PRZ Iowa | 2023 Rankings | Winter Update | DB Breakdown

From big hitting, rangy Safeties to lightning quick, sticky Corners, Iowa has it all when it comes to play in the Secondary. Take a look at what these ballhawks can do by learning about what landed them in the position rankings. These 2023 Defensive Backs, newcomers and stock risers, impress in many different ways. Newcomers DB8 [player_tooltip player_id="245543" first="Justus" last="Williams"], Dowling Catholic, 6’2 175, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14800427/6159ad4abd755f0a9484dc84">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Justus_W25">Twitter</a> Williams, an all-state selection who will be suiting up for the Maroons next season, is one of the hardest hitting Safeties in the state. Letting him play deep where he can loom over the top and strike is a major asset and he is just as good from rolled down alignment. Opponents need to check and see where he is lined up every snap; there’s a good chance Williams will find them and deliver a knockout blow. He joins the position rankings at number 8. What impresses most is his decision making at the point of attack. Williams will lay a clean, hard hit if that’s what the situation calls for, but you can tell that he plays the ball first. He is so consistent and, as his film proves, he plugs into a number of different coverages and is equally effective in each. One of his interceptions last year came in Quarters, another came in Cover 2 Sky. DB13 [player_tooltip player_id="152754" first="Makhi" last="Wilson"], Pleasant Valley, 6’2 175, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14934165/6186fc87478d6106b0a13500">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MakhiWilson25">Twitter</a> Wilson, a very skilled player in each phase of the game for the Spartans, joins the Defensive Back rankings at number 13 after a season where he showed off blazing speed as a kick returner, Wingback, and Safety. He has the kind of skill set to move around and adjust within coverage to match up with an opponent’s top threat. If an offense has a speedy vertical threat Wilson can play a deep half in Cover 2. He has shown that he can play deeper than the deepest and keep everything in front of him. He has also shown he can break underneath to limit short passes. If an offense has a skilled route runner in the slot he can roll down in a cover 1 look to man that player up. Whatever the other team’s strength is, Wilson is fast in a way that gives a defense some extra answers and possibilities for defending it. DB17 [player_tooltip player_id="104116" first="Reid" last="Johnson"], Ankeny, 5’10 190, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GWkE9">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Reid_Johnson22">Twitter</a> Johnson, who figures to have a very large role on both sides of the ball next season for the Hawks, really made a name for himself this fall as a Cover 2 and Slot Corner. In zone coverage, especially underneath, he is very disciplined; he does a great job of picking up and carrying routes, but not chasing anything to parts of the field that aren’t his responsibility. He makes it exceedingly difficult for Quarterbacks to hit anything between zones, especially when a number one receiver goes vertical because he does such a good job of bracketing. Another benefit of keeping Johnson underneath is how well he defeats blocks on stretch and outside runs. He does a great job of not giving up ground and not giving up the sideline. Johnson is also quick and nimble; he can match routes and run vertically in man. DB24 [player_tooltip player_id="247914" first="Beau" last="Gerke"], Ankeny Centennial, 5’11 180, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13256309/6182d763bd6c1a0824b5d8cb">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GerkeBeau">Twitter</a> Centennial sure did have a pair of heavy hitters at Safety this season and Gerke was an excellent fit at Free Safety. Gerke’s instincts lend well to the position and over and over again on his highlights you see him making very smart plays. That cerebral ability lands him in the rankings for the first time at number 24. On one play the Quarterback scrambled into the boundary, Gerke didn’t have anyone threatening his coverage responsibility, he saw the Running Back peel out, so he broke on it and absolutely leveled his target as the ball got there. Aside from the big hits, Gerke does an impressive job of playing deep zones. He doesn’t let Receivers outleverage or get him out of position. Gerke made a leaping interception where he went up over the top and took the ball right out of his opponent’s hands. DB28 [player_tooltip player_id="247913" first="Payton" last="Betts"], Waukee, 6’0 150, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/3220197/618b311e066b9f08aceb871e">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BettsPayton">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="247913" first="Payton" last="Betts"] is near the top when it comes to Defensive Backs in Iowa who excel at run fits from space, being a stop gap in the secondary, and open field tackling. Betts led the Warriors with 50 tackles and the all-state selection joins the Defensive Back rankings at number 28. He can close ground in a hurry and defeat blocks like a Linebacker with quick, violent hands. It is usually not a good thing when your Safety is your leading tackler, but Betts is an exception. He takes his read step, identifies run, and absolutely flies to the ball. It is impressive to see him get to the ball from his alignment at twelve yards depth and