Atlanta-Area Defensive Backs On The Rise

Matt DeBary May 14, 2023 @ 09:18 AM

<p>Which Atlanta-Area defensive backs are seeing their recruitment pick up?</p>   <p>Prep Redzone has all the details...</p>   <p><strong>McKaden Smith - Arabia Mountain</strong></p>   <p>An instinctive defensive back who can run, cover, and tackle, Smith is a natural in the back end who can do a little bit of everything. He's been flying under the radar, but his recruitment is finally starting to pick up a little bit this spring, earning recent offers this past week from App State, Liberty, and Middle Tennessee State. He's an easy D1-caliber defensive back and his sophomore tape. from last year proves it. He reads the quarterbacks' eyes, reacts quickly in the short-passing game, and knows how to deliver a big hit. He makes it look easy in the secondary, and plays well above his years. His instincts are impressive for someone his age and he shows good technique in coverage. There's a lot to like about Smith's game, and he's only going to keep getting better. He works hard, loves to compete, and is bound for a giant junior season in 2023.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mckxden/status/1656861491037888515?s=20 </div></figure>   <p></p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340552' first='Tyler' last='Redmond'] - Milton</strong></p>   <p>It's hard to find another 2025 defensive back in Fulton County who looks as good physically as Redmond. A St. Francis transfer now playing at Milton, Redmond's lengthy frame is easy to notice from a mile away. He already looks like an SEC-caliber defensive back and has the early offers to back it up. He earned new offers this week from Mississippi State and UCF, and they certainly won't be the last to extend an offer. The 6-foot-1 165-pounder has a long, lean frame with the ability to add more muscle and mass over the next several years. He had four INTs as a freshman and picked off three more last year as a sophomore while adding 41 tackles and breaking up 14 more passes. He has impressive ball skills with the ability to play both receiver and defensive back as a junior for the impressive 7A Milton Eagles.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Tyler_Redmond23/status/1656666288880746507?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Jalin Lackey - South Gwinnett</strong></p>   <p>One of the top two-way players in Gwinnett County for the 2024 class, Lackey is a quick, twitchy prospect with impressive ball skills. It wasn't a great year overall for South Gwinnett last season, but it's clear their playmaking wide receiver and defensive back was one of the bright spots. The 6-foot-0 185-pounds is quick, agile, and catches the ball well as a receiver who knows how to turn and fly down the field. Ad a defensive back, he can hold his own against tough receivers on a weekly basis and has no problem making a big tackle, even in space. He has a length frame which allows him to break up passes, and when the ball is in the air, he knows how to make a play on it. He's still flying under the radar a little ,but it may not be for long. The South Gwinnett standout earned a recent SEC offer from Kentucky, and he could see more come his way soon.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jaylin_lackey/status/1656657225924984832?s=20 </div></figure>   <p></p>

Which Atlanta-Area defensive backs are seeing their recruitment pick up?