Missouri 2024 Rankings Update: Defensive Backs

We unveiled our updated Class of 2024 rankings recently, which includes 100 ranked prospects and more than 185 total prospects including the Watch List. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/missouri/rankings/2024-rankings/"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Click here to view the updated 2024 Rankings!</strong></span></em></a></p> There are five defensive backs in the Top 100 and 13 defensive backs overall for the Class of 2024 in Missouri in the Prep Redzone database, which continues to grow every day. Today we are taking a closer look at the top prospects at the position. (Click on the player names to check out their prospect pages on PRZ, including links to their HUDL highlights.) <strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="185414" first="Keelan" last="Smith"], Liberty North</strong> Smith, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, is the No. 1 defensive back prospect and No. 15 overall prospect in Missouri in the Class of 2024, but in the future could be classified as a wide receiver or an athlete because of his potential on both sides of the ball. Whatever the case, he's an impressive athlete with good size and has a bright future. As a sophomore, Smith recorded 18 receptions for 320 yards and three touchdowns in 10 1/2 games and was selected as honorable mention all-conference for a Liberty North team that went 11-2 and finished second in Missouri Class 6. Smith is a player to watch this offseason as he should impress at camps and could start picking up scholarship offers from Division I schools. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="181558" first="Jacobi" last="Oliphant"], St. Louis University High</strong> Oliphant, a 6-4, 180-pounder, checks in as the top cornerback prospect and No. 39 overall prospect in Missouri in the sophomore class. Like Smith, we could see Oliphant emerge as a wide receiver, but with his size and speed he could be a special prospect as a cornerback. Oliphant recorded 74 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, one sack and one fumble recovery during his sophomore season. He added one reception for 27 yards. Oliphant finished fifth in the 110 hurdles (15.02 seconds) and 13th in the 100 (11.23) at the Missouri Class 4 championship meet in 2021 as a freshman at Trinity, before Trinity closed and he transferred to SLUH. The combination of his size and speed should make Oliphant a hot prospect this offseason. <strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id="126277" first="Kendall" last="Gurley"], Francis Howell</strong> A 5-9, 160-pound cornerback and wide receiver with good ball skills, Gurley is the second-best cornerback prospect and No. 52 overall prospect in Missouri in the sophomore class. Gurley has already had two productive seasons for a strong Francis Howell program. He recorded 26 tackles, four interceptions and scored two touchdowns on returns as a freshman and then <span style="font-size: 1rem;">25 tackles, two fumble recoveries and four total </span>touchdowns<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> (two receiving, one rushing, one return) as a sophomore.</span> <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="171963" first="Kaleb" last="Mays"], Lutheran-St. Charles</strong> Mays, a 5-8, 160-pounder, contributed on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and cornerback during Lutheran's state championship season. He caught 36 passes for 627 yards and seven touchdowns and recorded 48 tackles and four interceptions. As a freshman, in 2020, he recorded 20 tackles and five interceptions and had 159 total yards (80 receiving, 79 rushing) and one touchdown on offense. <strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id="275600" first="Trey" last="Snyder"], Liberty North</strong> A 6-1, 175-pounder, Snyder was a contributor to Liberty North's 11-win state runner-up squad as a member of the Eagles' secondary. Snyder recorded 57 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Snyder, who also plays basketball, will be another player to watch on a talented Liberty North squad over the next two seasons. <strong>Up next: </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172153" first="Thomas" last="Pulliam"], St. Dominic</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="125258" first="Doreon" last="Dubose"], CBC</strong> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Prep Redzone Missouri 2024 Rankings Positional Breakdown</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-quarterbacks/">Quarterbacks</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-running-backs/">Running Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-wide-receivers/">Wide Receivers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-tight-ends/">Tight Ends</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-offensive-linemen/">Offensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-defensive-linemen/">Defensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-linebackers/">Linebackers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-defensive-backs/">Defensive Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-athletes/">Athletes</a></strong></p> &nbsp;