PRZNE 2026 Rankings Update | DB Prospect Profiles (Top 12)
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area. Our Class of 2026 Rankings received a big update as we grew the list to 365 players. Our rankings alone jumped from “Top 75” to 145 of…
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Our Class of 2026 Rankings received a big update as we grew the list to 365 players. Our rankings alone jumped from “Top 75” to 145 of the top sophomore prospects across the state.
To kick off coverage of this class, I wanted to roll out some “Prospect Profiles” of each of the ranked prospects. In these prospect profiles, I will highlight important info about that prospect, including measurables, links for their Twitter/Hudl, notable speed and strength marks (40-yard times and max-out lifts), offers, and locate some strengths for each player. All 40-yard times, track times, vertical jumps, and lifting stats come directly from the player’s Hudl or Twitter or have been recorded at a showcase I have attended.
There is a TON to love about this fiery group of defensive backs. From rangy safeties to tough, physical cornerbacks, our Top 12 DBs for the Class of 2026 have it all for you below.
Check out the full 365-prospect rankings and watchlist HERE.
Araf Evans Araf Evans 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2026 NE JR | Millard North | DB:1 | Overall: 4
– Height: 6’1″
– Weight: 185 lbs
– Position: Safety, ATH
– Offers: Texas A&M, Penn State, and Northern Iowa.
– Testing Numbers: 4.5 40-yard dash
– Stats: 52 tackles, a TFL, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
– Twitter: @ArafEvansJr
– Strengths: Football IQ, read and react, footwork, smooth in coverage, plays with a mean streak, attacks downhill, uses hands to disengage from blocks, sound tackler, fills in gaps very well, closing speed, rangy, great pursuit, ATH upside.
Kaprice Keith Kaprice Keith 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2026 State NE | Bellevue West | DB: 2 | Overall: 6
– Height: 6’3″
– Weight: 180 lbs
– Position: Safety, ATH
– Offers: Iowa State
– Testing Numbers:
– Notable PRs: 6’0″ high jump
– Stats: 25 tackles, 3 interceptions (one pick-six), a fumble recovery, 77 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
– Twitter: @KapriceKeith
– Strengths: Ball skills, size, football IQ, top-tier instincts, speed, rangy, fast break on the ball, fluid in transition, physical, playmaker, versatile ATH.
Alex Uchtman Alex Uchtman 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Elkhorn North | 2026 State NE | Elkhorn North | DB: 3 | Overall: 20
– Height: 6’1″
– Weight: 175 lbs
– Position: CB, ATH
– Testing Numbers: 4.86 40-yard dash, 4.5 shuttle drill, 9’5″ broad jump, 7.06 L-drill.
– Stats: 23 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 interceptions (one pick-six), 215 rushing yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns.
– Twitter: @AlexUchtman
– Strengths: Football IQ, quick instincts, athleticism, break on the ball, great tackler, physical with receivers, RB upside (great overall ATH), ball skills, eye discipline, footwork.
Darion Jones Darion Jones 6'0" | 150 lbs | DB Omaha North | 2026 State NE | Omaha North | DB: 4 | Overall: 31
– Height: 6’0″
– Weight: 150 lbs
– Position: CB
– Testing Numbers: 4.89 40-yard dash, 4.22 pro agility, 9’3.5″ broad jump, and 35″ vertical.
– Stats: 8 tackles, 2 TFLs, an interception, and a receiving touchdown.
– Twitter: @Dar11on
– Strengths: Riser to watch, aggressive, press coverage, clean backpedal, can fight off blocks to make tackles at LOS, physical at catch point, disruptive hands.
Vincent Sall Vincent Sall 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Creighton Prep | 2026 State NE | Creighton Prep | DB: 5 | Overall: 34
– Height: 6’2″
– Weight: 180 lbs
– Position: Safety
– Testing Numbers: 4.91 40-yard dash, 33″ vertical jump.
