See the preseason top 20 defensive football players around Springfield

The high school football season in Illinois opens with Week 1 games on Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22.

Here are the top 20 defensive players to know around Springfield, listed in alphabetical order by school.

Click here to see the top 40 offensive players.

Lincoln Kirk, Athens

The senior running back and linebacker was all-Sangamo Conference first team defensively with 110 tackles, including 37 solo. He ran for 300 yards and four scores. 

Coy Grossner, Auburn 

The all-Sangamo first team senior linebacker recorded 47 tackles (30 solo) with three for loss. He ran for 220 yards and a touchdown with a broken hand as a receiver. 

Jaxson Wix, Chatham Glenwood 

The junior defensive back compiled 50 tackles (17 solo) with three pass deflections and an interception. 

Lukas Miller, Havana 

The senior linebacker and offensive lineman led the Ducks with 64 tackles, including 25 solo. Fellow senior linebacker and offensive lineman Chris Velazquez had 52 tackles, including three for loss, two forced fumbles, one recovery and one interception. 

Chris Mulumba, Jacksonville 

The senior defensive end forged 62 tackles, including 50 solo, 17 for loss and 2 ½ sacks. 

Carter Foli, Kincaid South Fork 

The junior linebacker assembled 75 tackles, including 33 solo, seven for loss and five sacks. He forced a fumble and had three recoveries.  

Derrek Ambrose, Pana 

The senior defensive back chalked up 94 tackles (25 solo) with six for loss and two interceptions. Fellow senior Eian Vaughn contributed four picks as well. 

Will O’Brien, Petersburg PORTA 

The senior linebacker and running back was all-Sangamo first team defensively with 90 tackles, including 49 solo. He ran for 714 yards and eight TDs on 127 attempts. 

Zac Wilson, Pleasant Plains 

The senior linebacker and running back manufactured 107 tackles (34 solo) with six for loss, two sacks and one interception. He was all-Sangamo honorable mention defensively with sophomore defensive lineman Ian Behl.  

Ethan Giberson, Riverton 

The senior linebacker and tight end was all-Sangamo second team defensively with 102 tackles, including 37 solo.  

Parker Seifert, Rochester 

The senior linebacker is a returning State Journal-Register all-area honoree. He engineered a team-best 87 tackles, including 10 1/2 for loss and six sacks. 

Macklin Nelson, Rochester 

The junior linebacker ranked second on the team with 80 tackles, including a team-high 14 for loss. The all-Central State Eight Conference East Division second teamer was also a takeaway menace with three forced fumbles and two recoveries. 

Colton Maltby, Rochester 

The senior defensive lineman summoned 29 tackles with 8 ½ for loss and 3 ½ sacks.   

Grace Kabamba, Rushville-Industry 

The senior linebacker and tight end totaled 48 tackles, including 36 solo and three for loss. 

Jobe Kepler, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior linebacker and returning SJ-R all-area honoree supplied a team-best 95 tackles, including 25 solo and 9 ½ sacks. 

Jowan Davis, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior linebacker totaled 77 tackles with two sacks. He was all-CS8 West second team. 

Trey Sutton, Springfield High 

The junior offensive and defensive lineman reached all-CS8 West first team with 52 tackles, including eight for loss and three forced fumbles. Senior linebacker Bryce Bryant was all-CS8 second team with 45 tackles, including four for loss. 

Gage Reedy, Williamsville 

The senior linebacker was all-Sangamo honorable mention defensively with a team-high 93 tackles (19 solo) with five for loss. Fellow senior linebacker Jack Ford had 64 tackles. 

Brenton Trickey, Williamsville 

The junior wrangled 68 tackles (23 solo) with 11 for loss, one forced fumble and one recovery as a linebacker last fall. He shifts over to safety this season. He was all-Sangamo second team defensively. 

Jack Park, Williamsville 

The all-Sangamo first teamer moves from safety to corner back. He had 65 tackles, including 26 solo and three for loss. He also converted each of his three field goal attempts, including a longest try of 35 yards.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: See the preseason top 20 defensive football players around Springfield

Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register

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By Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network