Breaking Down C/O 2025 Tackle Leaders: Class 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we shine the spotlight on defenders dominating the physical game and leading the 4A class in tackles, several defenders stood out on film. It's vital to find players who are dependable tacklers and have the athleticism and talents that will translate to the next level. These five stood out after studying the film of numerous defensive prospects. Let's dive into what makes these players unique.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1406695' first='Brodie' last='Schafer']","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Glenwood","_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":"Shafer had a very good year, ranking ninth in the class in total tackles with 59 and added 2.5 sacks to his tally. He has great size for a linebacker, standing at 6-foot and 190 pounds, there is great length and power throughout his frame. Add in the speed that he has, and he's a dangerous weapon on defense. Shafer can track down any player on offense with his acceleration and top-end speed, and once he makes initial contact, there's some pop behind his pads. His ball skills are phenomenal, showcasing natural hands and the ability to go up and play the ball at its high point. Shafer is a smart linebacker in the middle of the defense, quickly reading where to flow to and when to explode downhill to meet the ball carrier. He's a great athlete who will need to be closely watched next season for his senior year.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16531253/Brodie-Schafer/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eSchafer's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d670c794da2"} /--> <!-- 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":"Noah Noland","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carlisle","_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":"Noland had a great season, racking up tremendous stats, ranking third in total tackles in the class with 76.5, and having two sacks and four tackles for a loss. He plays in the middle of the second level and has a great processor and football IQ to read the play and burst downhill at the right time. Noland fills running lanes with strength and power, putting his shoulder into the ball carrier and not allowing extra yards. He has very good speed and has a nose for the ball. Noland gets off blocks easily, not allowing himself to get locked up and will flow with the play. He plays with great physicality, with the mentality of a madman. His main goal is to beat whoever's across from him and dominate each down.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16277918/Noah-Noland/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eNoland's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d670c794bec"} /--> <!-- 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":"Nathan Feldmann","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Polk","_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":"For a defensive back, Feldmann put up eye-popping stats in the tackle department, racking up 75 total tackles, which led the position group and was fourth overall in the class, as well as nabbing two picks on the year. He plays a versatile role on defense, playing as a single-high safety in zone coverage and an inside slot coverage corner, and will even make his presence felt near the line of scrimmage. Feldmann spent time on special teams as a punt blocker and in kick coverage, even returning kickoffs. On offense, he lines up as a running back, in the wildcat position, and has some reps out wide. Feldmann has tremendous ball skills on defense, showing he can read the quarterback and explode on the ball as it arrives at the receiver. He plays with physicality in the run game, exploding downhill and putting a strong hit on ball carriers. Feldmann is a great safety net at the third level of the defense and will be one to watch closely as he enters his senior year.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16117227/Nathan-Feldmann/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eFeldmann's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d670c794c84"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1165288"],"_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":"Wacha put together an amazing season last year, tallying 112 total tackles to lead the class A of juniors. He also had 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss to round out an elite season from a statistical point. For an athletic linebacker, Wacha has the size you look for, standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he moves really well and has a hit stick to his game. He can put his shoulder down and drive ball carriers into the dirt, leaving his presence felt all game. Once he gets his hands on you, he's a reliable tackler who uses his strength to wrap up, showing he can make tackles out of his radius. Wacha can come off the edge, forcing players back inside and uses his vision to track them down and make the hit. He has the speed and motor to track players down, moving sideline to sideline, making him a threat no matter the side of the field the play is run.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16659533/jackson-wacha/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eWacha's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d670c794b2d"} /--> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1278910' first='Logan' last='Tilkes']","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marion","_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":"Tilkes had a great junior season, ranking sixth in total tackles with 66, and tallied 13.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks to cap off a well-rounded statistical year. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he's built with strength throughout his frame that's ideal for a player in his position. Tilkes does a great job deconstructing blocks, shedding the hands of a blocker and exploding downhill, throwing his shoulder into the ball carrier. He plays with a red-hot motor and good speed to track down offensive players and works well sideline to sideline. Tilkes is smart about picking his time to fire through the running lane, keeping himself in a good position to make the play or scrape the line to find the proper hole to fill.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16332278/Logan-Tilkes/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eTilkes's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d670c794d14"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1406416' first='Isaac' last='Lomas'], DB, Waterloo East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rhett Hedrick, LB, Ballard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'], LB, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='245555' first='Harrison' last='Tripp'], LB, Norwalk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1402881' first='Brayden' last='Rynearson'], DB, ADM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->