Stat Monsters: Five Defenders Ready To Eat Up Ball Carriers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a talented group of red meat-eating defenders in the Kansas Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five ranked defensive players finished with at least 80 tackles during their sophomore seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each enters their junior campaign hungry to make big tackles for their respective teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1530394' first='Julian' last='Gallegos'],</strong> LB, 5'9”, 167, Eisenhower, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gallegos unofficially led all Kansas sophomores with 129 tackles in 12 games last season for the Tigers. He is ranked No. 220 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1530392' first='Noah' last='Mathis'],</strong> DL, 6'1”, 215, Lansing, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing's Mathis recorded 124 tackles as a sophomore. That's an eye-popping number for a defensive lineman. He is ranked No. 215 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1530398' first='Reece' last='Carmichael'],</strong> LB, 5'9”, 190, Halstead, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmichael is ranked No. 222 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. He finished his sophomore season with 97 tackles in 10 games played for the Dragons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1593303' first='Deryn' last='Maxwell'],</strong> LB, 6'0”, 170, Sterling, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sterling's Maxwell is ranked No. 105 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. He registered 88 tackles in 10 games for the Black Bears as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585530' first='Mason' last='Moaliitele'],</strong> LB, 6'0”, 205, Derby, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moaliitele made 83 tackles during his sophomore campaign for the Winfield Crusaders. He is ranked No. 102 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. He will be playing for the Derby Panthers this fall after transferring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->