2023 Class: Defensive Back Superlatives

There is an abundance of highly talented players in the class.  The next group in the class includes players who are super-athletic, dominant in their skillset, possess speed, agility, quickness, and are technique-sound.  The players listed possess a combination of the defensive back superlatives. <strong>Most Dominant - [player_tooltip player_id="293255" first="Tamarcus" last="Cooley"], 6’1" 185, Rolesville HS</strong>.  Tamarcus uses his quickness and speed to move past blockers on defensive blitzes to make stops in the backfield.  He displayed precision lateral movement and ball reaction while covering wide receivers.  He displayed very good technique and good use of his long arms to make it difficult to complete a pass against him.  Tamarcus finished the season with 51 total tackles, 40 were solo tackles, and 2 tackles for losses.  He was clearly the most dominant player in the defensive secondary.  Tamarcus is expected to continue his high level of play during the upcoming season. <strong>Top Man-Coverage - [player_tooltip player_id="142198" first="Noah" last="Gist"], 6’3" 170, Lexington HS</strong>.  Noah sets up quickly and reads the play.  He reacts quickly and displayed good technique while covering wide receivers.  He locks down receivers while making it difficult to complete a pass against him, intercepting often.   He uses his height and long arms to his advantage against receivers. Noah displayed good technique on physical solo tackles in the open field.  He finished the season with 51 total tackles, 38 were solo tackles.  Noah is expected to anchor the defensive secondary and continue his high level of play during the upcoming season. <strong>Top Safety - [player_tooltip player_id="144939" first="Deshaun" last="Whitmire"], 6’1" 180, Asheville HS</strong>.  Deshaun sets up quickly and reads the play.  He reacts quickly and covers a lot of ground to close in on the wide receivers.  He displayed good technique and lateral movement to blanket the receivers, making it difficult to complete a pass against him.  Deshaun displayed a natural instinct to step in front of receivers, intercepting passes often.  He is technique sound in solo tackles made in the open field.   He finished the season with 61 total tackles, 50 were solo tackles.  Deshaun is expected to continue his high level of play during the upcoming season. <strong>Top Cornerback - [player_tooltip player_id="47087" first="Cameron" last="Williams"], 5’9" 180, Southeast Guilford HS</strong>.  Cameron displayed good technique and strength to control blockers and stop the play.  He moves well laterally and displayed speed to cover a lot of ground while closing on the ball carrier.  He displayed good technique on physical tackles made in the open field.  Cameron finished the season with 27 total tackles, 17 were solo tackles.  Cameron is expected to anchor the defensive secondary and continue his high level of play during the upcoming season. <strong>Bright Upside - [player_tooltip player_id="327925" first="Isreal" last="Terry"], 5’10" 180, Vance Co. HS</strong>.  Isreal displayed quick reaction to the ball and speed to close in on the ball carrier for the stop.  He displayed good technique and lateral movement to cover the wide receivers, breaking up passes often.  He is a technique sound defensive back who makes solid tackles in the open field.  Isreal is expected to continue to train to improve his skillset during the off-season.  He is expected to anchor the defensive secondary and continue his high level of play during the upcoming season.