Mid-Season Breakdown: Breakout 2023 Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the season halfway over, breakout players are emerging every week. Guys who are making plays on Friday night are starting to get the recognition they deserve, and a few of them are seeing plenty of new offers come their way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which 2023 defensive backs are in the middle of breakout seasons? Prep Redzone takes a look...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321495' first='Tyler' last='Scott'] - Pebblebrook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the hottest prospects in Georgia right now, the Pebblebrook defensive back has seen his recruitment take off this month, earning new offers fromAlabama, USC, Maryland, Oklahoma, Miami, among others. He has excellent length and an athletic frame at 6-foot-2 185-pounds, and while that helps him in coverage, it's his toughness and willingness to hit that really stands out about his game. He's quick, reacts to the play early on, and covers a lot of ground to the ball carrier. He plays with contact and loves to dish out a massive hit when given an opportunity. He's a good athlete, but his potential as a hard-hitting defender with length is why offers are flooding in. He's having an excellent senior season and a true breakout player who will likely see more and more offers come his way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='330545' first='Khalil' last='Barnes'] - North Oconee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Athens area is where you'll find one of the hottest college prospects in the state in North Oconee defensive back, [player_tooltip player_id='330545' first='Khalil' last='Barnes']. a Long, athletic defensive back with impressive ball skills, Barnes does a great job of reading the quarterback and making a play on the ball in the air. He looks the part physically and plucks the ball out of the air with ease. The former Wake Forest commitment is a versatile defender who can play multiple positions and has seen his stock take off over the last several weeks. He's a reliable option at receiver and knows how to make plays in the return game on special teams as well. He's an impressive-looking prospect and he's having an outstanding senior season this fall, leading to offers from North Carolina, Notre Dame, among others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>T<a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/timothy-roberson/659HB7tlbEK2Wf8Xyyc6Rg/football/stats.htm">imothy Roberson</a> - Valdosta</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A true breakout prospect that was been picking off passes left and right this year, the Valdosta senior has shown to be one of the most consistent lock-down cornerbacks not only in South Georgia, but across the entire 2023 class in Georgia. The impressive 6-foot-0 180-pound defensive back has been a true ball-hawk this season, picking off 7 passes and taking two of them back for touchdowns through his first seven games. A giant sleeper prospect, Roberson has shown D1 talent on a weekly basis and could be a steal for one lucky program who gives him an opportunity to play at the next level. A standout track and field member at Valdosta, the senior brings an impressive blend of length, speed, and playmaking ability to his game. The playmaker has a high football IQ as well, always putting himself in a position to make a play. He's easily a breakout senior defensive back in Georgia this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Messiah Bacon - Effingham County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tremendous athlete who can make plays in all three phases of the game, Bacon is a long defender in the secondary having an excellent senior season this year. The 5-foot-11 180-pounder is reliable in coverage and knows how to make a play on the ball. He appears to be fundamentally sounds, shows quick feet, and more importantly, he knows how to read the quarterback. He reacts quickly with the ball in the air and recovers quickly on opposing receivers. When the ball is anywhere near him, he has a chance to make a play on it. He's a secure tackler, but his ability to cover and make plays in the secondary makes him one of the best cornerbacks in the area. Bacon has picked off five passes so far this year, making him one of the leading INT leaders in the 2023 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->