Nevada’s Midseason Tackles Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Breaking down the film for some of Nevada's top tackle producers this season. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576418"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e770680c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Machado continues to be one of Nevada's most productive tacklers currently leading the state with 97 total (64 solo) and 12 TFLs after posting 137 as a junior. He's a lean, athletic LB at 6'2"/180 that can get sideline to sideline with the range and lateral speed he possesses. He does a good job of staying clean between the OTs, takes efficient angles in pursuit, and is a solid form tackler. Machado is a versatile defensive prospect that could play a hybrid OLB/SS role at the next level- he just picked up an offer from Eastern Oregon in September.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18010498/68cb55ec6c22834b95d4edd1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e770682f8"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1870419"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e7706835b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson currently sits at second in the state in total tackles with 85 and 15 TFLs through eight games. He's a physical run-stopper that likes to get downhill between the OTs and make disruptive tackles around the LOS. Lacks ideal size/length at 5'7"/180 but makes up for it with his speed and motor to the football. Meets ball-carriers with violence and physicality and can use his hands and natural strength to get off blocks. Johnson's putting his name on the 2027 LB radar with the junior season he's putting together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/zechariah44/status/1978627025775796417","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/zechariah44/status/1978627025775796417 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["940635"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e770683bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gaoteote has reestablished himself among the state's best linebackers after missing his sophomore season to injury. PRZ NV's top-rated 2027 LB has racked up 83 total tackles and 9 TFLs in seven games this season. He's an elite defender with the athletic and physical skillsets of a future three-down LB at the D-I level. He's violent between the OTs, is comfortable playing in space, and is extremely quick to read-and-react to the football. Gateote picked up offers from UNLV and Hawaii after his freshman All-American season just two seasons ago and should continue to add to that list this offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19281870/68dd570ec72735906301573d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e770683e6"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1216711"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e77068436"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Matthews-Mafua continues to prove why he's one of the most underrated defenders in Nevada's 2026 class with his play this season. Sierra Vista's senior SS/LB has totaled 78 tackles on the season along with 7 TFLs and 5 INTs. He's a versatile defender that can play the role of two-deep safety or box-linebacker with the combination of athleticism and physicality he brings to the table. He's an excellent tracker of the ball, closes space with speed and quickness, and hammers ball carriers in space. Matthews-Mafua is the #4 LB and #54 overall prospect in Nevada's senior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mafuamatthews10/status/1969979423249293616","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mafuamatthews10/status/1969979423249293616 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Simon Gollmer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_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":"Reno","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e77068513"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gollmer ranks in the state's top-10 tacklers with 76 total (50 solo) through seven games this season. He's an active perimeter tackler from his OLB spot that can play in space and track down ball-carriers in the open field. He's quick and efficient to the ball, does a good job of securely wrapping up, and can play the flats in zone coverage. Gollmer should be on the D-III radar with the senior season he's putting together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/sgollmer21/status/1963079517104140544","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/sgollmer21/status/1963079517104140544 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1660288"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1e77068575"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mathews has been one of Reno's best playmakers on both sides of the ball with 71 tackles, 2 sacks, and 6 TFLs on defense and a team-leading 593 rushing yards and 8 TDs on offense. He's a physical, downhill defender that's quick to trigger to the football and has the athleticism to read-and-react in a hurry. He explodes to the ball off the snap, plays well with his eyes, and can shed and elude blockers around the LOS. Mathews rounds out the state's top-10 tackles leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JMathews_2027/status/1972433903412711886","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JMathews_2027/status/1972433903412711886 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->