Rivals Los Angeles Combine: Top Middle School Defensive Backs

The Rivals Combine Series kicked off its annual spring slate of events on February 26th in Los Angeles. The combine, largely geared towards high school athletes, saw a total 1,085 kids go through combine testing drills such as the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, vertical jump, broad jump and shuttle run. The top performing athletes from the combine on Saturday, were then invited back on Sunday to compete with the upperclassmen. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-299305 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/KingShelton-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="283638" first="King" last="Shelton"] | Defensive Back | California | 2026</strong> The standout middle school athlete, regardless of position or class, was [player_tooltip player_id="283638" first="King" last="Shelton"]. The future Matre Dei Monarch earned himself an NCSA Camp Pass with his performance. After measuring in at 5-foot-6 and 154 pounds, the lock down corner took to the combine testing. Among all middle school athletes he finished with a Top 10 time/distance in four out of the five combine drills, highlighted by a combine-best 28.7 in the vertical. Shelton was a standout for the OG Ducks during this past season and it’s very easy to see why he already boasts offers from Kansas and Michigan State. It goes without saying, he was invited back on Sunday. <img class="alignleft wp-image-299311 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/SyreGilmore-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /><strong>Syre Gilmore | Defensive Back | California | 2026</strong> The kid they call Psycho Sy, also had a very nice performance at the combine. One of the best pure athletes in the class, Gilmore registered as a safety for the combine, after playing lockdown corner for the LA Rampage this past season. He finished in the Top 10 in the 40-yard dash (4.878), shuttle (7.343) and 3-cone drill (4.322). &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_299319" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-299319 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/AugusSaunders-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trainedruntrained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trainedruntrained</a>[/caption] <strong>Augus Saunders | Defensive Back | California | 2026</strong> Perhaps the defensive back with the most upside of all those at the combine is Augus Saunders, and his performance back it up. Saunders was the tallest corners at the event at 6-foot and also one of the heavier ones at 139 pounds. Juxtapose to Shelton and Gilmore above, Saunders is a long, blanketing corner that drapes over receivers and makes it very difficult to throw at. Perhaps the most exciting, and notable thing about Saunders was a combine-best 6.916 in the shuttle and a 4.282 in the 3-cone. &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-299329 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/TayLockettRivals-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="212235" first="Tay" last="Lockett"] | Defensive Back | California | 2026</strong> Lockett came into the combine already holding offers from Charlotte and Jackson State. After his performance at the combine, Florida State reportedly offered as well. Lockett performed well at the combine and was just one of a hand few of 2026’s invited back the next day to compete with the upperclassmen. &nbsp; Despite being one of the smaller defensive back’s at the combine, 2026 athlete <strong>Andre Clayton</strong> made up for the lack of height (measured in at 5’5") by showing he has some big ups. He posted top-10 finishes in the broad jump (98") and vertical jump (24.5). The lone 2027 defensive back prospect (currently in 7th grade) to get pretty excited about is <strong>Darius Johnson</strong> of Riverside, Ca. Measured in at 5-foot-10 and 132 pounds. Finished with a top-10 performance in the 3-code drill with a 4.456. Still a while to go on him, but remember that name. <strong>Dean Romero III</strong> from Corona and <strong>Daniel Johnson</strong> of Murietta both flashed some ability. They duo, both registered as safeties, recorded top-10 performances in the vertical jump with a 24.7" and a 24.6", respectively. Also standing out physically were <strong>Malachi Gordon </strong>of Murietta, Ca. and <strong>Clarence Tucker </strong>of Phoenix, Az.  The two corners has nearly identical performances, with Gordon certainly having more size at 5-foot-9 and 137 pounds, and Tucker showing more explosion with a 96" in the broad jump. &nbsp;