make plays near the line of scrimmage. The way he can track and match the paths to close in on ball carriers is top notch. Betts is very good at keeping everything in front of him when in coverage, too. WL [player_tooltip player_id="247919" first="Dalton" last="Bergthold"], Dallas Center-Grimes, 5’11 160, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13085040/6178abc87bd4380918bee30a">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DaltonBergthold">Twitter</a> Bergthold joins the Defensive Backs watchlist for the class of 2023 after a 46 tackle and 5 interception season. He is an explosive player and an intriguing prospect. Bergthold made some plays that most others can’t and it shows a very high ceiling of ability. One of his interceptions looked like he was running down a line drive that was hit over his head. He was sprinting after a vertical route in full stride, he stuck out one hand, pulled the ball in, and planted his foot in the ground to change direction for a nice return. Bergthold had another one-handed pick; he ran down a corner route, leapt and got fully outstretched, and snagged the ball right out of the air above the helmet of the intended target. Bergthold is now on the radar. Expect him to scale the rankings as his elite athleticism takes shape as a Safety. WL [player_tooltip player_id="245603" first="Campbell" last="Wessels"], Spencer, 5’10 150, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12804264/6186897f23477f031c59c6d9">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CampbellWessels">Twitter</a> Wessels, new to the Defensive Backs watchlist, impressed in the Tigers’ secondary this season with 37 tackles and 3 interceptions. He excels as a field side Corner who can take a deep zone in coverages like 2 and 6. He can pick up and take a vertical route to prevent teams from being able to stretch the field. Having someone that can line up over an opponent’s number one receiver is an asset. The way Wessels keeps everything in front of him not only prevents big gains, but gives him an opportunity to make plays on passes that aren’t thrown right where they need to be. A couple of his picks came on plays where he recognized the ball was off trajectory, so he redirected behind the receiver he was covering to get to the ball. Wessels is also impressive at breaking underneath an opponent to knock passes down. Stock Risers DB2 [player_tooltip player_id="152913" first="Asa" last="Newsom"], Waverly-Shell Rock, 6’4 205, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12727174/61933e6534530605d81177cc">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/asa_newsom">Twitter</a> Whatever role Newsom assumes in college will depend on scheme; he is one of the best athletes in Iowa and looks outstanding in the Strong Safety/Outside Linebacker Hybrid role he currently fills for the Go-Hawks. From coverage to rushing the passer, he excels. Newsom bumps up to number 2 in the Defensive Backs column and number 12 overall in the state for the class of 2023. He is so much fun to watch near the line of scrimmage, especially when blitzing. Newsom is explosive at the snap, just too quick and twitchy for Offensive Linemen to get hands on, and delivers some bone crunching hits on Quarterbacks. He’s just as imposing in coverage. On one play he dropped to the flat, immediately sniffed out a Running Back screen, beat the blockers releasing to the field, and obliterated the intended target. DB5 [player_tooltip player_id="105191" first="Aidan" last="McDermott"], Xavier, 6’2 185, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14911728/619e6bd1bee1200af8361a91">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aidanmmcdermott">Twitter</a> McDermott, an elite all-state selection, was impossible to throw against this season. He had 7 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and he moves up to number 5 in the Defensive Back rankings. What makes him so dangerous as a Safety is the combination of his athletic ability, which is second to none, and his route recognition. The way he breaks from over the top and seems to know where the ball is going to be thrown suffocates a passing game. He gets to some passes before the intended target even gets their head around to find the ball. To be able to anticipate and identify as well as he can is so much more impressive than many may realize. McDermott also has plenty of clips on his season highlights where he flattens opponents. You can tell that the threat he imposes makes receivers fearful. DB9 [player_tooltip player_id="152919" first="Cameron" last="Figgs"], Bettendorf, 6’0 170, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12036082/6189ef160dcaab066025db5e">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CameronFiggs2">Twitter</a> It is tough to pinpoint exactly where in the Defensive Backfield Figgs will play at the next level, but what is definitely clear is that he has the potential to play big time football. Figgs moves up to number 9; he has a vast skill set that would make it easy for him to find a home at a number of positions in a variety of schemes. There’s a play on his highlights where he bumped into the box pre snap against a loaded formation, read pass, the Running Back slipped out on a wheel, and he got under it perfectly about 15 yards beyond the line of scrimmage for an interception. Figgs’ range and closing speed is excellent. On another play he is lined up 10 yards deep at Free Safety, the play bounces off-tackle into the boundary, and he absolutely decleats the ball carrier. There is a lot more to be seen that shows the scope of his ability.