Evaluations On Five Talented 2026 Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876582"],"_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":"Northmont gave up the second fewest passing yard in the GWOC Conference.  Keys was a big part of that effort.  At 6'0 tall, Keys, has good height and length.  He has the speed, lose hips, and athleticism to play tight man to man coverage, but he's also comfortable in zone.  He has a good awareness of where the ball is going and does a great job of getting to the ball and making the play.  Aside from the pass Keys is good in the run game.  In the run game Santana loves to fly around and is willing to lay the wood when the time calls for it.  His game is well rounded and versatile.  Key also plays some offense where he shows his athleticism and playmaking ability at the wide receiver position.    He doesn't currently have any offers, but there's no doubt in my mind he's a player who has the talent to play at the Power 5 level.  I expect his recruitment to go crazy this offseason.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["824871"],"_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":"Cleveland Heights has had a strong 2023 season, going 10-1 with its only loss coming versus a school from the state of New Jersey.  Perrymond is a true cover corner.  He has man cover skills that you don't often see at the high school level.  Every time you look up, he's all up in the grill of the opposing receiver.  Henry's ability to flip his hips and run is about as fluid as I've ever seen.  On the backend he has the speed to run stride for stride with receivers.  He has good awareness as he maneuvers with his man and does a good job of getting his head turned to make plays on the ball and not the man.   It's easy to see why Perrymond has P5 offers from Pitt and Kentucky with 3 more G5 offers to go with them.  I think Henry's recruitment is going to blow up once P5 coaches get a chance to sit down and evaluate the 2023 film.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["402345"],"_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":"With an impressive 10-1 record, Pickerington North, has been one of the best teams in the state of Ohio all season long.  Their only loss on the season came to a 11-0 Gahanna team in double overtime.  Taylor plays free safety for the Panthers.  He shows an impressive array of football IQ as they will have him line up versus the slot corner, versus the outside corner, and he also lines up in the box.  He seems to have a good knowledge of the technique he should be playing and what the offensive player is trying to do.  He has the athleticism to play from each position.  Physically he looks like a linebacker who runs like a defensive back.  In the run game Malachi plays a physical style of football.  Once he diagnoses, he gets downhill in a hurry.  Like any young player, especially one playing the level of competition of North where he doesn't trust his eyes, but as he gets more reps and sees more things, he's going to be a guy who's all over the field making plays.  I think you could see Malachi getting power 5 offers as early as this offseason.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["402331"],"_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":"Archbishop Hoban is one of the most talented teams in the state of Ohio.  One of the big pieces on their defense comes in the form of sophomore Hill.  Elbert blew up with high end P5 offers this last spring.  The thing is he blew up this spring with offers from the University of Miami, Ohio State and Michigan.  He did so without much varsity film. That's a lot of pressure for a player going into their sophomore season.  After watching his sophomore film, I can surely say, he delivered.  Elbert has fluid hips, and he has the speed to turn and burn with pretty much any wide receiver out there.  Beyond those obvious traits, what I really like is how he attacks the ball.  His awareness, his break, and his ability to get his hands on the ball are elite.  The term u0022ball hawku0022 definitely applies when talking about him.  With the film he's put down this year, there's no reason to believe that he won't be a 30-offer type of player.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["730825"],"_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":"Weatherspoon is another 2026 who will get plenty of offseason experience with an 11-0 Eagles team that looks poised to make a deep playoff run.  Weatherspoon first caught my attention this last offseason where he put up great testing results at the combine put on by the Cleveland Browns.  He then showed off his speed by setting a school record in the 400-meter (48.42) dash and qualifying for state as a freshman.  He's carried all of that momentum into a really strong sophomore season.  Each athlete progresses physically at different rates, and in Jakob's case he looks to have a college ready body, now. He's a legit 4.4-4.5 guy, and that speed translates to the football field. The combination of length, speed, and athleticism is impressive and will make him a tough matchup for smaller faster guys and bigger slower guys.  In the run and blitz game he plays fast and physical.  Weatherspoon has picked up an early offer from Michigan, this offseason I expect he'll continue to stack high P5 offers.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-654078cc9a162"} /-->