2026 Rankings Release: Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we have now turned our attention to a class debut in our rankings. The 2026 class is loaded with several talented players but some stood out above the rest to make our initial Top 100. With those rankings being officially posted, I will now be breaking them down by position. After covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line and linebackers already being covered, I will now wrap up the defensive side of the ball with our top defensive backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971497"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='971497' first='Isaiah' last='Martin'] is a player that recently jumped onto my radar to grab the top spot at his position. He is coming off a very impressive freshman season. Martin is a true ball hawk at safety, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing to make plays. He finished last season with three interceptions. Isaiah has also shown the ability to fill the lane to make tackles against the run, finishing his freshman year with 71 tackles. While Martin doesn't currently hold any offers, he should definitely be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["971495"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='971495' first='A'Davion' last='Dale'] is another defensive back that recently jumped onto my radar. He had a strong freshman year, finishing with 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, and six interceptions. Dale lines up on the outside at corner where he is very impressive in man coverage. He has shown the ability to open up and run with receivers to mirror their routes. When the ball is thrown his way, Dale does a great job of breaking on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. A'Davion doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["971494"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='971494' first='Quilshaun' last='Baines'] is another defensive back that stood out to me with a solid freshman year. Baines lines up at safety where he has shown impressive ball skills, coming away with two interceptions last season. He has also shown the ability to make plays after the interception, returning one for a touchdown last year. Baines has also shown the ability to fill the lane and make tackles in the open field against the run. Quilshaun doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player to keep an eye on over the next three seasons.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["971496"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another Shelby County defensive back that has stood out to me is [player_tooltip player_id='971496' first='Javon' last='Hunter']. He is coming off a solid freshman season in which he finished with 35 tackles and one interception. Hunter lines up on the outside at corner when he has great man coverage ability, showing the ability to open up and run with receivers down the field. When the ball is thrown his way, Hunter does a great job of getting his body turned with perfect timing to make a play on the ball. So far this season, Hunter has made an impact on both sides of the ball, seeing some time at receiver and quarterback while also proving to still be solid at corner. Javon currently doesn't hold any offers but he will definitely be a player for coaches to keep an eye on over the next few years.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["971492"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"To wrap up our top five defensive backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='971492' first='James' last='White'] from Fern Creek. White lines up at safety where he is very impressive against the run, showing the ability to come downhill and fill the lane to make tackles. He finished last season with 24 tackles in nine games. White has also proven to be reliable in pass coverage, coming away with one interception as a freshman. James is off to a hot start to his sophomore year with 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, and an interception through his first three games. White doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f7a6f83eb40"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 100):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='971493' first='Malique' last='Smith'] (Fairdale)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='401715' first='Juelz' last='Davila'] (South Oldham)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='401719' first='Landon' last='Clark'] (Apollo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->