Hayden’s Hotshots: Top 100 DBs Ahead of Next Season (75-51)
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They’re back! After a short break, I’m pumped to continue the popular top 100 lists. Continuing where we left off, we have the next portion of DBs! Everyone who appears at this point of the list has the potential to…
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Continue ReadingThey’re back! After a short break, I’m pumped to continue the popular top 100 lists. Continuing where we left off, we have the next portion of DBs! Everyone who appears at this point of the list has the potential to play collegiate football. We have returning seniors who are looking to make a big splash in their final year, and juniors eager to prove themselves as among the best in the state. With all that being said, I’m excited to present the next part of my top 100 DBs!
75: Josh Glassberg 5’10” 155 lbs Chaska 2025
2023 Season Stats: 6 GP, 17 TTck, 1 Int, 3 PBUs
Although he struggled with injuries throughout his junior year, Glassberg still managed to put together solid tape. He’ll return for his senior year healthy and looking to make a massive impact in Chaska’s secondary. The first thing you’ll notice on his tape, Glassberg covers kids like glue. He’ll match kids pace for pace downfield before delivering a powerful swat that knocks the ball out of the receiver’s hands. He’s been manned up against P5 receivers, and he’s had success doing so. Even if a receiver manages to get a step over him when they release, you’ll see Glassberg quickly recover before making a big PBU. With a full season, I think he’ll prove himself among the top DBs in the state.
74: JT Kimbrough 5’10” 155 lbs Mound Westonka 2025
2023 Season Stats: 9 GP, 28 TTck, 2 TFLs, 1 Int, 5 PBUs
Kimbrough may not have been on my radar before starting this list, but his extensive tape caught my eye. The Mound senior is an aggressive downhill tackler who deserves more clout. Most of Kimbrough’s tape is of him in zone, and he works well on a variety of drops. He shows impressive speed when pursuing ball carriers and rocks ball carriers when he makes contact with them. Kimbrough’s stellar at defending deep balls, he’s able to flip his hips quickly and change direction at the drop of a hat, which allows him to tail receivers downfield. Keep your eye out for this dynamic senior next season.
73: Owin Gerber Owin Gerber 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Century | 2026 State MN 6′ 160 lbs Rochester Century 2026
2023 Season Stats: 6 GP, 21 TTck, 1 FF, 1 Fum, 1 Int, 6 PBUs
Gerber started for Century as a sophomore and has put together an impressive run on the camp circuit already. On his tape, Gerber is quick and is often able to go step for step with talented wideouts downfield. He’s got a nose for the ball and does a great job of contesting catches and high-pointing balls. Gerber is a fluid athlete with a high upside in coverage. With another year in the weight room, and that sophomore season of experience in his bag, I think Gerber could evolve into a lockdown corner by next season.
72: Levi Eiter Levi Eiter 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Prior Lake | 2025 State MN 6′ 195 lbs Prior Lake 2025
2023 Season Stats: 10 GP, 34 TTck, 1 TFL, 1 FF
Eiter is an All-District runningback who I expect to step into a much larger role in the Prior Lake secondary during his senior year. Eiter is a well-built safety who showcases solid power as a tackler and great speed. He’s shown the ability to cover receivers man-on-man, and while he has lost some one-on-ones, he’s often quick to make up for his missteps with fast feet and dogged determination. Prior Lake has consistently produced high-level talent year after year, and Eiter has already snagged some D1 junior day invites. Expect big things out of him in 2024.
71: Jamie Lisowski 5’11” 185 lbs Owatonna 2025
2023 Stats: 10 GP, 40 TTck, 2 Ints, 2 PBUs
The projected RB1 and SS1 for the Huskies in 2024, Lisowski put together some impressive tape from his junior season. In heavier sets, Lisowski has no problem playing in or near the box and can clog up run lanes like a linebacker. There’s a lot of man coverage on his tape, where he’s featured following a receiver in motion across the field before they take off on either a go or a short drag route into the flats. Regardless of what route they run, Lisowski consistently gives amazing effort when hawking them down, often either making a big tackle or contesting the catch well. Keep your eyes out for Owatonna’s secondary next season.
70: Jaden Alexander 5’9″ 155 lbs DeLaSalle 2025
2023 Season Stats: 9 GP, 51 TTck, 3 TFLs, 2 Fum, 1 FF, 1 Int, 1 TOT
Alexander’s breakout junior season was not something that I saw coming. His performance cemented him as one of the top DBs in the state, and he’s primed for an even bigger senior year. Primarily a cornerback, Alexander does his best work stopping the run game where he tackles low and tackles violently. He shows off solid closing speed and while he may not have had a ton of TFLs, he had a ton of stops at or near the line of scrimmage. While I would like to see more of his tape in pass coverage, it is without a doubt that Alexander is among the top DBs in the state.
