Top Class of 2026 Defensive Backs: 704 Metro Area
Zamarius Gladden Zamarius Gladden ATH NC – Hunter Huss At 5’11 and 165 pounds, Zamarius had a very productive season last year for the Huskies, with 117 total tackles, 63 solo tackles, and two interceptions. Zamarius currently has an offer…
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Continue ReadingZamarius Gladden Zamarius Gladden ATH NC – Hunter Huss
At 5’11 and 165 pounds, Zamarius had a very productive season last year for the Huskies, with 117 total tackles, 63 solo tackles, and two interceptions. Zamarius currently has an offer from Charlotte, and I think if he has a strong camp season, Zamarius will generate additional interest from a recruiting perspective. Looking at the film, Zamarius shows some good ball skills and can play passes at their highest point effectively from his defensive back position. Zamarius also shows some good overall speed in covering receivers and tracking down ball carriers in the open field. Zamarius is also not afraid to support the defense in the open field, showing good skills in tackling in space against ball carriers.
Lyrik Pettis Lyrik Pettis 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Crest | 2026 State NC – Crest
A 6’1 and 175-pound prospect, Lyrik currently has offers from Appalachian State and Charlotte. Lyrik also has some recruiting interest from other schools and should continue to see that increase during the upcoming camp season. Last season, Lyrik totaled 82 tackles, 21 solo tackles, and 4 interceptions on the season from his safety position. Taking a look at the film, Lyrik does an excellent job showcasing his range in zone coverage from the safety position, showing excellent speed to cover large areas of the field for interceptions and breakups in the passing game. Lyrik shows some strong ball skills in wrestling contested passes away from receivers in 1 on 1 situations. Lyrik also supports the run well, making strong solo tackles in open space against ball carriers.
D’various Surratt D’various Surratt 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Crest | 2026 NC – Crest
Another productive player for the Chargers defense, D’various totaled 57 tackles, 19 solo tackles, and 5 interceptions on the season. Standing at 6’0 and 165 pounds, D’various does have some significant recruiting offers from Charlotte, Norfolk State, Missouri, Appalachian State, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Virginia Tech. D’various is a true dual athlete, making all-conference in both football and basketball this past season. On top of that, D’various lists a 3.7 overall GPA on his profile, a major achievement. On film, D’various does a very good job of tackling in the open field – on both wide receivers and running backs. D’various shows strong coverage skills in both man and zone coverage, and some very good hands – making tough catches on a couple of interceptions over the middle most notably.
Marcus Sales Marcus Sales 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Cox Mill | 2026 NC – Cox Mill
At 6’0 and 160 pounds, I have seen Marcus up close at a recent Prep Redzone showcase. His athleticism and speed were most impressive working through both the combine events and the individual drills for defensive backs. I was also impressed with how well Marcus played the football in his one-on-ones against wide receivers. From a recruiting perspective, Marcus has offers currently from Vanderbilt, Eastern Kentucky, and Charlotte. Last season Marcus produced 37 total tackles, 8 pass breakups, 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns – good overall production. Looking at the highlights, Marcus can make some special plays with the football in his hands – on both defense and offense. Offensively, Marcus can make some plays in the quick screen game, showing excellent overall agility and speed. Marcus also contributes to special teams, showing those same skills on kickoff/punt returns. Finally, Marcus is an excellent tackler in both run support and tackling wide receivers in the open field with solo tackles.
Micah Bright Micah Bright 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Cox Mill | 2026 State NC – Cox Mill
Micah is a 6’0 160-pound prospect who plays both football and basketball. He lists a 4.3 GPA, an impressive reflection of his intelligence, on his profile. From a recruiting perspective, Micah has an offer from Charlotte currently with recruiting interest from other area schools. Taking a look at his highlight film, Micah shows a couple of impressive things. First off, I love how fast Micah reacts to the run game – he is very quick in recognizing run from his safety position and comes and fills the alley with great speed, and good overall tackling technique. Also, Micah shows some strong hands in making a couple of tough catches of interceptions – he has some ballhawk tendencies, his nose always seems to find the football.