2025 Rankings: Lockdown DBs Highlight Rankings
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On the back end, the 2025 class is loaded at defensive back. There are guys who have a ton of interceptions because teams keep testing them, and guys who don’t because teams have already learned not to bother. There are…
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Continue ReadingOn the back end, the 2025 class is loaded at defensive back. There are guys who have a ton of interceptions because teams keep testing them, and guys who don’t because teams have already learned not to bother. There are players who seem to crave contact and making a big run stop, and others who make knocking away passes look effortless. Here’s a deeper look at some of the players in the 2025 rankings at DB.
Rank
|
Player
|
Height
|
High School
|
Commitment
|
Weight
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
5’9″
|
Hartsville
|
||||
2 |
6’1″
|
Heathwood Hall
|
||||
3 |
6’0″
|
Greenville
|
||||
4 |
6’3″
|
Westside
|
||||
5 |
5’8″
|
Greenville
|
||||
6 |
6’0″
|
Dutch Fork
|
||||
7 |
5’10”
|
South Pointe
|
||||
8 |
5’10”
|
Aiken
|
||||
9 |
6’0″
|
Lewisville
|
||||
10 |
6’0″
|
White Knoll
|
||||
11 |
6’1″
|
Camden
|
||||
12 |
6’0″
|
Oceanside Collegiate
|
||||
13 |
5’11”
|
Berkeley
|
||||
14 |
6’4″
|
North Central
|
||||
15 |
5’11”
|
Myrtle Beach
|
||||
16 |
5’9″
|
Daniel
|
||||
17 |
6’2″
|
Abbeville
|
||||
18 |
6’0″
|
Fairfield Central
|
||||
19 |
6’1″
|
Cane Bay
|
||||
20 |
5’10”
|
Oceanside Collegiate Academy
|
||||
21 |
6’1″
|
Socastee
|
||||
22 |
5’9″
|
Walhalla
|
||||
23 |
5’10”
|
Summerville
|
||||
24 |
5’9″
|
Chapman
|
||||
25 |
5’9″
|
Dutch Fork
|
||||
26 |
6’0″
|
Lugoff-Elgin
|
||||
27 |
6’0″
|
Philip Simmons
|
||||
28 |
5’11”
|
Cane Bay
|
||||
29 |
5’9″
|
Carolina Forest
|
||||
30 |
6’0″
|
Dutch Fork
|
||||
31 |
5’10”
|
Thomas Heyward
|
||||
32 |
5’10”
|
Rock Hill
|
||||
33 |
6’1″
|
Cardinal Newman
|
||||
34 |
6’1″
|
Wade Hampton
|
||||
35 |
6’3″
|
St. James
|
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Continue ReadingBREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE
Da’Marion Coe Da’Marion Coe 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB Hartsville | 2025 State SC Hartsville
Coe’s the real deal. His junior year pass defense stats don’t jump of the page at you, and that’s exactly what you’d expect from a player of his caliber, because opposing offenses don’t often bother to even attempt to throw it his way. Two picks and two pass deflections were backed up by more than 60 tackles. As good as he is in coverage, Coe is equally dangerous in run support where he’s a sure, physical tackler.
Onis Konanbanny Onis Konanbanny 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Heathwood Hall | 2025 State SC Heathwood Hall
Konanbanny is another guy whose stats don’t jump out at you, but his film surely does. He’s physical at the line, he has great instincts, and he closes on the ball really well. He’s also a physical tackler, and plays fantastic in coverage. When you’re picturing a lock-down DB, he’s your guy.
Ramani Bruton Ramani Bruton 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC Greenville
Speaking of lock-down guys, then there’s Bruton. He’s one of the centerpieces of an extremely stingy defensive backfield. The Red Raiders’ DL tended to wreak havoc last year, and Bruton and his backfield mates were more than capable of capitalizing on the chaos. Bruton had five interceptions and knocked down three passes last season, to go with 27 tackles and a tackle for loss. He’s capable of taking away his side of the field, or taking away your best guy, or sometimes both.
Zeke Marshall Zeke Marshall 6'3" | 175 lbs | DB Westside | 2025 State SC Westside
Marshall (pictured) is an athletic freak. He’s long, he covers a ton of ground, he’s physical, and he make plays all over the field. He made 85 tackles, grabbed NINE interceptions, knocked down six passes, and blocked a punt. He’s explosive, and as dangerous on offense as he is on defense.
