Slideshow: Nation's Top 10 returning tacklers in 2014

Between these 10 defensive stalwarts, they piled up 2,080 tackles in 2013, or an average of 208 per player.

None of the 10 are humongous. Three of them were less than 200 pounds last season – two well under – and none of them weighed more than 210.

But boy do they know how to get to the ball and make plays.

Here are the top 10 returning tacklers for the 2014 season in the country.



1. Mac McCurry, Summerville (S.C.)

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound incoming senior led the country with 245 tackles (17.5 per game). McCurry had at least 12 tackles in every game and more than 20 in three contests, including a career-high 32 against Goose Creek. McCurry is being courted by South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Duke and Clemson, among others, according to 247Sports.
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2. Tyler Rawson, Mount Pleasant (N.C.)



The 6-1, 185-pound incoming senior had 214 tackles (17.8 per game) last season for the 5-7 Tigers. He had five games of 20 tackles or more, including a remarkable 70 combined in his final three games.
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3. Josh Redmond, Victory Christian (Tulsa, Okla.)



The 6-foot, 205-pound incoming senior had 210 tackles (17.5 per game) for the 11-1 Conquerors. He had 30 solo tackles in a 62-24 win over Sequoyah and in three other games he had more than 20 tackles.
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4. Griffin Scott, Aquinas (Augusta, Ga.)





The 6-foot, 200-pound incoming senior had 209 tackles (14.9 per game) for the 14-0 state champions. Scott had 18 tackles in the state title game, a 27-7 win over Calvary Day. He had a season high of 28 tackles in a 42-14 win over Warren County and two other times recorded more than 20 tackles. He also added three interceptions from his linebacker spot. {PAGEBREAK}
5. Kirk Robinette, Allegany (Cumberland, Md.)



The 6-foot-3, 205-pound incoming senior had 205 tackles (20.5 per game) for the 5-5 Allegany squad. A model of consistency, Robinette had at least 20 tackles in seven of 10 games with a high of 25.
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6. Ben Burr-Kirven, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton, Calif.)



The speedy 6-1, 205-pound incoming senior linebacker had 204 tackles for the 13-2 Gators, who lost 27-15 in the CIF State Bowl Division III final to Corona del Mar. Burr-Kirven had 20 tackles in that game and rushed for a 48-yard touchdown. He rushed for 461 yards on the season and added six sacks and four interceptions. He's the No. 24-ranked inside linebacker in the country by 247Sports and has offers from, among others, Arizona, Arizona State and Boise State.
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7. Devin Eggins, Fairfield (Texas)

The 5-8, 160-pound incoming senior had 202 tackles (13.5 per game) for the state 3A D-2 state runner-up Eagles (15-1). Despite his lack of size, Eggins played inside linebacker and fullback. He had double-digit tackle numbers his final 11 games, while adding seven sacks, six fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
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8. Riley Vickner, Sutter (Calif.)

The 5-11, 185-pound incoming senior had 197 tackles (16.4 per game) for his 9-3 team. He had double digits in tackles all but one game and added at least 20 in three games with a high of 24.
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9. Jamari Hilliard-Vasquez, Galileo (San Francisco)

The incoming senior had 197 tackles (15.2 per game) for the CIF San Francisco Section champion Lions (12-1). Hilliard-Vasquez saved his best for last, racking up 71 tackles his final three games, including 27 in the championship game, a 34-30 triumph over Lincoln.
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10. Bull Barge, Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)

The rugged 5-10, 210-pound incoming senior was befitting of his name with 196 tackles (14 per game) for the Packers (11-3). Barge recorded double-digit tackling in all but one game with a high of 19. He also had six pass deflections and two interceptions. So far Barge, who made MaxPreps' most unique names list, has recruiting interest from Georgia State.