A Returning Powerhouse in the Northern Indiana Conference
The 2025 prep football season in the South Bend Tribune coverage area is shaping up to be defined by a deep pool of experienced linebackers, many of whom are returning after standout performances a year ago.
At Penn, junior standout Noah Wallis is back after posting 76 tackles and five tackles for loss as a sophomore, while senior Aiden Whitten contributed 37 stops and fellow senior John Searfoss added 29 more under coach Pete Riordan.
Riley’s defense will also be anchored by senior Muri Jackson, who earned All‑NIC honors, and Uriah Orozco, while Kros Jones returns as an All‑State performer with 103 tackles and 23 tackles for loss last season; his father, Antwon Jones, now serves as the team’s defensive coordinator after a stint as a Notre Dame lineman.
Other programs are equally fortified: Concord’s Carson Weirich led the Minutemen with 96 tackles and helped secure a Class 5A title, while LaVille’s Noah Menis piled up 124 stops and 12 tackles for loss en route to a Class 1A sectional championship; Alex Damaegd of Mishawaka recorded 70 tackles, Colt Granberg of Northridge amassed 136 to earn All‑NLC honors, and Ethan Miller of NorthWood added 73 to receive the same distinction.
Coaches across the conference note that the sheer number of returning starters not only bolsters individual teams but also raises the overall competitiveness of the league, setting the stage for a season where defensive play could be the decisive factor on many Friday nights.