69: Ladu Loro Ladu Loro 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH John F Kennedy, Bloomington Minneosta | 2025 MN 5’11” 180 lbs Bloomington Kennedy 2025
2023 Season Stats: 47 TTck, 4 TFLs, 2 Fum, 2 Ints
Ladu “El Toro” Loro is a physical and resourceful DB who had a standout junior season for Bloomington Kennedy. He’s more than adept in man coverage, and routinely flexes his talents as an athlete. Loro is traditionally a strong safety and is a true hybrid athlete at that position. He’s as effective as many corners in coverage but hits like a truck when a coach sends him on a blitz. He reads QBs well, and I think one of the most underrated pieces of Loro’s game is his ability to fight through screens. He takes advantage of soft receivers and blows up screens when ran near him. Expect a big senior year out of Loro.
68: Connor Klemmensen Connor Klemmensen 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Edina | 2025 State MN 5’10” 190 lbs Edina 2025
2023 Season Stats: 6 GP, 28 TTck, 2 Ints, 1 TD
Injured for a good part of his junior season, Klemmensen will make his return to football playing for the Edina Hornets after transferring from Minneapolis Southwest. Immediately on his tape, you can see how dynamic of an athlete Klemmensen is. He’s incredibly quick and works well in space. When contesting catches Klemmensen does a great job of high-pointing the ball and an even better job of reading the QB. In the run game, he’s also very effective. Klemmensen can scream alley to alley easily and thumps ball carriers with this thick frame. Someone to watch ahead of next season.
67: Judah Kozicky 5’10” 175 lbs Fridley 2025
2023 Season Stats: 7 GP, 27 TTck, 2 TFLs, 4 Ints
Fridley has produced several stud defensive backs over the years, and I think Kozicky is next in line for that title. He’s a natural ball hawk, that’s not to say he jeopardizes the play for an interception, but his instincts and ability to adjust rapidly to changing circumstances is atypical, to say the least. Kozicky does an excellent job of reading the QB’s eyes and he’s proven he can stick to his man’s hip in coverage. I’d like to see a little more of his defensive tape, but from what he has posted, I think it’s safe to say Kozicky will be a game-changer next season.
66: Charlie Potvin Charlie Potvin 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Blaine | 2025 State MN 5’8″ 170 lbs Blaine 2025
2023 Season Stats: 8 GP, 51 TTck, 1 TFL, 3 PBUs
To me, without question, Potvin is among the best run-stopping DBs in the state. He plays with a dogged determination and does an excellent job of wrapping up low and rolling. When Potvin is engaged at the line of scrimmage, he fights tooth and nail through them to either seal an edge or make a key tackle. His athletic versatility is a very underrated piece of his game, Potvin can play essentially anywhere on the field and will see success there. He’s got blocked punts, PBUs, and TFLs on his record. I like Potvin as a breakout watch DB in 2024.
65: Dane Olson Dane Olson 5'9" | 155 lbs | DB Alexandria | 2025 State MN 5’9″ 160 lbs Alexandria 2025
2023 Season Stats: 12 GP, 34 TTck, 1 Int
A key part of an electric Alexandria team’s secondary, Olson looks to continue the success he saw as a junior in 2024. The first thing you’ll notice when you watch him play is how incredibly physical he is. Olson may not have recorded a 100-tackle season, but he makes every hit count, and those ball carriers are sure to feel it. In pass coverage, Olson is quick to adjust and can be seen routinely swatting the ball out of the receiver’s hands. He’s disciplined on tape and can play either corner or safety. I think Olson has a breakout senior year.
64: Cooper Cleaveland 5’10” 170 lbs Wayzata 2025
2023 Stats: 6 GP, 35 TTck, 2 TFLs, 1 Int
An All-District HM as a safety in 2023, Cleaveland comes back as a part of a dangerous Wayzata secondary that returns all but one of its top four tacklers. He’s a commanding presence at the top of the field, Cleaveland was the team’s leading tackler among DBs and screams down like a missile when defending the run. Despite often playing 10-11 yards deep, he’s frequently seen on tape making tackles near the LOS in the run game. Cleaveland has great instincts and doesn’t back down when guarding bigger receivers or tight ends. Overall, he’s a solid DB who I hope to see make waves on the camp circuit this offseason.
