Under The Radar 2025 Tackling Machines To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are some of the state's leading tacklers in the 2025 class?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone has the details...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyler Giddens</strong> <strong>- Prince Avenue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An Athens-area defender who tackles everything in sight last year, Giddens is a playmaking linebacker who plays hard every single play. He's smart, instinctive, and knows how to lower his shoulder and deliver a sound hit on the ball-carrier. As a junior this fall, Giddens helped lead the Wolverines to a second-consecutive Single-A championship. He's competitive, shows leadership qualities, and is a natural defender with a true nose for the football. He can get downhill but also attack sideline to sideline. He runs very well and brings a lean 6-foot-0 185-pound frame. A terrific athlete who also plays baseball for Prince Avenue, Giddens is one of the leading tacklers across the state last year as he made 159 total tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks and two INTs. He ended the season on a high note, recording at least 15 tackles in the final three games of the playoffs including a big 16-tackle game in their big state championship win. He's an underrated defender in the Athens area who should be even better as a senior in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1570137' first='Rett' last='Hemphill'] - Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Athens-area linebacker who can sniff out the run and go make a big tackle, Hemphill's size and speed may not blow anyone away, but this junior linebacker is a football magnet. He understands the game, he's a natural defender, doesn't mind contact, and knows how to tackle. This Dragon defender was all over the field this fall and lit up the stat sheet with his 129 total tackles. He runs well at 6-foot-0 190-pounds and knows how to properly wrap up and get the ball-carrier to the ground. He's a sound player overall and was one of the more productive linebackers not only around Athens, but across the state for his classification. He made at least six tackles in every game but one this fall and hit the 10-tackle mark in six games last year. He also ended the season strong with at least 11 tackles in his final three games of the season. He's a tackling machine and should continue to light up the stat sheet as a senior next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ga/bowdon/bowdon-red-devils/athletes/dylan-mcgrinn/football/stats/?careerid=q87hq77hmrn11">[player_tooltip player_id='1570085' first='Dylan' last='Mcgrinn']</a>&nbsp;– Bowdon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough, physical linebacker with great instincts, McGrinn is a stout run defender who has no problem playing down in the trenches to stop the run between the tackles. The 5-foot-10 180-pounder loves contact and plays a lot bigger than his size. He naturally finds the ball-carrier and can shed tackles to get there. He's a smart player who can read plays before the happen, giving him an opportunity to sniff out different plays and make an impact behind the line of scrimmage. He also knows how to make a secure, fundamental tackle. He's coming off a giant junior season for the state-champion Bowdon Red Devils where he made 151 total tackles last year. He also made 6 TFLs and two sacks during his impressive 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->