2025 Rankings: Top Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Illinois recently updated our class of 2025 rankings extending the list from 150 to 300 ranked prospects along with 140+ on the watch list.&nbsp; Now we dive into each position to look at who is the cream of the crop including here in <strong>2025 Rankings: Top Defensive Backs</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176242' first='Charles' last='Bass'] (East St. Louis – 6'2” 180)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bass is a 6'2" strong safety or slot corner.&nbsp; He is a strong and super athletic prospect that lays the hammer with his hard hitting.&nbsp; Reacts so fast to plays and is a physical tackler in the open field or in the run game.&nbsp; Makes plays on the ball and has a nose for getting turnovers.&nbsp; Also is an impactful special teams player in a variety of ways!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='278884' first='Andre' last='Lovett'] (Eisenhower – 6'2” 170)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lovett is an Illini commit that will project as a safety at the next level.&nbsp; Long and rangy athlete that is so quick and fluid.&nbsp; Tackles well in run support.&nbsp; Can also rush the passer as a blitzer.&nbsp; Plays some offense as well as a wildcat QB on occasion and is a fluid route runner as a WR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='830246' first='Jahmare' last='Washington'] (Morgan Park – 6'2” 170)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Impressed with the tape from this long and wiry 6'2" corner.&nbsp; Little light and will need to add strength, but he isn't afraid to come up in the run game.&nbsp; The corner is super quick.&nbsp; Very good footwork.&nbsp; Smooth back pedal, turn, run, and looks for the ball.&nbsp; Reacts well to the ball in the air and got his fair share of interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890063' first='Donovan' last='Brown'] (Brother Rice – 5'11” 165)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liked the tape from this press cover corner.&nbsp; At 5'11" he brings good athleticism, toughness, and footwork.&nbsp; Good hands deflecting passes with either hand without getting called for pass interference.&nbsp; Very physical in press coverage at the line of scrimmage.&nbsp; Fights for the ball in the air and makes plays on it.&nbsp; Solid tackler in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833293' first='Myles' last='Green'] (De La Salle – 6'0” 180)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green is an athlete that can impact in all three phases of the game.&nbsp; Offensively he is a good redzone threat as a jump ball guy.&nbsp; Can return kickoffs.&nbsp; Defensively he is a safety that covers ground on the backend erasing mistakes and getting interceptions.&nbsp; Great feel for getting picks high-pointing them in traffic and going the other way after making the interception.&nbsp; Physical tackler in run support.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188603' first='Mekhi' last='Mixon'] (East St. Louis – 5'11” 190)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mixon is a physical strong safety that lays the hammer in the run game.&nbsp; Excellent in run support.&nbsp; Chases and pursues ball carriers.&nbsp; Good blitzer and comes around the edge with ferocity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='830841' first='Tavarez' last='Edwards'] (Bolingbrook – 6'2” 180)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Free safety with excellent range.&nbsp; He covers a ton of ground on the back end.&nbsp; Really runs well and tracks the ball in the air. Plus athlete with fluidity and instincts.&nbsp; Speed for days and runs to the ball in the air or on the ground.&nbsp; Tackles well wrapping up low.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><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><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='830844' first='Ahmad' last='Grayer'] (Morgan Park – 5'11” 175)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grayer impressed on tape.&nbsp; The safety has range on the backend at 5'11" making plays with the ball in the air, erasing mistakes, and laying the hammer on wide outs over the middle.&nbsp; Good in run support.&nbsp; Forces turnovers and is a solid blitzer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->