Georgia 2024 Top 50: Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The key to have a good consistent defense is to have a strong pass rush but more importantly is to have great secondary that lock down the opposing receivers. The defensive back position whether it be at safety or cornerback, is having a versatile athlete that has good ball skills and awareness to make a play on the ball while it's in the air and ability to have read react to plays whether it's against the run or pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at the top defensive backs from the 2024 Georgia's Top 50!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/mike-matthews/">[player_tooltip player_id='165717' first='Mike' last='Matthews']</a> - DB - Parkview High School (#4 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has the fluidity, speed and quick feet to come down and defend slot receivers in man coverage. Matthews also does a nice job breaking down in space as a tackler after the catch.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Long and lean and a very fluid mover. He shows good route recognition and the ability to transition out of his backpedal and close on the ball fast.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ricardo-jones/">[player_tooltip player_id='321424' first='Ricardo' last='Jones']</a> - DB - Northside High School (#13 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tracks the ball well and has the natural ball skills for forcing turnovers.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He'll line up in press at times, where Jones has a quick and powerful punch. His ball skills are good, and he plays with an extremely confident and competitive demeanor.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joseph-stone/">[player_tooltip player_id='165718' first='Joseph' last='Stone']</a> - DB - Grayson High School (#14 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Changes directions with ease and has the frame to hold up at any spot in the secondary.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has quick feet and excellent change-of-direction ability, capable of mirroring quickness underneath.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/noah-dixon-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='404070' first='Noah' last='Dixon']</a> - DB - Troup County High School (#18 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Dixon can flip his hips and run, with good top-end speed and the length to make plays on the ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fits best in a zone system at the next level due to size and ability to close to the ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Flashes good ball skills. Dixon has the fluidity and change-of-direction ability to mirror quicker receivers underneath.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wendell-gregory/">[player_tooltip player_id='334633' first='Wendell' last='Gregory']</a> - DB - Walton High School (#22 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does a good job getting his head around in time when playing with his back to the line of scrimmage. Has the ability to cover quickness underneath.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has good football awareness to read and react quickly and stay balanced and patient in space.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gives up his body in run support with a very good closing burst.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jalyn-crawford/">[player_tooltip player_id='137441' first='Jalyn' last='Crawford']</a> - DB - Parkview High School (#28 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great on route recognition and has click-and-close ability</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has the quick, agile feet and fluid hips to mirror quickness and change direction underneath. But he's at his best facing the action.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jadan-baugh/">[player_tooltip player_id='220732' first='Jadan' last='Baugh']</a> - DB - Columbia High School (#32 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can track the ball downfield and gets his head around when playing in a trail position, and he shows excellent ball skills when breaking on a route. He's a plus tackler in run support as well.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He's a technician in press coverage, with a strong punch and the ability to reroute receivers.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zion-ferguson/">[player_tooltip player_id='321445' first='Zion' last='Ferguson']</a> - DB - Grayson (#34 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Flashes some physicality as a hitter.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has excellent ball skills, tracking the ball effectively and instinctively taking the right route to break up the play. Ferguson has the strong hands and coordination to come down with interceptions.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cj-heard/">[player_tooltip player_id='321462' first='CJ' last='Heard']</a> - DB - Woodward Academy (#36 Overall)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Plays the ball as if it was thrown for him, showing burst back to the ball as well as good timing for the jump ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Plays with the natural balance and ultra-quick feet to mirror underneath, and he's tremendous at reading routes and reading quarterbacks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does a good job getting his head around in time when playing with his back to the line of scrimmage. Has the ability to cover quickness underneath.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->