63: Jack Weigel Jack Weigel 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Maple Grove | 2025 State MN 6’1″ 165 lbs Maple Grove 2025
2023 Season Stats: 10 GP, 47 TTck, 5 TFLs, 3 Ints, 2 BK, 5 PBUs
If Weigel had more tape, there is no question in my mind that he’d be higher on this list. The senior had a dynamic year in 2023 and returns for his final season with solid experience under his belt. On his tape, Weigel shows off a ton of positional versatility. He primarily appears to play corner but is comfortable walking down into the box and functioning as either a linebacker or a nickleback. He doesn’t shy away from contact and gives phenomenal effort wherever he’s put. Weigel will be a key piece of the Crimson’s secondary next season.
62: Kade Swenson Kade Swenson 5'11" | ATH Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton | 2025 MN 5’11” 170 lbs DGF 2025
Swenson is a direct result of me combing MNFootballHub rosters, and I’m psyched I found his hudl. As a junior, Swenson was part of a DGF team that made the state semis and looks to lead his team back to the promised land as a senior. He makes great use of his hands and has shown off tight coverage in key situations. Swenson attacks the ball at the catch point, which usually results in a big-time PBU. He breaks out of the top of his drops well but can also work alone on an island. I’m starting the Swenson hype train now, get on while you can.
61: Kobee Thielen 5’11” 175 lbs Dassel-Cokato 2025
A returning All-District DB who was able to make a state semis appearance last season, Thielen is a dynamic athlete who can perform a variety of tasks on defense. With a solid frame, Thielen is a more imposing tackler than most DBs, and it shows on his tape. He’s a patient defender who has one of the best gator-roll tackles I’ve seen. Thielen’s pursuit is such an underappreciated piece of his game. He can be seen tracking ball carries to the other side of the field, or flying down and stopping the inside run if needed. He does it all for the Chargers and I expect another big season from him in 2024.
60: Gavin Gall Gavin Gall 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR St. Cloud Tech | 2025 MN 5’10” 165 lbs St. Cloud Tech 2025
2023 Season Stats: 8 GP, 34 TTck, 1 TFL, 2 Ints, 1 TD, 1 PBU
Gall was a bright spot on a Tech team that struggled at times last year, and I expect the senior to be a big factor in 2024. Comfortable in man or zone coverage, simply put Gall is a playmaker. In zone, Gall is an incredible lurker, elusive yet always seeming to come out at the right time to make a play. In man, he’s nearly attached to his receiver’s hip, never far away, and always ready to punch the ball out of their arms. I’ve yet to see him get beat inside and he continuously makes plays across the middle of the field when his man drags him out there. I think Gall’s veteran presence in Tech’s secondary will be a valuable asset in 2024.
59: Calder Sheehan Calder Sheehan 5'7" | 160 lbs | DB Rochester Mayo | 2025 State MN 5’7″ 160 lbs Rochester Mayo 2025
2023 Season Stats: 9 GP, 59 TTck
An All-State wrestler and an All-Conference football player, Sheehan is a dynamic three-sport athlete who looks to make waves during his senior campaign. Immediately you’ll notice that Sheehan is a stellar tackler on his tape. He wraps up well and does an excellent job of tracking the near hip of the ball carrier. Sheehan is also willing and capable of marching down to or near the LOS and functioning as run contain, where he’s effective and willingly collisions bigger blockers in order to seal the edge. On a team that graduated a ton of talent from their secondary, I expect we see Sheehan step up big in his senior year.
58: Destin Fier 5’8″ 165 lbs Minneota 2025
2023 Season Stats: 14 GP, 64 TTck, 6 TFLs, 1 Fum, 1 Int, 1 PBU
Fresh off of a junior season that saw Fier earn a coveted state championship ring, Fier looks to do what is among the most difficult tasks in MN Prep Sports, three-peat as state champions. While I wish he had more tape, what Fier does have is incredible. When thrown at in the 2023 state championship game, he was knocking balls out of the air left and right. Against kids who have been known to create incredible separation from DBs, Fier was able to stay attached to their hip the entire game. I love Fier as an under-the-radar outstate prospect.
57: Patrick Curtin 5’11” 165 lbs Winona 2025
2023 Season Stats: 8 GP, 55 TTck, 1 TFL, 2 Fum, 2 FF, 1 Int, 3 PBUs
A safety who can cover receivers as well as a corner, Curtin returns for his senior season after an explosive junior year that saw him tally the fourth most tackles on his team. Curtin is quick in coverage, showcasing fluid hip movement and fast feet. Curtin finds a way to make QBs pay if they throw anywhere near him, if they throw lower in his zone he has no issue crashing down and lighting up a receiver, if they throw deeper in his zone Curtin is often able to flip his hips quick enough to catch up and swat the ball out of the air. He’s a dynamic three-sport athlete who is not getting the hype he needs, I think Curtin will be a game-changer in 2024.
