Top 2025 Defensive Backs: 704 Metro Area

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303827' first='Gene' last='Neely'] - Hunter Huss </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gene specializes as a defensive back, but he has the athletic ability to help out on offense as well. A 5'10 175 pound prospect, Gene sports an impressive 3.9 GPA which will be a great enhancement to his recruiting. Gene was named a First Team All-Conference player with 132 total tackles on the season, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions. Gene also received other accolades from local media during the postseason, being named to multiple All-Area teams. Looking at the film, Gene does a good job of reading pass patterns in the middle of the field from his safety position and uses his speed well to pick off the football on multiple occasions. I also love the way that Gene is not afraid to come down and fill in run support. I would expect once Gene gets out to some camps his recruiting interest will continue to grow as the camp season goes on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Petroff - Concord </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a hybrid safety prospect, Alex stands at 5'11 and 195 pounds. He lists a 4.6 GPA on his profile, another strong asset when it comes to recruiting. Last season Alex had 53 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. Alex also is a very good wrestler, winning a regional championship in the 190-pound class. Alex currently has an offer from Eastern Kentucky University. When you take a look at the film, Alex does a very good job of supporting in the run game with a strong ability to shed blocks and make open field tackles - this is on display through multiple games in his highlight package. I will be excited to see how Alex starts the season to enhance his recruiting with a strong start and more film to help support him picking up more offers as time goes on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303831' first='Caleb' last='Hill'] - Weddington </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An All-Conference and all-county selection last season, Caleb had a couple of big games where he made some game-changing plays to help his team win - you are always looking for a player that rises in the big moments. Caleb currently has some college interest at the moment, and I will be excited to see him at some camps in the spring and summer camp seasons. At 5'10 and 180 pounds, Caleb has the talent to play both on the outside and in the slot on the next level. When you take a look at the film, I love how well Caleb plays the ball in both man and zone coverages. Specifically in off-man coverages, Caleb does a good job of running with receivers on deep routes and forcing multiple incomplete passes and pass breakups. Caleb also does a good job in making tackles in the open field, both in the screen game and in run support. I would expect Caleb to get more recruiting attention sooner rather than later based on what he has put on tape. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254540' first='Brandon' last='Rose'] - Mallard Creek </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have had multiple people tell me about Brandon since last season - I have been impressed with him both seeing him in person and on film. At 6'0 and 185 pounds, Brandon just recently picked up his first offer from Coastal Carolina. With a 3.6 GPA, I would expect Brandon to pick up more offers throughout the spring and the summer. Looking at the film, I am impressed with Brandon's ability as a safety to come down and cover slot receivers in both man and zone. Brandon does a good job of pattern reading and making plays on the football with excellent ball skills. Brandon also does a great job in run support from depth, and he shows a strong ability to make tackles in the open field in the screen game - notably doing it against some talented wide receivers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andre Jackson Jr - Corvian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 5'10 and 170-pound prospect, Andre can help out on offense as well, playing multiple positions on that side of the ball this past season. Andre also was a key contributor on the Corvian basketball team that made a deep run in the state playoffs. Andre played as a dual-threat quarterback last season and also played defensive back. As a defensive back, Andre had 54 tackles, 9 pass breakups, 5 forced fumbles, four tackles for loss, and 4 interceptions. Taking a look at the film, Andre does a good job of running with receivers in man coverage. Andre makes some plays on the ball - his interceptions are in a variety of ways - high-pointing the football, good reads out of zone coverage, for example. Andre also is not afraid to run support from his corner position and he plays off blocks well. I think someone may get a steal with Andre - I will be excited to see how he performs during the upcoming camp season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->