2025 Rankings: Defensive Back Spotlight
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Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! The latest 2025 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the Top 100 for the state’s 2025 class. Throughout the week, we’ve been breaking…
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The latest 2025 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the Top 100 for the state’s 2025 class. Throughout the week, we’ve been breaking down prospects throughout the rankings. From stock risers and newcomers to breakdowns by positions, it will be a busy week! So keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more on the 2025 class. In this post, we’re putting a spotlight on the defensive back position. These are some of the best cornerbacks and safeties in the state’s 2025 class.
When we updated the 2025 rankings in October, we mentioned how Tahlequah’s Beckett Robinson Beckett Robinson 6’2″ | 170 lbs | DB Tahlequah | 2025 State OK should probably be listed as an athlete because of what he does on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver. However, we’re stubborn, and we think that Robinson is more of a defensive prospect when it comes to the next level. But there’s no doubt that Robinson has the ability to be a wide receiver at the next level as well, we just think his ceiling right now is a little higher on the defensive side of the ball. Robinson is arguably Tahlequah’s best overall athlete and it feels like that was the case last fall as well. The coaches are going to continue getting creative with getting Robinson on the field and having him be a game changer for them. The versatility in his game is off the charts.
Norman High has a few 2025 prospects that we didn’t know about around this time last week. Then our camp took place over the weekend and our eyes were opened. One was linebacker Behrett Boyd Behrett Boyd 5’10” | 195 lbs | LB Norman | 2025 State OK , who was covered earlier this week. And the other is cornerback Kenneth Rosario Kenneth Rosario 5’10” | DB Norman | 2025 State OK . Not only did Rosario have a good day on Saturday, but we went back and watched his film from last fall and knew he needed to be included in this ranking update. The film was outstanding but the one thing that will hold Rosario back as a prospect is his height. He measured in at 5’7 at our camp and he’s an undersized cornerback but you throw on the film and it didn’t matter when he was going against receivers who had six inches on him. Rosario is an absolute dog and we’re looking forward to seeing more.
From the start of our 2025 rankings and prospect breakdowns, Beggs defensive back Ryan Grayson Ryan Grayson 6’0″ | 160 lbs | DB Beggs | 2025 State OK has not only been a top ten overall prospect, he’s had a lockdown grip on the top spot for defensive backs. Grayson had a breakout season as a freshman when he was a standout on defense and also a big part of the Beggs on offense at the running back position. But after checking Grayson out in person a few times last year, we’re convinced that he’s a cornerback at the next level based on his size, skills and production on the field. We mentioned Grayson having a lockdown grip on the top DB spot, that’s because he’s a lockdown corner on the defensive side of the ball. Grayson is a prospect to keep an eye on this spring and summer because his recruitment feels like it’s about to explode.
At this time last year, we didn’t know much about 2025 defensive back Santanna Landon Santanna Landon 6’0″ | 150 lbs | DB Midwest City | 2025 State OK but we saw a lot of potential there in the film that we did watch on Landon. Fast forward to right now and we think that Landon’s potential and abilities on the field are starting to match up and he continues to impress us every time we see his game on film. We still haven’t had a chance to see Landon in person but after his sophomore season with Midwest City, it was apparent that he was one of the top cornerbacks in Class 5A during the 2022 football season. The 2022 season was a breakout year for Landon as the majority of his play prior to the 2022 season was below the varsity level. But one thing is for sure, Landon has the potential to be yet another lockdown corner to keep an eye on in this talented 2025 class.
Highlights
Mustang sophomore Waleed Gaines Jr Waleed Gaines Jr 5’11” | 165 lbs | DB Mustang | 2025 State OK was one of the best defensive backs that we saw in 2022 when it came to making a tackle in the open field in a 1 on 1 situation. As we mentioned during the season, a lot of times we see defensive backs wanting to lay a big hit and they don’t bother wrapping up after contact. That isn’t the case with Gaines. We’re looking forward to seeing more of Gaines moving forward because the Broncos have to replace an All American in Jacobe Johnson Jacobe Johnson 6’4″ | DB Mustang | 2023 State OK at cornerback. Without knowing for sure, we believe that Gaines will step into his role in 2023 and be tasked with covering the other team’s best receiver. We’re looking forward to seeing how he responds to the challenge but he’s definitely a name to keep an eye on when this season rolls around.