2023 Rankings: Defensive Back Breakdown

We’re at the halfway point of the season and that means it’s time to re-evaluate and update our rankings for each class and break them down by position. For the 2023 DB class, we have several elite prospects that have already emerged. And so far, we don’t have as much depth as the other positions, but two of the top three prospects in the 2023 rankings are DB’s so we have elite talent there. Our prospect rankings are available to our subscribers only! Now is a great time to subscribe! Not only will you get all of our prospect content, you’ll get new content every day until the end of the 2020 season. And we can help you save! Enter <strong>Knight25</strong> in the coupon code area for 25% your first billing cycle! <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2023-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP 40 PROSPECTS IN THE 2023 CLASS. </strong></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38777" first="Jacobe" last="Johnson"] - Mustang</strong> The top overall prospect in our 2023 rankings is Mustang’s [player_tooltip player_id="38777" first="Jacobe" last="Johnson"]. The dynamic player has been on the radar since the end of his freshman season. He’s earned the top spot by being the most polished player in his class. While he still has some room to grow, Johnson already looks like an elite talent and is being recruited as such. He’s picked up offers from major programs all over the country. However, he has a few question marks that will need to be answered. First, in football, where does he play at the next level. All signs point towards the defensive side of the ball but we can’t help but see how dynamic he’s been this season as a wide receiver. On top of that, he’ll also have a decision to make at some point over the next few years. He’s also being considered as the top 2023 basketball prospect in Oklahoma. And he’s picked up several offers on the hardwood already. Just a phenomenal athlete. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38778" first="Kanijal" last="Thomas"] - Del City</strong> Right there with Johnson is Del City’s [player_tooltip player_id="38778" first="Kanijal" last="Thomas"]. The Del City heavy hitter comes in at #3 in our recent ranking update, behind only Johnson and Edmond Santa Fe OL [player_tooltip player_id="38779" first="Jonathan" last="Ashford"]. We were very impressed with Thomas when we saw him in person earlier this season against Booker T Washington. Against one of the best wide receiver groups in the state, Thomas kept all of them in check. He did a good job of never getting beat and always keeping the play in front of him. And then he showed off his physical nature. He’s big and he loves to hit and can cover ground in a hurry. We don’t have too many negatives about Thomas’ game right now which is amazing for a player this young at that position. However, he’s definitely built some momentum off last season when he emerged as a starter as just a freshman. He showed he could have an impact on this Del City defense and he’s continued that this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56223" first="Kollin" last="Ritchie"] - Atoka</strong> Now there’s no doubt that when it comes to the 2023 class, Johnson and Thomas are two of the best and therefore they’re ranked as two of the best players in the state. Coming in at #31 in our recent ranking update is Atoka’s [player_tooltip player_id="56223" first="Kollin" last="Ritchie"], a prospect that continues to rise up and his arrow is only pointing upward. Ritchie had a breakout season for Atoka last year and was one of the best freshmen in the state when it came to coming down with interceptions. He’s continued that coming into this season and continues to be known as one of the top ball hawks in the state. While Ritchie still has some room to grow to catch the other DB’s on this list, they don’t have the statistical numbers that Ritchie has so far in his career. In about a season and a half, Ritchie has been one of the best in Oklahoma with coming down with interceptions. As that continues, more people will start noticing and Ritchie’s stock will continue up.