2025 Film Evals: Northern Suburbs Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up in our evaluations of the class of 2025 are the defensive backs.&nbsp; We will take you around the state looking at all the corner backs, safeties, and slot corners across the state in the rising senior class!&nbsp; Here is <strong>2025 Film Evals: Northern Suburbs Defensive Backs</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='299591' first='Tyrone' last='Cotton'] (Glenbrook South – 6'1” 160)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of my favorite corner tapes to watch.&nbsp; The 6'1" DB has fluid hips, good footwork, and excellent technique.&nbsp; Makes plays on the ball in the air.&nbsp; Runs with the wide out and has good timing breaking up passes using his long arms.&nbsp; The cover corner overall has very good instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831095' first='Nathan' last='Cleveland'] (Hoffman Estates – 6'1” 200)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland has good size at 6'3" with a lanky frame.&nbsp; Could slide down and play outside linebacker as well, but we like him at strong safety. Lays hammer on passes and forces fumbles. Great reaction to the run coming down being physical at the point of attack.&nbsp; Tackles well in space and overall is just a fluid athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120458' first='Jacob' last='Bednarski'] (Prospect – 6'1” 175)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very impressive tape from this 6'1" corner from Prospect.&nbsp; Like the size and the ball skills.&nbsp; He has a natural feel for playing the position cutting routes and breaking on the ball.&nbsp; Excellent timing and reaches around the receiver to bat down passes on the regular.&nbsp; Can play physical press coverage or off.&nbsp; Gets off blocks well in the run game to make play on ball carrier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1292199' first='Jordan' last='McKie'] (Carmel – 5'10” 185)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKie is a corner that has type writer footwork.&nbsp; Super smooth turning and running with the wide out.&nbsp; Can adjust off his primary route to impact a secondary one.&nbsp; Stays with man downfield and makes plays on the ball in the air.&nbsp; Hard hitter and is a good kickoff coverage guy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='278905' first='John' last='Behmer'] (Rockford Lutheran – 6'2” 190)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockford Lutheran prospect probably projects best at free safety at the next level.&nbsp; Great effort and has speed.&nbsp; Little light to play outside linebacker, but should be ok at safety with the angles he takes and how well he wraps up in space.&nbsp; Solid in coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='537257' first='Maksym' last='Makota'] (Maine West – 5'11” 175)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makota is a 5'11" safety that also plays as a RB on the offensive side of the ball.&nbsp; Brings physicality and tackling on the back end.&nbsp; Decent in coverage.&nbsp; As a back he runs hard getting downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='353338' first='Rocco' last='Boss'] (Burlington Central – 5'10” 130)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boss is a safety that is best in the run game.&nbsp; He has good closing speed and accelerates toward the ball carrier especially scrambling QBs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592066' first='Jaylan' last='Szlachetka'] (St. Viator – 5'11” 150)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This St. Viator DB also plays a little WR as well.&nbsp; Projects as a free safety or slot CB.&nbsp; Makes plays on the ball in the air showing solid instincts.&nbsp; Tackles well in space and uses his length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1292689' first='Daryl' last='Hunt'] (Elk Grove – 5'10” 170)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Versatile athlete on both sides of the ball playing running back and defensive back.&nbsp; Projects best as a DB that can play some slot corner or even free safety at the small college level.&nbsp; Good tackler and plus athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->