Maybe it's the practice restrictions or perhaps the move to the spread offense that puts more pressure on defenders than ever before. It might just be that tempo has added so many plays to the game that defenders are more fatigued and given more opportunities to whiff on tackles. It's likely a combination of the above, but poor tackling has been an issue around college football, so when we run into good tacklers they must be highlighted for their work.
What makes a good tackle? While some like to cite form as essential for a good tackle, it really comes down to one thing: Did you make the tackle?