'25 Breakout Defensive Backs: Pt.2

The 2025 DBs are incredibly difficult to rank. We have dozens of phenomenal defensive backs in Michigan, and this class in particular is special. The DBs in this article alone come from the Grand Rapids Area, Northwest Michigan, and Southeast Michigan. So, here are five DBs who I think will break out during their senior season.    Haden could be the most underrated defensive back prospect in Michigan. Although I haven't watched Haden closely in person, his film plus Alma's offer makes me very optimistic. Petoskey doesn't face the best teams in the state, but Haden is able to cut through the competition to still look like a highly productive DB. As a safety, he's one of the more reactive guys I've watched. Just watch the first minute of his film. Haden forces several turnovers through both great instincts and good closing speed. He reminds me a lot of [player_tooltip player_id='602014' first='Troy' last='Temple'] from Walled Lake Western, but admittedly not as athletic. If Haden can build off his 2023 campaign, he will be a prime D3 prospect with the chance of a GLIAC team expressing interest.     Last season, Reed was far more versatile than he was as a Sophomore. Defensively, he spends time at safety, outside linebacker, nickel, and I bet he could play outside corner. As a safety, he unsurprisingly plays like a linebacker when stopping the run. Against runs outside the tackles, Reed takes great pursuit angles and oftentimes catches the ballcarrier in the backfield. He looks like a good tackler, but there are more arm tackles on his tape than I'd like to see. Further, I'd love to see more pass coverage highlights next season. If he can become near-elite at one specific position/skill, Reed could quickly become a phenomenal prospect.     A bit of a shot in the dark, but I trust this Muskegon defense. Like a lot of Muskegon defenders, I watched Lyn grow throughout the season. By the end of the season, Lyn looked like a polished DB who could and did make great plays against some of the best WR rooms in Michigan. He's a bit small, but so is Amik Robertson of the Detroit Lions. I don't currently view Lyn as a great prospect, but honestly, I expect him to earn college opportunities next season.     Rob is a newer prospect to Prep Redzone. A few weeks ago, I had the chance to watch Rob at the prospect camp at Saginaw Valley State. He came with a pack of Rouge DBs, and was mostly on-par with his teammates. During agility drills, Rob flashed fast feet and good change of direction. With 1on1 competition, Rob made a few great plays in the couple of reps that I watched. I don't think Rob stands out quite enough to earn GLIAC offers with his height, though I could see the entire MIAA going after Rob if he has a successful 2024 season.     Finally, we have [player_tooltip player_id='1290871' first='Landen' last='Conrad']. Admittedly, I need to do more research on Landen, though his film is good and the offer from Hope makes me optimistic. His highlight tape reminds me somewhat of Haden. Like Haden, Landen is a rangy safety who isn't afraid to stop the run. So much of playing Safety is IQ and closing speed, and it looks like Landen is just ahead of the curve in both areas. While he's not an elite athlete, Landen can still force turnovers and break up passes because of his IQ. Next season, I would love his highlights to be about a minute longer while showcasing a little more variety. Regardless, Landen is a phenomenal high school football player who will find success next season.

The 2025 DBs are incredibly difficult to rank. We have dozens of phenomenal defensive backs in Michigan, and this class in particular is special. The DBs in this article alone come from the Grand Rapids Area, Northwest Michigan, and Southeast Michigan. So, here are five DBs who I think will break out during their senior season.