Some of SEKY’s Top Defensive Backs Sure to Excel

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Life is far from easy for today's defensive backs as they try to effectively challenge and stop offensive systems that increasingly stretch the field, strive to create one-on-one matchups in open space and self-scout to ensure that they target every area of the football field in somewhat unpredictable ways. And when opting to pursue those goals with spread formations, single-back sets or even empty backfields, sometimes coupled with up-tempo, no-huddle packages, offenses can quickly dictate that those athletes we traditionally call cornerbacks and safeties often find themselves playing closer to the line of scrimmage, executing roles/responsibilities formerly reserved for linebackers and doing it all at a sometimes frenetically varied pace. So it's exciting to see that several accomplished performers among this particular position group will return for their 2023 seasons motivated to build on the promise and achievements displayed last season, and by all indications, these competitors are poised to make life a lot more challenging for opposing offenses this fall!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keaston Branham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Letcher County Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"This returning junior's impressive skill set and sophomore season production honestly could justify featuring him as either a wide receiver or a defensive back. In 12 games, he hauled in 14 passes offensiveu002du002dhalf of which went for touchdownsu002du002dwhile averaging almost 27 yards per reception. And those same attributes of breakaway speed, reliable hands and durability translate cleanly to the defensive side of the ball, too, with 23 solo tackles, 26 assists, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. Primarily aligning at safety, Branham displays consistently intelligent reads and quick reactions to perimeter runs or screens and effectively runs the alley to clean up any receivers or ball carriers turned back inside/upfield by defensive contain. He also proves very difficult to get behind, as he maintains close, inside body positioning on vertical receivers and displays impressive speed after committing and opening the hips/shoulders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Gavin Brown","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Letcher County Central","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Primarily a cornerback, Brown's skill set seems especially well-suited for playing to the wide side of the field and/or to the offensive passing strength by formation. In particular, his ability to move and redirect from a fundamental athletic postureu002du002dcoupled with his change of direction skills and the ability to separate from blockersu002du002dmake him an inordinately active defender who seems always to end up around the football. In 12 total games as a sophomore, he collected 25 solo tackles, 24 assists, 1 tackle for loss, and even added a punt return touchdown to his resume for good measure.  His talents as a kick returner on special teams only further his potential opportunities to impact games in sudden ways. Aside from his obvious athletic attributes, he also displays an understanding of ball skills, typically playing the ball at its highest point and enlisting leverage that uses the sideline as a 12th defender. A heady and talented competitor, his progression will be fun to watch over these next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["418719"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Often aligning as a single high safety, Curry's vision, efficient reads/reaction and the ability to accelerate to/through the football make him one of the most complete and dangerous defensive backs in Kentucky this fall. Starting all 15 games for the 14-1 state runner-up Redhounds in 2022, he collected 59 solo tackles, added 10 assists, intercepted 7 passes and recovered a fumber for a total of 8 takeaways. His movement and body positioning versus pass looks confirm a clear understanding of combination routes, patience and the ability to commit and/or play the football at the right moment. In addition to his speed and ball skills, he also demonstrates an aggressive demeanor in run support and rarely misses tackles in the open field, bracketing the ball carrier and consistently bodying up runners instead of leaving his feet or tackling below the waist. And just to reiterate this player's ability to impact games, he also takes full advantage of some occasional forays on the offensive side: 53 touches, an average of over 6 yards per touch, and every 9th touch resulted in a score. The describe Curry as u0022consistently impactfulu0022 seems almost an understatement.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Joe Wes Lester","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Corbin","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A starting cornerback for all of the Redhounds' 15 games in 2022, Lester collected 37 solo tackles and 14 assists while also generating a couple takeaways via 1 interception and another scoop-and-score for a 35-yard touchdown. Fundamentally sound, with disciplined eyes/reactions, his alignment and body positioning confirm his exceptional athleticism. He's gratifying to watch, given his attention to the finer details of his postion. For instance, his back-pedal with sunken hips, forward lean and active arms/hands could rightly find its way onto an instructional tape, and his physicality enables him to redirect/frustrate receivers' intended routes with active hands and targeted blow delivery. His ability to anticipate, react and change direction quickly, coupled with his strength and aggressiveness, make him particularly well-suited to play primarily on the perimeter side of the field, but his knack for spacing, comparable speed and versatility make him an effective competitor versus wide-side sets, as well.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brett Smith","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Letcher County Central","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Starting most often as the deeper safety for the Cougars' 12 games in 2022, Smith completed his sophomore season with 15 solo tackles, 44 assists and 3 interceptions primarily as a result of his understanding of leverage and spacing as necessities for successful defense and disciplined eyes/reads that result in efficient reactions to offensive schemes. Versus downhill, inside runs he displays a clear understanding of pursuit angles, depths and defensive fits that enable him to finish off plays, and his ability to maintain depth versus vertical routes and establish dominant hip positioning give him the opportunities for successful plays on the ball. Likewise a skilled contributor offensively, he collected 11 total touches, 175 yards and 1 touchdown. A heady, deceptively athletic competitor, Smith reflects a very high developmental ceiling both offensively and defensivelyu002du002dwith two high school seasons remaining.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Quentin Williams","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Letcher County Central","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The first attributes to jump off the screen when initially viewing Williams in game films are his physicality and closing speed, as he reduces open distances quickly when pursuing the football and displays the ability to u0022play throughu0022 blockers and execute solid tackles from a balanced and dynamic athletic posture. Most often aligning as a walked up or shallow safety, many of his tasks sometimes emulate those of linebackers, particularly versus perimeter stretches like those devised in outside zone or flat screens. In particular, he plays a number of popular screen concepts effectively by actively working to constrict spacing between the blocker and ball carrier, and he also proves highly skilled when using active hands and blow deliveries to remain unblocked. In 12 total games as a sophomore, he collected 21 solo tackles, 50 assists and 2 tackles for loss. His ball skills also resulted in 2 interceptions along with a fumble recovery. Offensively, he also showed some promise last fall after hauling in 6 receptions for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6404ff3a1dbdc"} /-->