This week we turn our football attention to the defensive side as we focus on the top returnees on that side of the ball. Today we list the top returning tacklers in each classification based on numbers reported to MaxPreps from last Fall.
SIX-MAN
| 1. | Quade Pelton | Cheyenne Wells | 130 |
| 2. | Eltan Yarger | Stratton/Liberty | 120 |
| 3. | Levi Shean | Stratton/Liberty | 118 |
| 4. | Bryce Miracle | Otis | 113 |
| 5. | Zamir Holguin | Aguilar | 104 |
| 6. | TJ Conaway | Kit Carson | 104 |
| 7. | Brandon Williams | Fleming | 102 |
| 8. | Cordell Farmer | Kit Carson | 96 |
| 9. | Christian Nation | Otis | 95 |
| 10. | Joe Bryan | Kit Carson | 94 |
EIGHT-MAN
| 1. | Jace Logan | Soroco | 156 |
| 2. | Adam Zink | Caliche | 142 |
| 3. | Wyatt Buccelli | Haxtun | 136 |
| 4. | Dylan Palomino | Fowler | 131 |
| 5. | Casey Orange | Mancos | 128 |
| 6. | Derrick Poss | Akron | 127 |
| 7. | Chance Morgan-Garcia | Mancos | 125 |
| 8. | Angel Gomez | Gilpin County | 113 |
| 9. | Trent Elliot | Merino | 113 |
| 10. | Tye Barton | Merino | 112 |
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CLASS 1A
| 1. | Bennie Chacon | Centauri | 130 |
| 2. | Tannen Kennedy | Meeker | 115 |
| 3. | Nate McIarty | Peyton | 113 |
| 4. | Emmet Kuper | Grand Valley | 109 |
| 5. | Forest Pejsa | Dolores | 100 |
| Adam Chacon | Centauri | 100 | |
| 7. | Tevin Pelloni | Meeker | 96 |
| 8. | Bridger Houston | Clear Creek | 93 |
| 9. | Braden Witzel | Burlington | 91 |
| 10. | Peyton Bones | Colorado Springs Chr. | 84 |
CLASS 2A
| 1. | Zane Zuhlke | Resurrection Christian | 131 |
| 2. | Hunter Clark | Salida | 122 |
| 3. | Roberto Lara | Platte Valley | 108 |
| 4. | Brady Sullivan | D’Evelyn | 101 |
| Brendan Buntin | Platte Valley | 101 | |
| 6. | Adrian Diaz De Leon | Pinnacle | 99 |
| 7. | Matthew Broughton | Montezuma Cortez | 95 |
| 8. | Jaxon Samsel | University | 90 |
| 9. | Jesse Camp | Salida | 84 |
| 10. | Kyle Lueck | Resurrection Christian | 82 |
CLASS 3A
| 1. | Anthony Trojahn | Berthoud | 122 (moved to 2A) |
| 2. | Jaden Sparks | Palmer Ridge | 121 |
| 3. | Angelo Marchiol | Lutheran | 119 |
| Ryan Burdi | Green Mountain | 119 | |
| 5. | Charles Deeds | Palmer Ridge | 108 |
| 6. | Ty Beaman | Berthoud | 105 (moved to 2A) |
| 7. | Colton Dill | Palmer Ridge | 96 |
| 8. | Vincent Merlino | Canon City | 89 |
| 9. | Daveon Hunter | Thomas Jefferson | 88 |
| 10. | Tanner Vines | Rifle | 88 (moved to 2A) |
CLASS 4A
| 1. | Carter Bussone | Vista Ridge | 144 |
| 2. | Shaun Stepisnik | Grand Junction Central | 112 |
| 3. | Max Belshe | Fruita Monument | 107 |
| 4. | Ryan Biller | Standley Lake | 101 |
| 5. | Sam Miller | Pine Creek | 98 |
| 6. | DJ Christley II | Cheyenne Mountain | 91 |
| 7. | Anthony Zubiate | Grand Junction Central | 87 |
| 8. | Micalyn Moore | Fort Collins | 84 |
| 9. | Jack Lovin | Greeley West | 82 |
| Hugo Castillo | Greeley West | 82 | |
| JT Skalecki | Grand Junction | 82 | |
| Ty Morton | Brighton | 82 |
CLASS 5A
| 1. | Sean Bowerfind | Fossil Ridge | 144 |
| 2. | Geno Macias | Regis | 125 |
| 3. | Caden Meis | Legend | 1210 |
| 4. | Charlie Quinn | Regis | 118 |
| Kyle Moretti | Pomona | 118 | |
| 6. | Ethan Frasier | ThunderRidge | 114 |
| 7. | Isaac Wilson | Chaparral | 109 |
| 8. | Kacey Ward | Mountain Range | 100 |
| 9. | Casey Knutsen | Fossil Ridge | 96 |
| 10. | Connor Kelly | Castle Rock | 88 |
| Josh Ramos | Bear Creek | 88 (moved to 4A) | |
