2023 Midseason Stock Risers: DBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have now completed the first half of the 2023 season and there have been plenty of athletes that have seen their stock rise through the first seven weeks of the season. Here are some defensive backs that have really stood out during the first half of the 2023 season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882818"],"_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":"Lincoln senior WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='882818' first='Brayden' last='Edgell'] has had a blazing start to the 2023 season and has looked very good on both sides of the ball for the Cougars. Edgell is in our rankings as a receiver but has been excellent in coverage as a defensive back this year. He started off the season about as hot as you can start one with four interceptions in the first three games and returning three of them for touchdowns. I think Edgell is one of the most underrated athletes in West Virginia in the 2024 class with upper-level athleticism. He could play receiver or defensive back at the next level and Edgell has been a playmaker at both positions in his career. His pursuit and closing speed have been excellent on defense and he has the recovery speed to make plays that many high school DBs can't.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["938592"],"_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":"Another very underrated defensive back in Class AA is Winfield junior [player_tooltip player_id='938592' first='Tre' last='Tanner']. Tanner is someone we identified in the offseason and really impressed in his sophomore film. He is very good in press-man coverage but could be more physical when he jams at the line of scrimmage. Tanner is a smaller corner at a listed 5'8 150 but he is a very fluid athlete. He does a really nice job of running step for step with receivers and flipping his hips when needed. Tanner also does a great job turning his head to look for the ball while still maintaining his speed and sticking to the receiver. He's one of the best man-to-man corners that I've evaluated this year and if he were a little bit bigger I think he would have D1 potential.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["907810"],"_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":"Oak Hill senior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='907810' first='Elijah' last='Gray'] just made our week seven weekly standouts as a receiver but has also impressed as a defensive back this season. Gray is another smaller corner with high athletic upside that can really stick to receivers with his speed and athleticism. He's often playing on an island in man coverage and Gray isn't going to be beaten often on speed alone. His backpedal is quick and he can flip his hips quickly with some high-end speed. Size is the only potential concern with Gray at a listed measurement of 5'7 150 but he can really move and is very athletic. I think he would be a steal for any smaller college looking for a lockdown corner or he can be a playmaker on offense as well like he showed this past week.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["872712"],"_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":"A 2025 cornerback that I think is playing at a very high level this season is junior George Washington DB [player_tooltip player_id='872712' first='Solomon' last='Ferrell']. Ferrell is a long corner at 6'2 170 and has the athleticism to pair with his upper-tier length. I think he moves very well for a long defensive back and could play corner at the next level. Ferrell is another corner that's tasked with playing man coverage which at 6'2 is impressive to watch because he can run with smaller receivers. Another aspect of his game that I liked seeing is his willingness to be physical in the run game. At his size, he could slide over to safety in college and be solid in run defense but I firmly believe he has the ability and athleticism to stay as a long corner at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["402804"],"_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":"Sophomore Hurricane cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='402804' first='Laron' last='Dues'] already picked up two Division 1 offers as a freshman last season and has continued to be impressive during his sophomore campaign. Laron is the younger brother of Tyshawn who recently committed to West Virginia University as a receiver so the Dues family has the athletic genetics to be high-caliber players. Laron has continued to get bigger and is now listed at 5'10 170 which will only raise his ceiling higher the bigger he gets. He's been a ballhawk this season and very good in press-man coverage. He's also flashed his high-level athleticism on punt returns and even sees time at receiver on offense where he can make plays too. You can put Dues on an island and shut down one side of the field which is a great benefit to have for any team and no surprise why D1 schools are already in on him.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["904113"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Junior Cabell Midland defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='904113' first='Myles' last='Meadors'] made the move to Ona from Huntington this season and has looked very good for the Knights. Meadors is a plus athlete that's in that 4.4-4.5 40 range which is very apparent on film. He's been a playmaker for Cabell Midland in all three phases of the game this season and has been a very good receiver and punt returner for the Knights along with defensive back. The 5'11 170 junior plays corner and has proved to be very good in man coverage. With his high-level speed, Meadors can run with any receiver and can also slide inside to cover a slot receiver. I could see him playing some nickel and dime at the next level or even staying as a pure corner. The upside is very high with the junior Meadors and it wouldn't surprise me to see him on offense in college either.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1039808"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"A new name on our radar for this season has been junior Nitro defensive back, [player_tooltip player_id='1039808' first='Zaevyon' last='Dickerson']. The Capital transfer is a safety prospect with good length at 6'1 and has shown to be rangy on the back end but also physical in the run game and in the box. Dickerson is the second-leading tackler for the Wildcats in five games played with 56 total tackles and averaging 11 per game. He had a phenomenal performance against Chapmanville earlier this season with 22 total tackles so Dickerson isn't afraid to be physical. His coverage drop to tackle reaction speed is very good and Dickerson can get downhill in a hurry and with force. His open-field tackling is consistent and he can really put some power and force behind his hits.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["370296"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Robert u0022Bobbyu0022 Powell is one of the top defensive backs in the 2024 class and recently committed to D1 VMI to continue his football career. The 5'9 170 senior is a high-level athlete who has had an increased role on offense this season where you can really see how much athleticism he has. Powell is a very fluid athlete who has great closing and recovery speed at corner. He's very good in man-to-man play and his quickness getting upfield coming out of his back pedal is some of the best I've seen. Powell has very sudden movement which puts quarterbacks in a very tough position because he can just make plays and break on balls that most high school DBs can't make. Powell could easily play on offense at the next level as either a running back or slot receiver but I'm confident he'll stick as a defensive back where his ceiling is very high.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["870564"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='870564' first='Anthony' last='Bachinski'] is a 2024 DB that I've seen plenty of times in person this year at various camps and a game and one of my personal favorites to watch. The Brooke senior is a great competitor who may not have the elite athleticism that some athletes have but he makes up for it with heart and hustle. Bachinski is also an intelligent player who puts himself in the right position to make plays often. He reads plays well and has good instincts and I would wager that he spends a lot of time watching film as well. Bachinski likely best translates as a strong safety at the next level but I believe he can play that hybrid safety/linebacker role too with his size. I really hope a D2 school takes a chance on him because he will make an immediate impact on special teams and will force them to have to play him early on.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["370309"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"You don't often see high school quarterbacks playing corner and covering slot receivers one-on-one, especially on teams the caliber as the Martinsburg Bulldogs and with the level of competition that they face but senior QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='370309' first='Murphy' last='Clement'] isn't your typical athlete. Clement is QB1 for the Bulldogs and a very good one at that but he might play defensive back at the next level where he currently has two D1 offers. He's a high-level athlete which you see every Friday night commanding the Martinsburg dynamic offense but his DB play is underrated. With his athleticism, he's obviously good in coverage but I really appreciate his work in the run game and defending screens and short passes. Clement fights off blockers well and is a very good tackler in space. He has 4.4 40 type of speed and it's no wonder why D1 schools are after his services.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526f3d90b6d5"} /-->