Stat stuffers back for more – Tackles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Statistics don't always tell the whole story, but are a good place to start. Starting today – and picking up in a week or two after our Showcase coverage wraps up – I will be poring over athletes' 2023 stats, looking for some of the state leaders in a handful of categories. I will look specifically at and highlight stat stuffers who will be roaming Minnesota high school football fields for at least one more season. First up – stat stuffing tacklers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["945922"],"_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":"u003cstrongu003e142 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 FF, 1 INTu003c/strongu003ernrnWeikel is a physical linebacker. What stood out immediately for me was how efficient he is. The junior rarely takes a false step and always moves towards the ball. With his tackling numbers, this is obvious, but he is better against the run than the pass. However, he does have good enough feet to get into a pass drop and make plays on the ball. He is not the kind of player who will go for the highlight hit at the expense of making the correct play – he is consistent with his tackling technique.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-657e150278304"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743236"],"_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":"u003cstrongu003e141 tackles, 9 TFLu003c/strongu003ernrnI wasn't able to find a  highlight video for Baisley. I do know he is not just a linebacker. He plays both ways – spending some time in the Spartans' backfield.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["392533"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e133 tackles, 13 TFL, .5 sack, 1 INTu003c/strongu003ernrnLike Baisley, I couldn't find recent film on Tylutki, but here is what I thought when I saw him play live this past season.rnrnEarly in the game, Tylutki caught a deep out on the sidelines. Then, he caught a touchdown down the middle of the field. Then, the junior caught a quick out route, put his foot in the ground, and got upfield for fifteen yards. On defense, he made a solid tackle on the outside. Then, he held contain and made an excellent form tackle for a short gain. Later in the game, he effectively played the option, stopping an option pitch for a short loss. Tylutki even made a big play on special teams – a 25-yard punt return.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Dylan Hageman","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Roseville","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e128 tackles, 1 TFL, .5 sack, 1 FF, 2 INTu003c/strongu003ernrnHageman does an excellent job using his length to keep blockers off his body. He closes quickly when he can come downhill and is a solid tackler. Although his height made me think his lateral movement might be compromised, he has good feet and moves laterally well for a guy with his length. He is much more physical than his long frame would suggest. His two interceptions showed his overall athleticism. They were both leaping, one-handed type of picks.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1257241' first='Owen' last='Olsem']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda","_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":"u003cstrongu003e124 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 FFu003c/strongu003ernrnAnother guy I could not find film on was Olsem, but the sophomore was a model of consistency throughout the season. He recorded double-digit tackles in eight of the nine games – topping out at 18 total tackles against Red Rock Central and seven solo tackles early in the season against New Ulm Cathedral.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-657e150278467"} /-->