– Stats: 29 tackles
– Twitter: @VincentSall_
– Strengths: Next-level frame, good length, sideline-to-sideline range, good tackler, good use of hands with the ball in the air, smooth in coverage. (Limited film)
Brenden Ruth Brenden Ruth 5'11" | 185 lbs | DB Seward | 2026 State NE | Seward | DB: 6 | Overall: 54
– Height: 6’0″
– Weight: 185 lbs
– Position: Safety, RB, ATH
– Stats: 62 tackles, 101 rushing yards, and 55 receiving yards. (Not complete)
– Twitter: @Brenden_Ruth
– Strengths: Ball-hawk, tracks the ball extremely well, rangy, closing speed, ball skills, versatile athlete (RB upside), great open space tackler, steps up against the run, smooth in coverage (can pick up WR, TE, or RBs in coverage and hold his own).
Nolan Asher Nolan Asher 6'4" | 195 lbs | DB DC West | 2026 State NE | DC West | DB: 7 | Overall: 67
– Height: 6’4″
– Weight: 195 lbs
– Position: Safety
– Testing Numbers: 32″ vertical jump
– Notable PRs: 205-lb bench press, 225-lb clean
– Stats: 51 tackles, 5 TFLs, a sack, and 2 forced fumbles.
– Twitter: @AsherNolan
– Strengths: Size, lengthy frame, range, fills gaps in very well, can fit a box safety role, sound tackling.
Elijah Mitchell Elijah Mitchell 5'9" | 185 lbs | DB Millard South | 2026 State NE | Millard South | DB: 8 | Overall: 74
– Height: 5’9″
– Weight: 185 lbs
– Position: Safety, ATH
– Notable PRs: 225-lb bench press, 425-lb squat, and 455-lb deadlift.
– Stats: 29 tackles, a TFL, an interception, 76 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
– Twitter: @EliMitchell___
– Strengths: Versatility (WR and returner), physicality, read and react, solid tackling, closes on the ball very well, strong, good understanding of offensive schemes and his assignment.
DeAnthony Dial DeAnthony Dial 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Omaha Central | 2026 State NE | Omaha Central | DB: 9 | Overall: 82
– Height: 5’11”
– Weight: 160 lbs
– Position: Safety, Slot CB
– Stats: 24 tackles, a TFL, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.
– Twitter: @DeAnthonyDial_
– Strengths: Physical, willingness to play downhill, versatile (can move over to slot/nickel CB when needed), good ball skills, reads QB’s eyes very well.
Erick Moreno Erick Moreno 5'10" | 150 lbs | DB South Sioux City | 2026 State NE | South Sioux City | DB: 10 | Overall: 109
– Height: 5’10”
– Weight: 150 lbs
– Position: CB
– Testing Numbers: 4.69 40-yard dash
– Notable PRs: 375-lb deadlift
– Stats: 17 tackles.
– Twitter: @Erick17684565
– Strengths: Tackling technique, takes smart angles, sneaky speed, reads and reacts very well, active hands when the ball is in the air, steps up against the run.
Jermaine Dortch | Omaha North | DB: 11 | Overall: 118
– Height: 5’9″
– Weight: 150 lbs
– Position: Safety
– Stats: 14 tackles, a TFL, and an interception.
– Twitter: @DortchJermaine
– Strengths: Physical, quick break on the ball, willing to step up against the run, sticky in coverage, versatile (also saw reps at CB), return man
Marshawn Jefferson Marshawn Jefferson 5'8" | 140 lbs | DB Lincoln Northeast | 2026 State NE | Lincoln Northeast | DB: 12 | Overall: 135
– Height: 5’8″
– Weight: 140 lbs
– Position: CB
– Notable PRs: 295-lb squat, 160-lb bench press
– Stats: 18 tackles and an interception.
– Twitter: @MarShawnJeffer8
– Strengths: Instinctive, plays the ball very well, plays much bigger than his frame, physical, willing tackler.
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