2024 Rankings: Dominant Defensive Backs
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On Monday, we finished off our prospect ranking update with the unveiling of the Top 200 for the state’s 2024 class. In case you missed it, you can check out the complete rankings RIGHT HERE. Also, be sure to go back and check out the other ranking updates and breakdowns of the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes. In this post, we’re putting the spotlight on the defensive side of the ball with some of the top cornerbacks and safeties in the state’s 2024 class. Be sure to keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2024 prospect breakdowns this week!
We’ve written about Moore defensive back Corey Dean Corey Dean 6’0″ | 180 lbs | DB Moore | 2024 State OK quite a bit in the last nine months after watching him steal the show at our camp in January. He ran away with the MVP award for the defensive backs and was one of the more dominant DBs we’ve had at one of our camps when he was in one on one competition. But performing like that in camps and 7v7 tournaments is one thing, doing it again with the pads on under the Friday night lights is another. So we’ve wanted to see Dean continue that momentum this fall as one of the best cornerbacks in the state. Not only has he done that but he’s also been a dominant player in some of the toughest games of the season. Dean does a great job in man to man coverage and has an uncanny way of always being in the right place at the right time. He’s once again one of the top DBs in the ranking update.
Highlights
The only prospect on this breakdown that plays safety the majority of the time is Zachery Warren Zachery Warren 6’1″ | DB Mustang | 2024 State OK at Mustang. Unfortunately for Warren, he dislocated his ankle after coming down with an interception a few weeks ago. The Broncos are dealing with a ton of injuries right now and Warren is one of them. The injury completely derailed a senior season that was outstanding for Warren. He was one of the team’s leading tacklers and that’s one thing that really stood out to us when we watched Warren on film. This kid absolutely lays the wood when he hits an opposing ball carrier. Warren is one of the hardest hitters we’ve seen over the last month and he has to be one of the hardest hitters in the 2024 class. Warren is going to be a steal for whatever program lands him. Mustang’s future is bright but Warren is part of a solid senior class.
The first of two recent UCO commits on this breakdown is Damien Marshall Damien Marshall 6’0″ | 165 lbs | DB Union | 2024 State OK out of Union. The Redhawk cornerback is another example of a prospect who patiently waited for his opportunity to shine under the Friday night lights. At a program like Union, you see this quite a bit where players have to wait until their senior year to really showcase their abilities as one of the best at their position. It’s no surprise to us that Marshall was able to do that this season for the Redhawks. The Union secondary unit is one of the best in the state and Marshall is a big part of that at one of the cornerback positions. Marshall had a really good offseason in various 7v7 tournaments while playing with 918 Elite. He was one of the better players at his position, just about every time we saw him in person. Marshall definitely carried that play over to this fall.
Highlights
Lawton MacArthur standout Xzavier Booth Xzavier Booth 5’10” | 175 lbs | DB Lawton MacArthur | 2024 State OK is a star in the making and ready to shine bright. Booth is the other prospect on this breakdown that recently announced a commitment to UCO. When we saw Lawton MacArthur at the beginning of the season, Booth was arguably the most impressive player we saw at a scrimmage that featured a wealth of D1 recruits and prospects. The Highlander standout was relentless in his ability to make plays and impact the game. We’re very interested to see where Booth ends up playing at the next level. Because with the Highlanders, Booth is just as effective closer to the line of scrimmage as he is to being closer to a traditional secondary. But no matter where Booth ends up playing at the next level, we have no doubt that he’s going to make a massive impact. UCO has done a great job recruiting in state and that has continued.
Highlights
Norman North senior Camden Pratcher Camden Pratcher 6’1″ | 170 lbs | DB Norman North | 2024 State OK rounds up this breakdown and he’s been an emerging star at the cornerback position this fall. We knew coming into the 2023 season that Pratcher would be a name to watch at cornerback this fall but he has exceeded all expectations. He’s been very successful this fall whenever he’s been targeted and he has turned into quite the ball hawk this season. We first started paying attention to the Norman North standout in the offseason prior to his junior season. He stood out on the defensive side of the ball when he was playing in 7v7 tournaments with Sooner 7. It’s not often that defensive backs, especially cornerbacks, earn enough shine on a Friday night to get mentioned in our weekly Top Performer series. But it feels like Pratcher led the way for corners this season as he had multiple games where he shined bright.