NEWCOMERS: Fresh DBs Earn New 2023 Ranking

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 class in Georgia is loaded with talented defensive backs, and many of them earned a new ranking in the latest 2023 Prep Redzone Rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are they?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393469' first='Quentin' last='Ajiero']</strong> -<strong> North Cobb</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top cornerback prospects in Cobb County, Ajiero is a hard-hitting, instinctive defensive back committed to Duke. At 5-foot-10 175-pounds, the North Cobb defender is excellent against the run and shows a strong football IQ. He dissects plays quickly, and if not blocked, knows how to come up and deliver a big hit. He's reliable in coverage, and playing on a very good defense, made plenty of plays in coverage last year. He went toe-to-toe with some impressive receivers in a tough 7A region, and he more than held his own in coverage. He's hard to create separation from, and he plays the ball well in the air. A future D1 cornerback, it was easy to give him a ranking in the latest 2023 Prep Redzone Rankings after an impressive junior season. Look for him to play even better in hopes of leading North Cobb deep into the playoffs in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393724' first='Darrell' last='Bland jr']</strong> - <strong>Putnam County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top two-way players in Middle Georgia, Bland is an explosive athlete who can make big plays both as a receiver and a defensive back. A quick, shift receiver at 5-foot-7 155-pounds, Bland is a game-changing receiver, but he's also a tremendous defensive back who plays bigger than his size. He sniffs out the run and has no problem delivering a big hit when not blocked properly. He's tough and physical for his size, and when the ball is in the air, the Putnam County defender closes well and knows how to separate the ball from the receiver. He plays the run well, but he's also a natural in coverage. He made 35 tackles and 2 INTs last year, making him one of the more impactful defensive backs in the region. He's earned a new ranking and there's a chance he'll climb the Prep Redzone Rankings later in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399319' first='Jack' last='Fabris']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jack-fabris/"> - <strong>North Oconee</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong, hard-hitting defender out of the Athens area with plenty of versatility in his game, Fabris is the son of a long-time assistant college football coach and plays like it on the field. The 6-foot-1 200-pounder can play linebacker, safety, and makes plenty of plays on special teams as well. He's a hard-nosed defender and was a tackling machine for North Oconee as a junior last fall, making 117 tackles on the season, proving why he was deserving of a new ranking in the latest update, coming in at No. 140 in the state for the 2023 class. He's now ranked as one of the top overall defenders in the Athens area, and he'll be playing at Kansas State at the next level. Look for him to have another strong season for an up and coming North Oconee program in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393708' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] - Washington County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A stout cover corner with natural instincts against the pass, Wiggins is an impressive athlete and one of the top returning defensive backs in the region. He shows good footwork, closes well on the ball, and runs well with 4.39 speed. He's a track star that knows how to tackle, making it an easy decision to add him to the latest 2023 Prep Redzone update. He tackles well in the run game and does a nice job of taking the correct angle to the ball-carrier. He's not afraid of contact and knows how to tackle the feet, not allowing the runner to break tackles low to the ground. Wiggins has a lengthy frame at 5-foot-11 160-pounds and plays the ball well in the air. Look for him to have another impressive fall as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->