report focusing on top defenders is all about prospects from the Class 5A ranks. A class that is loaded with linebackers who recorded 100-plus tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Maize Eagles and Great Bend Panthers each have two athletes among this group and Lansing and Seaman have two linebackers who are sure to get opportunities to play for a college program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be on the lookout for one more report featuring Class 6A tackle leaders before the holiday weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122010' first='Luciano' last='Riggi']</strong>, LB, 5'11”, 210, Lansing, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riggi is the leader of the Class 5A tackling pride. The Lansing Lion linebacker unofficially led all 5A tacklers with 141 total tackles. Riggi is a hard-nosed middle linebacker who can stuff the run. He only recorded one tackle for loss and one quarterback sack, so he was hardly used on the blitz at all. I saw Lansing play twice last season and Riggi is a difference maker on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115496' first='Andrew' last='Stotler'],</strong> LB, 5'10”, 190, Maize, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Maize Eagle coaching staff can go ahead and pencil in Stotler at the top of their two-deep for next season. The junior backer recorded 120 total tackles in 11 games played. He was used on the blitz and has the speed to disrupt the backfield. Fourteen of his tackles resulted in lost yardage and he registered four quarterback sacks. Expect to see his name among the top-ranked linebackers when the Prep Redzone Class of 2025 Kansas rankings are updated in January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103757' first='Ayden' last='Flores']</strong>, LB, 6'1”, 185, Maize, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stotler had a senior backer and mentor in Flores playing in the lineup with him. Flores was second in tackles for the Eagles in 2023 with 118 tackles. He is a playmaker and even more of a disrupter than Stotler. He finished his senior season with four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and three quarterback sacks. Flores is a state champion wrestler and could go that route for college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1083225' first='Trenton' last='Kern'],</strong> LB,  6'1”, 210, Great Bend, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kern is just a sophomore so this is a kid who will have a lot of experience and huge career numbers when all is said and done. He racked up 111 total tackles in 10 games. Five of those tackles were for loss and he recorded one quarterback sack. Kern also plays baseball for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicholas Griffin</strong>, LB, 6'1”, 210, Eisenhower, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffon was the leader in tackled for the Eisenhower Tigers. In 12 games played the senior linebacker recorded 109 total tackles. He has a nice combination of size and speed. He also collected three TFLs, two quarterback sacks, and recovered one fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1183997' first='Matthew' last='Johnson']</strong>, LB, 6'0”, 200, Great Bend, &nbsp;‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great Bend had two backers reach the 100-tackle threshold. Johnson finished with 106 total tackles in 10 games. He also added four tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Johnson is also a competitive powerlifter. He also plays guard on the offensive line and is projecting out to be an NAIA prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115511' first='Beau' last='Gardner']</strong>, LB, 6'3”, 215, Spring Hill,&nbsp; ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos had a solid season in 2023 and one of the key cogs on the Spring Hill defense was junior linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='1115511' first='Beau' last='Gardner']. He recorded 103 total tackles in 10 games played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115717' first='Hayden' last='Cummings']</strong>, LB, 5'8”, 190, Seaman,&nbsp; ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cummings is a special talent who is the son of a football coach, that always adds a different set of intangibles. He led the Vikings in tackles with 103 in 11 games played. Three of his tackles resulted in lost yardage and he recovered one fumble. Cummings was on the combine and camp scene that spring and summer. He is serious about the game and has a high ceiling. He is a slam-dunk Division II prospect and I expect MIAA programs will be knocking on his door.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228486' first='Ryan' last='Specht']</strong>, LB, 6'0”, 190, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 class is loaded with linebackers and another one who had a successful 2023 season was the Timberwolves Specht. The junior backer registered 100 total tackles in 12 games played. He can get into the backfield and has a nose for creating turnovers. He finished his senior season with two fumble recoveries, one interception, three quarterback sacks, and 16 tackles of loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->