56: Vaugn Feely 5’11” 175 lbs Eden Prairie 2025
2023 Season Stats: 12 GP, 47 TTck, 2 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 Int, 1 TD, 1 PBU
Eden Prairie produces absolute dogs year after year and I think Feely will emerge as another massive stock riser during his senior season. Feely is a dangerous kid to throw near, especially when he’s in zone coverage. He’s incredibly elusive and has a tendency to appear out of thin air when a ball crosses into his zone. When asked to, Feely can also cover receivers man to man, and he’s able to stay attached to their hip through the route. When the offense decides to pound the rock, Feely can fill alley to alley with ease. Keep your eyes out Feely this fall.
55: Aaron Briggs Aaron Briggs 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Champlin Park | 2025 State MN 5’8″ 160 lbs Champlin Park 2025
Briggs has been a consistent stock riser since his sophomore off-season. The All-Conference sprinter has been put up against some of the top receivers in the state and time and time again and he’s succeeded. Briggs has a ton of tape of him winning man coverage reps against Division 1 committed wideouts. When going against these elite receivers, Briggs is never more than a foot behind his opponent and uses his hands at the last second to swat the ball out of their hands. Without question, I think Briggs will be one of the highest stock risers of next season.
54: Nathan Thode Nathan Thode 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2025 State MN 6’2″ 180 lbs Hutchinson 2025
2023 Season Stats: 12 GP, 45 TTck, 1 Fum, 7 Ints, 6 PBUs
Thode returns for his senior season coming fresh off of one of the best junior seasons in the entire state. The well-built safety put up incredible numbers en route to a state championship and returns for 2024 as a team captain. His tape is thorough and shows a lot of what you’d expect. Thode is a slim and nimble DB who flashes his hands late and robs receivers of what looked to be an easy catch. He plays with high awareness at all times, always on edge and searching for a play to make. Thode is a high-upside safety whose stock I only see rising his senior year.
53: Brayden Sturm 6′ 160 lbs Springfield 2025
2023 Season Stats: 13 GP, 43 TTck, 6 TFLs, 2 Fum, 5 Ints, 12 PBUs
Sturm is what I like to refer to as a “stat-monster”. Not only did he make waves on defense, he also amassed over 1,000 receiving yards with 20 TDs. He also recently broke the 1,000-point threshold for Springfield basketball. The small-town standout was a state runner-up last season and looks to find his way back to the bank as a senior. Simply put, Sturm is dynamic. You can’t pass at him because he’s got long arms and knows how to use them, his vert isn’t bad and he does an outstanding job of high-pointing balls. You can’t run toward Sturm either, he tackles like an All-State wrestler and is often more physical than the ball carrier. I think Sturm is a phenomenal outstate prospect.
52: Semaj Young Semaj Young ATH Robbinsdale Cooper | 2026 State MN 5’8″ 145 lbs Robbinsdale Cooper 2026
Young is one of my favorite underclassman prospects in the entire state, he plays both ways and he’s a dog at either position. He snagged three interceptions and racked up a TON of PBUs last season. Young is an incredible athlete, he’s able to cover top receivers deep downfield but he’s easily best at contesting passes. He looks like Mutombo on the gridiron swatting passes out of the receiver’s hands. He rarely if ever gives up inside leverage and doesn’t get beat over the top. Young’s ability to break on balls when the pass is in the air insane, by the time the ball gets to the receiver his hands are already swatting it away. Mark my words, Young will have a major breakout junior year.
51: Austin Meyer Austin Meyer 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Anoka | 2025 State MN 6′ 175 lbs Anoka 2025
2023 Season Stats: 6 GP, 23 TTck, 1 FF
A safety for an Anoka team that has produced great WR/DBs over the past few seasons, Meyer will look to avenge an injury-shortened junior year with a dominant senior one. Despite only playing 6 games, Meyer managed to put together some solid tape and tie the amount of tackles he had in his full sophomore season. In coverage, Meyer is disciplined and doesn’t get beat deep, he shows off excellent pursuit when hawking down receivers crossfield, and he isn’t afraid to lay the wood. I like Anoka a lot to go on a dangerous run next season, and Meyer and that Tornadoes secondary is a part of that.