Christian Henderson Christian Henderson 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC Greenville
Henderson is a force both in coverage and against the run. He had 32 tackles last year, picking off two passes and knocking down eight. He makes quick decisions, diagnoses plays well, and nearly always seems to be in the right place.
TEN RISING STARS
Zach Rogers Zach Rogers 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Lewisville | 2025 State SC Lewisville
Rogers had 38 tackles and a pair of interceptions a year ago, with five tackles for loss. He helped lead a Lions defense that allowed just 44 points all year.
Grayson Freeling Grayson Freeling 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Oceanside Collegiate | 2025 State SC Oceanside Collegiate
If you’ve got to have a completion, Freeling’s side of the field isn’t the place. He gave up exactly zero last season, and made 85 tackles.
Tyler Morgan Tyler Morgan 5'10" | 150 lbs | DB Wren | 2025 State OH Wren
Morgan had played all over the place for the Hurricanes, but he’s found a home at DB. He had 56 tackles, picked off a pass, and knocked down three more.
Tremaine Davis Tremaine Davis 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Daniel | 2025 State SC Daniel
The Lions’ defense is elite at every level, and Davis anchors the back end. He had 45 tackles and picked off six passes a year ago.
Damarcus Leach Damarcus Leach 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Abbeville | 2025 State SC Abbeville
Leach is an outstanding player on the offensive side of the ball as well, and uses those skills at an amazing level on defense. His instincts are off the charts, and he’s an extremely physical player.
Jonas Mckeen Jonas Mckeen 6'1" | 160 lbs | DB Cane Bay | 2025 State SC Cane Bay
McKeen is another quick, physical guy who uses his tall frame to cover a bunch of ground and close on the ball well. He also plays extremely well in run support.
Silas Parish Silas Parish 5'9" | 180 lbs | DB Walhalla | 2025 State SC Walhalla
Parish had a phenomenal junior year, with 162 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, an interception, a sack, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He does a bunch for the Razorbacks, but nowhere more than on the defensive side of the ball.
Shamon Black Shamon Black 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Chapman | 2025 State SC Chapman
Black has had an amazing off-season, winning two measurables events and a position event at the Spartanburg segment of the Carolinas Coaches Combine. He’s Chapman’s best cover guy, and an absolute ball-hawk.
Kolten Kellerman Kolten Kellerman 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Philip Simmons | 2025 State SC Philip Simmons
Kellerman made 48 tackles and knocked down four balls last season. He’s a fantastic open-field tackler, and has plenty of speed to chase down plays from behind.
Charles McCray Charles McCray 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Carolina Forest | 2025 State SC Carolina Forest
McCray has good ability to change direction, and great speed. He shines in coverage, and is aggressive enough to be a force in run defense.
FIVE DARK HORSE CANDIDATES
Jonathan Goswick Jonathan Goswick 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Socastee | 2025 State SC Socastee
Goswick grabbed four interceptions last year, and with the loss of several senior DBs, could be an even bigger factor for the Braves.
Tyquawn Murphy Tyquawn Murphy 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Lugoff-Elgin | 2025 State SC Lugoff-Elgin
Murphy had 44 tackles, four tackles for loss, two picks, and six pass deflections in 2023. He comes into his senior year with a huge upside.
Rakwon Stradford Rakwon Stradford 5'10" | 210 lbs | DB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC Rock Hill
Stradford is the kind of DB who can shine in new head coach Randy Birch’s gambling, physical, pressure-heavy defense.
Kai Morrison Kai Morrison 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB St. James | 2025 State SC St. James
Morrison has kind of emerged from nowhere, with just a year of organized football under his belt. Still, he’s got good size, great speed, and is expected to be a heavy contributor for the Sharks.
Mehki Hentz Mehki Hentz 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Wade Hampton | 2025 State SC Wade Hampton
Hentz is another guy who will adapt to a new coach and a new system, but 40 tackles, a pick, and five break-ups is certainly something that can easily translate.
Whether it’s fast, lockdown coverage guys, players who will stick their head in and hit you, or a little bi of both, the 2025 class is absolutely loaded at DB. It’s going to be fun seeing how this group progresses over the course of the season.