The Ball Stops Here: Most Tackles Returning in 2025

Tackle numbers might just be the most impressive when it comes to stats. Having that weekly drive and ability to track down the ball, battle through blocks play after play, and handle the actual physicality of making the tackle requires a special type of athlete. Especially when it comes to the ones leading the state in the category. Looking through the Top 50 tacklers from 2024, we see there are several athletes who will be back in 2025 to keep doing what they do best. Putting an end to plays with force. Today we are going to dive into the Top 10 of those athletes. This list is full of athletes to know, so let's dive in!     Total Tackles: 144   Mukwonago's [player_tooltip player_id='1801645' first='Noah' last='Dodds'] is coming off a great junior season where he finished 4th with 144 tackles. Those 144 tackles are the most of any returning defender in 2025. Noah plays with such strong instincts on tape. He instantly triggers downhill, moves with the flow of the play laterally while still coming downhill, and is a great wrap-up tackler. Noah also does a great job of avoiding blocks and navigating through the trash in the front seven on his way to the ball. Dodds is an impressive talent to have on your radars in a year that is loaded at the LB position. Check him out.     Total Tackles: 139   He is only a sophomore, but [player_tooltip player_id='1570847' first='Cayden' last='Cavanaugh'] has been wrecking games from his LB position for a couple years already. Over this past year the '27 has done a great job of continuing to transform his frame into that of a high end, potential D1 caliber LB. Along with the physical development, Cayden's instincts for the position are on another level. The underclassman is so quick to react, like he already knows what is going to happen pre-snap. It all comes together with him being the 2nd leading tackler returning in 2025 with his 139 total tackles. I can't wait to watch him take the field this summer and this fall.     Total Tackles: 131   Coming in just outside the Top 10 in tackles in 2024 is [player_tooltip player_id='533161' first='Brock' last='Gauthier'] with his 131 tackles while helping Bay Port secure their first D1 State Championship. The '26 plays primarily an off-ball OLB role, and fits it perfectly. As a former safety, Brock brings outstanding range and closing speed to the position. Athleticism that allows him to move through traffic effectively and efficiently. The junior flashes his three down ability on a game to game basis. No doubt he is one of the top LBs in this elite 2026 LB Class.     Total Tackles: 131   [player_tooltip player_id='700149' first='Brendan' last='Foley'] secured himself a strong 131 tackles in 2024 through just 12 games. That equals out to almost 11 tackles per game. The tackling machine is a talented ILB who does a great job of flowing laterally while still coming downhill to the ball. He shows off strength to disengage from linemen and drops the hammer on kids when he makes contact, quickly ending any forward progression. Foley's feel and instincts for the ILB position are some of the best in the state. There is no wasted movement, he reads, triggers, and finds the quickest path to get to the ball. On top of it you can trust his athleticism to drop into coverage over the middle zones of the defense. He is a talented 2026, and one of the best uncommitted players in the class.     Total Tackles: 128   Obviously the 5'9" 155 lbs junior doesn't have the size of a college LB, but that hasn't stopped him from making a big impact on the Poynette defense. Will finished tied for 15th with 128 tackles. Will is all over the place on film. He shows off a super high motor and a nice closing burst. Plus he is clearly a very good tackler who finds ways to drag down bigger athletes. The kid could get looks as a slot/nickel DB. He is productive, has a high motor, and flashes some range and quickness.     Total Tackles: 122   Another LB who was flying around the field in 2024 is Kaydon Kennel. The Hayward LB finished 28th in tackles overall and is well inside the Top 10 for most tackles among returning athletes. Impressively, Kaydon was able to put together these strong numbers in just 9 games. That works out to almost 14 tackles per game. Kaydon, while undersized, excels at finding and getting to the ball. I'm excited to see his final season stat line.     Total Tackles: 120   Landon is a fun kid to watch on tape, especially if you love old-school, downhill, punishing LBs. Landon dominates between the tackles. Every move feels to have power loaded up behind it. He runs through ball carriers with force to drive them back. Landon also does well as a blitzer. The way he can accelerate while still having the power to muscle through a blocker on the way to the QB is impressive. I'm quickly becoming a fan of his game, and the production is definitely there too.     Total Tackles: 120   It feels like Max has been piling up huge stats for years now, because the '26 has been on varsity since he was a freshman. Every year he finds a way to be better than he was the year before. The 5'10" 215 lbs LB flies around the front seven with power. His tape shows off the ability to power through blocks and use leverage to his advantage. Max also has the range to get outside the tackle box and chase down RBs. Matthias' frame has grown and filled out really well over the past year. He is on the rise, and should put together a strong stat line in his senior season.     Total Tackles: 117   This is a rare occurrence. We have an athlete making a repeat appearance in this Top Performer series. Cohen was already included in the passing article. He returns because of his elite production on defense. Just his numbers alone show his versatility. He will fly around piling up tackles with the best of them, but then Cohen will also show how dynamic he is on defense with his 3 INTs and 8 PBUs in coverage. The fact he is doing it all as a sophomore is wildly impressive too. The explosive, versatile athlete is going to be a kid to keep a close eye on over the next 1-2 years.     Total Tackles: 116   Ryder is new to my radar, but he is an intriguing prospect. First, he has the production. He was 38th overall in tackles, and is #10 in returning tackle production. The junior also adds 3 INTs and 3 PBUs. On tape you will see Ryder playing a lot of single high safety, in what looks like a lot of Cover 3 coverage. From that center field position Ryder does really well reading and attacking. He will attack downhill quickly, and also flashes the range and change of direction to make plays in coverage. Definitely an under the radar kid to check out more.

Tackle numbers might just be the most impressive when it comes to stats. Having that weekly drive and ability to track down the ball, battle through blocks play after play, and handle the actual physicality of making the tackle requires a special type of athlete. Especially when it comes to the ones leading the state in the category. Looking through the Top 50 tacklers from 2024, we see there are several athletes who will be back in 2025 to keep doing what they do best. Putting an end to plays with force. Today we are going to dive into the Top 10 of those athletes. This list is full of athletes to know, so let's dive in!