2025 NY Rankings: Defensive Backs

A really talented and very athletic group of defensive backs this season. The top 10 is actually a perfect split of 5 safeties and 5 cornerbacks although I think there are a couple guys who could shift around once they hit the college weight room and continue to transform or grow in their bodies. This year is intriguing because many of these top prospects are still developing as players and are recruited for their potential. Last season Sam Madu was a stand alone #1 DB and a guy who I projected as a very early contributor at the P4 level. I think this year there are more DB prospects with D1 potential and skill but are guys who will continue to develop over the course of their first couple seasons in college.   Check out the updated 2025 Rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2025-rankings/">Here</a>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Overall</h1>    Johnson out of Iona Prep is the type of CB prospect that checks all the boxes in his projection to the next level and when you watch the tape and put his athletic metrics on the table it is clear that he is CB1 in this class.   Johnson is a true 5'11 but he has some length to him in the arms. At 170, Johnson still has the frame to add weight and by my best estimation will likely play closer to 180 this season and 190+ in college.   Johnson has the track speed as he is a 2x track all-american and runs a sub 10.9 100m and a 6.61 55m as a 10th grader.   Johnson has good man coverage skills but his athleticism and closing speed stand out on tape and I think his skillset would translate to the safety or corner position at the next level.    <h1 class="wp-block-heading">The Next 9</h1>   [player_tooltip player_id='1201634' first='Javon' last='Lawrence'] - Lawrence, another speed corner out of North Rockland having run a 10.7 100m and a 6.54 55m during this indoor and outdoor track seasons. Lawrence actually plays more physical than his size and is a very willing tackler. You do not see a ton of coverage reps on tape but he has the traits to project as a speedy outside corner.   [player_tooltip player_id='528761' first='Garrison' last='Heslop'] - Heslop out of Stepinac has the long wirey frame that is coveted by college coaches today. Heslop moves well and is quick out of his breaks. A player that is still growing into his body there is a really high ceiling that comes with his play due to his measurables and athleticism.   [player_tooltip player_id='505523' first='Alonzo' last='Riddick'] - Riddick is the first true safety on this list and he showcases some positional versatility with the ability to play in and around the box and can impact the run game or be a solid man coverage corner in the slot. Riddick is consistently around the ball and showcases really solid closing speed on a consistent basis.   [player_tooltip player_id='806367' first='Ellis' last='Johnson'] - Johnson is one of the next very talented defensive backs to come out of Erasmus Hall and he has the measurables to go along with explosiveness on tape and the track & field metrics that verify his explosiveness as a top high jumper in the state. Johnson is a safety prospect who can be utilized around the entire field. Johnson mirrors guys really well in man coverage and has patience at the top of the route never being too over aggressive. He also has the length and range to play deep zones in cover 1,2,3 on a consistent basis.   [player_tooltip player_id='1235840' first='Tyrone' last='Smith'] - A key playmaker on a dominant Cardinal Hayes defense Smith was the type of safety prospect that lives around the ball. One of the most dominant tackling safeties in the CHSFL Smith plays with a high-motor through the whistle and is physical with bigger offensive players. He showcases really good instincts reading the QB and closing on the catch point.   [player_tooltip player_id='836781' first='Jayden' last='Locke'] - Locke could be the best man coverage corner in the entire state based on that skillset alone and while he is a smaller prospect he is very quick and is able to close on the catch point with burst out of his breaks. Locke also has really good ball skills, he showcases some veteran like ball skills with the ability to consistently break up passes without always having to turn his head to find the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='452167' first='Matt' last='Davitt'] - Davitt is another DB who excels in track and field and the safety prospect from Iona Prep has tape that showcases some of the best range at the position in this class. Davitt has great ball skills and tracks the ball at a really high level which shows up throughout his tape. Davitt is a tough prospect playing with a club on his hand through multiple games and not seeing any drop off in his physicality as a tackler.   [player_tooltip player_id='1235839' first='PeeWee' last='Jones'] - Jones who has a longstanding commitment to UNC-Charlotte was a quality addition to the Cardinal Hayes defense this season and if your counting just true corners on this list Jones would be CB5. Jones has quick hips and feet and is really sticky in man coverage. He shows the speed to turn and run with guys and has the athleticism to be left alone as an outside corner.   [player_tooltip player_id='255197' first='Styhles' last='McKenzie-Baker'] - McKenzie-Baker out of James Monroe is the top DB prospect from Rochester and has multiple years of quality tape showcasing his man coverage skills. He also has been a standout at multiple 7v7 tournaments I have seen him play in and projects as a really solid nickel corner with above average ball skills at the next level.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Five Players To Watch This Upcoming Season</h1>    Miller is a player I have seen live and what you see on tape is confirmed in a live eval. Miller has good length and is really patient in man coverage. He is physical at the LOS and does a good job of consistently impacting the catch point.       Was really impressed with Hooker's tape. Hooker was a new find for me and the Wagner CB is an ideal slot corner at the next level. Hooker displays the ability to fight off blocks and is a physical finisher as a tackler. He can impact the run game and also shows the quickness and instincts to be impactful in man coverage on the inside.       Lee has some of the better ball skills in this class and the Starpoint DB is one of the top returning WNY DBs this season. Lee can play Corner or Safety and overall has a quick trigger to the ball and overall good football instincts.       Tuttle was another completely new prospect to me and I was really impressive by the Arlington product. He is a two-way performer at WR as well but I think his quickness, instincts in coverage, and ball skills make him a quality recruitable CB prospect.       Watts has a very intriguing frame at 6'3 and although he plays CB for Boys & Girls likely is more of a safety at the next level. He does his best work with the ball in front of him when he does not have to turn and run with WRs but he shows good instincts and physicality when he can trigger downhill.

A really talented and very athletic group of defensive backs this season. The top 10 is actually a perfect split of 5 safeties and 5 cornerbacks although I think there are a couple guys who could shift around once they hit the college weight room and continue to transform or grow in their bodies. This year is intriguing because many of these top prospects are still developing as players and are recruited for their potential. Last season Sam Madu was a stand alone #1 DB and a guy who I projected as a very early contributor at the P4 level. I think this year there are more DB prospects with D1 potential and skill but are guys who will continue to develop over the course of their first couple seasons in college.