DB Superlatives: Best Ball Skills in 2023 Class

IF you can’t make a play on the football, it’s almost impossible to make it to the next level as a defensive back. Having speed and cover skills are always important, but for defensive backs to separate themselves, they have to have hands and the ability to make plays with the ball in the air. There are multiple defensive backs across the state with exceptional ball skills, and Prep Redzone breaks it all down. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34033" first="Bryce" last="Thornton"] - Milton</strong> A two-way star for the Milton Eagles, Thornton is a multi-year starter for one of the top programs in Georgia, and he’s made play after play throughout his career. He brings some versatility to the Eagle’s secondary as he can play cornerback, safety, and even make plays at receiver due to his overall athleticism and ball skills. Thornton, a Georgia Bulldog legacy, intercepted three passes as a sophomore in 2020, and picked off five passes last season as a junior. He’s quick, instinctual, and can win 50/50 balls in the air, something plenty of defensive backs aren’t able to do. When the ball is in the air, it’s his, and it’s led to plenty of D1 offers. He has some of the best ball skills for any defensive back in the metro-Atlanta area, and he’ll be a key player for Milton in 2022. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97098" first="Ethan" last="Nation"] - Roswell</strong> Another North Fulton playmaker, don’t let Nation’s size fool you. He plays bigger than his size and shows great hands on both offense and defense. Like Thornton, he knows how to get up in the air and take the ball away from possibly bigger, stronger receivers. Nation was one of the state’s leading INT leaders in 2020 as a sophomore when he came down with 8 INTs. He only picked off one pass last season as a junior, but that’s because QBs decided not to throw his way. When the ball is in the area, Nation is going to make a play. His elite ball skills gave him an opportunity to make plays at receiver as well, catching 45 passes for 565 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He’s great in the screen game but has strong enough hands to make a catch in traffic down the field as well. Look for him to show off his hands even more as a senior next fall. &nbsp; <strong>Branden Strozier - St. Francis</strong> One of the hottest 2023 DBs across the state right now, Stozier is a defensive back prospect with hands like a receiver. A two-way player for his private school in Alpharetta, Strozier was consistently one of the best athletes on the field at all times, and has a true nose for the football. His tremendous ball skills are easy to see as Strozier catches the ball with ease, and knows how to turn it into a big play. He's a standout playmaker at receiver, but his instincts and ball skills translate to him being a true game-changer on defense. He has a knack for the ball, and once he gets his hands on it, he's a threat to score. His stock is rising more and more as we enter the spring, and thanks to his versatility and ball skills, Strozier has landed a recent offer from Alabama. &nbsp; <strong>Hill Plunkett - Roswell</strong> He may not be a household name right now, but the productive defender out of Roswell deserves some recognition after a great junior season. When QBs tested him, Plunkett was there to make them pay. He's fundamentally sound in coverage and it's allowed him to be in a position to make a play on the ball. He plays the ball well in the air and has no problem making a tough catch. He plunks the ball out of the air at it's highest point and showed he's a threat to pick off any ball in his direction. Plunkett made 4 INTs last year and showed he's one of the top returning defensive backs in the area this year.