2025 Rankings Breakdown: 2025 Defensive Backs (5-1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CANADA-- We keep diving into our new <a href="https://prepredzone.com/canada/rankings/2025-rankings/">2025 rankings</a> update for Prep Redzone Canada by this time breaking down the <strong>top five</strong> defensive backs in the 2025 class. I have gotten to see a handful of these prospects in a live evaluation over the last 3 months and others intrigued me with what they put on tape within our top five. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id='892304' first='Brayden' last='Hyde'], DB, St. Paul's (MB) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/braydenhydee">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":931288,"width":335,"height":220,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/IMG_7613-1-rotated-crop-477x314-1690849534.jpg?w=476" alt="" class="wp-image-931288" width="335" height="220" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brayden is one of the few prospects I have gotten a live evaluation out of from this group, and sold me at the Minnesota 7v7 tournament with his physicality and grinding work-ethic anytime he was around the ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This young man has a straight feisty change of direction and punishing physical at the point of attack of the ball carrier and that shows out consistently for Brayden on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brayden is a 5'11 175 pound defensive back that plays significantly bigger on tape than those measurables will show you, as this kid is what you want out of a smash-mouth defensive back. I expect Brayden to be a stock riser in our next 2025 update as we hope to get more reps that show off his ball-tracking ability on intermediate and deep routes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id='881419' first='Jayden' last='Weisser'], DB, Harry Ainlay (AB) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/JaydenWeisser2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jayden by far is the longest striding defensive back on our defensive back list. At 6'4 175 pounds he uses his length early to his full advantage regardless of the coverage scheme he lines up in.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He has a sizable football IQ that recognizes coverage early and has no issue jumping the gun to assist with covering the run, this is one of the key skillsets that placed him in the DB4 spot, as football IQ with defensive backs really stand out to me as an evaluator with their play recognition skillsets go on display. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayden also portrays to me a defensive back that has the range to maneuver from sideline to sideline with his smooth athletic movement. He has some development brewing with a more agile release within his first step, however I certainly like the next-level ceiling this young man has coming out of Harry Ainlay in Edmonton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id='892378' first='David' last='Sindikubwabo'], DB, Dakota Collegiate (MB) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidSindikubwo">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":931306,"width":363,"height":237,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/DAvid-crop-1526x1002-1690849616.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-931306" width="363" height="237" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>If this list is not already an indication that Manitoba and the Winnipeg area has some of the best defensive backs in the country, I am not sure what is as we meet our DB3 in the 2025 rankings in Dakota Collegiate's [player_tooltip player_id='892378' first='David' last='Sindikubwabo']. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>David shows off as a defensive back prospect that might have some of the best ball-tracking ability amongst this DB group, as although I can confirm via a live-evaluation he doesn't have eyes in the back of his head, with some of the instinctive reps I have watched him make in person and on tape, he certainly plays like he does. He logged a whopping 7 interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 2022.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>David is certainly a right place right time kind of defensive back prospect as he shows off with his positioning how agile he is with his quick twitch with his change of direction as he only needs some small yet quick steps to be right in the wheelhouse to make a play on the ball. David to me is likely one of the biggest stockrisers amongst the defensive backs on this 2025 class list as a prospect that has playing on Saturdays written all over him. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id='892294' first='Liam' last='Platt'], DB, Miller (SK) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/lliamplatt">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":931313,"width":340,"height":222,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/Liam-Platt-crop-1086x713-1690849664.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-931313" width="340" height="222" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>With breaking down this list of 2025 defensive backs, the toughest spots to identify were DB2 and DB1 and I believe these could easily be flipped by our next 2025 rankings update. Lining up as our DB2 in the country was Miller (SK)'s [player_tooltip player_id='892294' first='Liam' last='Platt'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liam showed off superb ball-tracking ability as our DB2, as his positioning and glue instincts to any of the pass-catchers he covered spoke volumes how balanced this young man is when you put him on a island by himself in intermediate-route pass coverage.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liam also brings to the table some charismatic hand placement when he goes after the ball, as again he shows off plenty of smooth skillsets with making sure his attack angle to the ball is continuous and on point consistently throughout his tape. Liam is also fundamentally wired the same way when it is his turn to be the lead tackler up on short routes as he doesn't over improvise with his steps the agility that the ball carrier might have, he just takes the most clear-cut angle to the ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>1: [player_tooltip player_id='887034' first='Ismael' last='Mohamed'], DB, Lethbridge (AB) 2025</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>What popped out to me about Ismael that made him our DB1 in our Canada rankings for the 2025 class, was just how much ignition was in his quick twitch when he had to climb up a level to get to the ball carrier, as the instinct Ismael shows off great stimulation when he makes contact on the ball or ball carrier.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ismael is a prime example of a defensive back that plays through the whistle especially with his contact, as he shows off high levels of assurance of playing thru the ball no matter where on the field he might be as a sideline to sideline weapon in the passing lanes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also is extremely physical upon making contact with the ball carrier has he has plenty of pop in his game to be a deciding factor if the ball is going to be a completion or an incompletion. With his high instinct skillsets, this young man has a high ceiling in my eyes to play at the next-level as Ismael shows that if you have instinct, you can develop an even quicker trigger in your development with your ball skills which I believe is what his upcoming 2023 tape will show off the college coaches out there. At 6'2 175 pounds, this kid also has a plethora of length that he certainly shows off with his lengthy strides. Someone find me this young man on Twitter!</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->