Tackling Machines All Over Updated 2028 Rankings

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone</a>, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.   We've been doing this long enough to know how individual coaching staffs handle stats is often different between programs.   Take any two schools, and the specifics between them could look like it's two different sports. No where in the stats made available to us do we see those variations more than when it comes to tackles. But we do know this.   Finishing a season with north of 100 stops in any given year is going to place you among the statewide leaders. That's one spot where the Class of 2028 rankings have some serious tackling power.   Each of these 17 players in our updated charts did just that, eclipsing the triple-figure mark en route to their respective spots in the rankings.    [player_tooltip player_id='1824627' first='Mac' last='Strickland'] DL/LB, Orangeburg Prep   Total credited tackles: 150   What we see: Strickland is a bit of an anomaly in that he's a hybrid middle/outside linebacker/defensive tackle/end. He's got some good size for SCISA ball and moves around a good bit, but his tackle boon is made when he's at MLB.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672907' first='Heyward' last='Belser'] LB, Heathwood Hall   Total credited tackles: 136   What we see: It's hard not to notice that Belser sort of shot out of a cannon this fall. He finished with at least 50 more tackles than the next two players at Heathwood, and both of those players were established seniors who previously handled their own share of the heavy lifting.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825202' first='Lavay' last='Penny'] LB, Camden   Total credited tackles: 128   What we see: We didn't move Penny from the realm of the unranked to a Top 75 overall spot in the rankings on a whim. The middle linebacker's got a frame that will have college programs drooling and the production value to back up that he's built for this type of task at hand.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818414' first='Josiah' last='Robinson'] LB, River Bluff   Total credited tackles: 124   What we see: Robinson is the type of linebacker any coach would love to have at his disposal. On top of the stops, Robinson also recorded 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, all against a difficult schedule.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp'] DL, Lewisville   Total credited tackles: 120   What we see: Culp is a force, especially at the Class A level. Don't believe us? He also had 36 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He often goes from his standing starting spot to the backfield quicker than opposing tailbacks and quarterbacks have time to make a business decision.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823864' first='Jace' last='Coleman'] LB, Lugoff-Elgin   Total credited tackles: 117   What we see: Coleman recorded a whopping 14 tackles during the 2024 regular season. Why do we mention that first? Because that's the number of stops he piled up in the 2025 regular-season opener. Coleman never really chilled out from there, despite opposing blockers' plans.   [player_tooltip player_id='2098784' first='Allen' last='Chisholm'] LB, Porter-Gaud   Total credited tackles: 117   What we see: Chisholm played some occasional offense, similar to what many of the other standouts who have come through Porter-Gaud have done in the last several years. But his defense - which also included 14 tackles for loss - is where he pays dividends for the program.   [player_tooltip player_id='1508020' first='Issack' last='Staley'] LB, Midland Valley    Total credited tackles: 116   What we see: When Andon Hawkins graduated last May, a lot of folks wondered how the Mustangs would replace the 464 career tackles he made. Enter Staley, who stepped in at linebacker and bested two senior teammates who also hit triple figures.    [player_tooltip player_id='1674089' first='Chase' last='Tonon'] DB, Bishop England    Total credited tackles: 116   What we see: Tonon is one of the defensive backs on our list, but his ability to play an outside backer spot means his tackle figures aren't going to diminish any time soon. He's also going to jump in at receiver and tailback more in the future, too, so get used to hearing his name.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818010' first='Sam' last='Peters'] LB, Academic Magnet   Total credited tackles: 114   What we see: The Raptors aren't prone to stat padding; Peters' 114 stops were 40 more than the next best player on the roster. His rise takes a lot of pressure off others in the program to handle their own responsibilities without a need to go heavy on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1763272' first='Michael' last='Poole'] LB, May River   Total credited tackles: 113   What we see: Poole has a pre-snap flexibility that makes him an even tougher assignment. He frequently blitzes off the edge - which is how he put up six sacks and nine tackles for loss. But he's just as apt to drop back off the line and flip sides of the field to track down ball carriers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817499' first='Jay' last='Todd'] LB, Loris   Total credited tackles: 113   What we see: The Lions might lead the state in under billed linebackers since Greg Mance was hired for the 2020 season. Todd (pictured) is the next one who probably deserves a little more credit. He can set the edge or simply blow it up entirely, but chances are the opponent won't like it.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615024' first='MJ' last='Respass'] LB, Ashley Ridge   Total credited tackles: 112   What we see: Respass has been so solid in patrolling the middle that the next tackle he makes will be the 200th of his career. His per-game clip increased by more than three tackles a contest from his freshman year to his sophomore one. He realistically could flirt with 450.   [player_tooltip player_id='1869917' first='Josh' last='Winbush'] DL, Ware Shoals    Total credited tackles: 111   What we see: Like many of the others on this list, Winbush saw playing time as a freshman and few would have guessed his production value would have improved so much. He went from 17 tackles to his sophomore total and added 43 tackles for loss and 18 sacks.    [player_tooltip player_id='1672904' first='Logan' last='Thames'] DB, Nation Ford   Total credited tackles: 109   What we see: The fact that Thames often has hit his peak momentum before initiating contact with ball carriers almost seems unfair. From his safety position, he reads the play and is better at reacting than most. He packages it with a violence that has left a few players rattled.   [player_tooltip player_id='2098782' first='Nasir' last='Walker'] DL, AC Flora   Total credited tackles: 104   What we see: Walker looks like your prototypical edge, and he's already got his first Power 4 offer to back that up. What he also has is an unbelievable motor. When the play skirts around him, he is known to chase it down from behind by unleashing his stride.    [player_tooltip player_id='1817756' first='Nate' last='Elsey'] LB, Philip Simmons    Total credited tackles: 100   What we see: While a couple other Iron Horses got close to hitting the century mark, Elsey accomplished it by fighting his way through one or multiple blockers. Most of the time, he shed them like gnats and found his way to the running back. You know what usually happened then.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.