2027 Watch List: 15 Early DBs to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 Watch List has made its debut and 100 of some of the top freshmen in the state have been added. While there will be many more added through the next three years, it's important to recognize some of the 2027 prospects and start getting them on the radar. Here are some 2027 defensive backs that have shown early signs of developing into future college prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1155315"],"_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":"The early biggest freshman standout defensive back to this point is 2027 Hurricane cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1155315' first='Kno'sean' last='Hampton']. You don't often see freshmen starting at corner, especially at the big school level, but Hampton did so for a reason. He comes from an athletic family where older brother Shalik is ranked in the 2025 Top 10 and #2 DL in his class. Little brother isn't quite as big at 5'10 165 but is just as athletic with a very bright future. Hampton totaled 28 tackles and an interception during his freshman campaign for the Redskins, and I expect him to receive D1 interest in the future just like his older brother has. He has early athletic traits to build around showing good pursuit and recovery speed and can chase down runners from behind. You could leave Hampton on an island in man coverage as a freshman which speaks volumes to his ability at an early age. He didn't play the position like a freshman and wasn't someone you could pick on because of being green at the high school level. I expect big things from him over the next three years and would consider him a future D1 prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1155316"],"_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 2027 athlete with future D1 potential is Capital's [player_tooltip player_id='1155316' first='David' last='Robinson Jr']. Robinson Jr is more of an ATH at this point but he'll start out as a DB on our 2027 Watch List. He's a very versatile athlete who lined up pretty much everywhere for the Cougars during his freshman season and was very productive for them. Robinson Jr was a Second Team All-MSAC performer and was selected to the WVSWA Honorable Mention All-State team this season. He's a raw athlete but has natural athleticism and playmaking ability that will allow him to develop into a high-level player over time. He saw reps at both corner and safety this season for the Cougars but safety may be where his ceiling is highest on the defensive side of the ball. I think Robinson Jr will become a weapon on offense too and can play running back or receiver. Whichever position he ends up at, Robinson Jr can excel there.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1155320"],"_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":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eVery limited film at this timeu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eFreshman varsity starter for the Warriors at safetyu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eReps at running back u0026amp; receiver and has past QB experience toou003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eNamed All-Kanawha Valley Rookie of the Yearu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSpecial Honorable Mention All-MSACu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWVSWA Class AAA Honorable Mention Selectionu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003e3-Sport Athlete (Football, Basketball, u0026amp; Baseball)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eExpecting Woods to be a big-time prospect in the 2027 classu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/TavionWood6913u0022u003eTwitter/Xu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1155319"],"_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":"Wahama has a pair of 2027 DBs to watch for in the new Class A over the next three years with the first being [player_tooltip player_id='1155319' first='Trace' last='Simpkins']. Simpkins was highly productive for the White Falcons during his freshman season totaling 81 tackles and 4 interceptions along with 176 yards rushing on offense. He's a smaller DB right now at 5'7 140 but flies around the field making plays and playing like he's a bigger size. Simpkins is a very quick and speedy corner with fluidity in his movement to be able to make plays in coverage or on a tackle. He's a sure tackler in the open field due to his early athleticism but showed great things as a natural cover corner too. Simpkins is an exciting little player to watch and a name to know at the small school level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1155323"],"_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":"u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003eThe second Wahama White Falcon DB to know in the 2027 class is [player_tooltip player_id='1155323' first='Reezin' last='Stitt']. Stitt was a special teams ace for Wahama this season and the first thing that jumped out to me when watching his u003c/spanu003eu003ca class=u0022editor-rtfLinku0022 href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19460151/659b615dd21b010880de6eccu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eu003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003efreshman highlight tapeu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003e was his dedication to that side of the ball. He has some of the most fun special teams highlights that I've seen and made me audibly react to multiple clips including laying out 5 yards mid-sprint to recover a fumble on kickoff and a full-speed fumble causing collision on the kickoff team. Stitt is a 5'8 140 little ball of dynamite and a blast to watch. According to MaxPreps, he was the second-leading tackler on the team with 31 solo stops and 87 assists along with picking off a pass. Stitt forced 2 fumbles and recovered three and seems to have an innate knack for the ball on any unit. He plays with a controlled reckless abandonment that I loved to see especially for a freshman and should be a blast to watch the next three seasons. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["862713"],"_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":"Roane County DB [player_tooltip player_id='862713' first='Brodey' last='Proctor'] got some run on the Beavers' varsity team this season as a freshman and is a name to watch for the next three years. Proctor totaled 16 tackles, 3 passes defended, and an interception during his freshman campaign. He'll be an athletic option at QB for them down the road too and saw time there on their JV team this season. The 5'9 150 athlete flashed the ability to be able to stick to receivers in coverage along with being able to play the ball. Proctor is also a willing tackler and can do so in space in the open field. He has natural athleticism to build on which could give him an earlier opportunity at the varsity level sooner rather than later. I expect his role to increase on the varsity team next season and could play himself into being a starter for the Beavers as a sophomore.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b4942e06396"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Other 2027 DBs to Know:</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155317' first='Carson' last='Boggs'] - Hurricane</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19785462/David-Robertson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>[player_tooltip player_id='1155326' first='David' last='Robertson'] - Spring Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155324' first='Hunter' last='Cremeans'] - Winfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897527' first='Javontae' last='Wynes'] - Woodrow Wilson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155328' first='Kingston' last='McDonald-Gibson'] - Martinsburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157631' first='Nico' last='Kusic'] - Wheeling Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155327' first='Maurilio' last='Chaparro'] - Martinsburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155322' first='Roland' last='Ford'] - Riverside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1164994' first='Spencer' last='Jones'] - Poca</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Don't see your name on the Watch List or Rankings? Visit our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/"><strong>Prospect Index</strong></a> page and claim or create your <em><strong>FREE</strong></em> player profile to ensure you are on our radar!*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->