National Preps Showcase Top Performers: 2021 Defensive Backs

<em>Here’s an in-depth look at the top 2021 defensive backs that caught scouts attention at the National Preps Showcase in Olympia. </em> <strong>Jalin Church, Kentwood, 6’1” 195 lbs.</strong> [caption id="attachment_101231" align="alignleft" width="179"]<img class=" wp-image-101231" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/Jalin-Church-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="179" height="179" /> Photo: National Preps Showcases[/caption] A versatile athlete capable of playing multiple positions at the college level. Possesses good size and frame for a safety at 6’1” 195 lbs. He’s a smart and heady football player that has great instincts and anticipation to make quick decisive reads. Does a great job reading his keys and reacting in both run support and in coverage. Shows plus change of direction and lateral agility with a strong burst out of his back pedal to close space quickly. Displays plus ball skills with his ability to track and effectively defend without drawing a penalty. Picked up an offer from Pacific Lutheran in November and is hoping to build on that this upcoming season. &nbsp; <strong>Dorian Cotton, River Ridge, 5’10” 185 lbs.</strong> <img class="wp-image-101232 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/Dorian-Cotton-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="187" /> Cotton is a very intriguing prospect that has played most of his high school career overseas in Germany. He has very good natural ability and athleticism. He shows quick feet with plus COD and acceleration. Transitions well out of his back pedal to turn and run with WR’s and shows he can match speed stride for stride. He does a good job fighting off stalk blocks and locating the ball carrier while maintaining his outside leverage and making strong open field tackles. He’s a bit raw in terms of footwork and technique but shows the upside and potential to play at the college level. &nbsp; <strong style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="87280" first="Ra’Jzon" last="Foster-Thrash"], Lincoln, 6’2” 195 lbs.</strong> [caption id="attachment_101233" align="alignleft" width="223"]<img class=" wp-image-101233" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/RaJzon-Foster-Thrash-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="223" /> Photo: National Preps Showcases[/caption] Great length for the college level at 6’2” 195 lbs. Love his ability to be an effective hybrid OLB or Safety given his versatility and athleticism. He’s a long strider with good speed that allows him to be rangy and cover a lot of ground quickly. Displays natural ball skills, hands, and body control to adjust and make a play on the ball. Shows a great ability to recover and play the ball in the air using his length to attack the ball at the high point. In run support, he’s able to come downhill hard and with purpose to fill his lane where he’s a physical and reliable 1on1 tackler. Shows good strength and power at the contact point. Holds an offer from Whittier but was one of the more underrecruited players at the showcase given his talent and ability. Hoping for a strong senior season to pull in some more late offers. &nbsp; <strong>Jack Jones, Tumwater, 5’8” 170 lbs. </strong> [caption id="attachment_101235" align="alignleft" width="227"]<img class=" wp-image-101235" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/Jack-Jones-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="227" height="227" /> Photo: National Preps Showcases[/caption] Jones flashed throughout the day with his quick feet and smooth athleticism. He possesses fluid hips and shows great leg drive and short area burst out of his transition. His top end speed, explosiveness, and ball skills give him big play potential on both sides of the ball and on special teams. He shows good route anticipation and ability to read the QB’s eyes to put himself in position to make a play on the ball. Would like to see him clean up his footwork and technique to be more efficient with his movement but the natural instincts, quick reactions, and overall athleticism sets him up well for the college level. To date, he holds offers from Linfield and Western Colorado. &nbsp; <strong>Zablon Lamp, River Ridge, 6’0” 170 lbs.</strong> <img class="wp-image-101234 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/Zablon-Lamp-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="240" /> Good looking athlete with length. He shows plus versatility with a wide skill set and strong athleticism to build on. He can play multiple positions depending on his develop and scheme at the next level. As a DB, he has the ability to be effective in off coverage or press man. His change of direction and initial burst allow him to match receiver movement and cover effectively during longer developing plays down the field. Shows strong ball skills with his ability to track, adjust, and time out his jumps to make a play on the ball at the high point. He has shown good year over year improvement but would like to see him continue to improve from a fundamental standup, he tends to raise his pad level on the snap of the ball and immediately out of his backpedal slowing him down and creating false/unnecessary steps. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87299" first="Ryan" last="Schmidt"], Shadle Park, 6’2” 175 lbs.</strong> [caption id="attachment_101236" align="alignleft" width="223"]<img class=" wp-image-101236" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/Ryan-Schmidt-NP-Showcase-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="223" /> Photo: National Preps Showcases[/caption] Good length and frame foundation to build on and add weight too. He’s a smooth athlete that is savvy with his movement and a skill set that would transition well to multiple positions as well as other sports. He plays fast, physical, and relentless that allows him to make plays sideline to sideline. High football IQ and game awareness, he demonstrates a good understanding of what the offense is trying to do and where his threats are. Shows plus ball skills and timing, good ability to track the ball in flight and make aggressive plays on the ball without hesitation. He closes space quickly and is a strong open field tackler with the ability to deliver strong contact. Holds five offers including Montana State-Northern, Montana Tech, Pacific Lutheran, Whittier, and Whitworth.