'25 New Additions - Nine Sleeper Defensive Backs

The current DB market is very top-heavy, with a LOT of sleepers in the middle of the rankings. These players have all the tools to be great defensive backs and could 100% prove it this coming season. Here are nine DBs who are brand-new to the rankings who can up their ranking with a great season.    I've written about Landen a few times over the past month. After researching him and watching his film a few times, he lands at #247 in the rankings, right in the middle of the "D3" grouping. Overall, I like his film. Landen is a willing run defender and is not afraid to put his body on the line. His actual Safety fundamentals + athleticism don't blow me away if I'm being honest, but he's shown improvement in offseason clips. I expect Landen to remain as a solid D3 prospect, though could inch toward the GLIAC if he has a breakout season.     Like many other East Kentwood players, Gabe is a breakout candidate for this Fall. As for his film, I think it looks better than the one NAIA offer he currently has. His film shows good athleticism, decent reactivity and range, plus good run defense. A couple of offseason clips via twitter also show his good change of direction & baseball work (good being a two-sport athlete). We'll see how Gabe performs this fall, but right now I'm thinking he's a great D3 prospect who's being slightly overlooked.     Adrian is someone else that I've talked about a few times in the recent past. Last season, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Wyoming had a few solid defensive players, one of them being Adrian. Most notably, Adrian is a great outside run/screen defender. He can be a tad slow to read the play, but once he does, he explodes toward the ballcarrier and isn't afraid to but his body on the line to make a play. A lot of safeties are very timid when it comes to run defense, so I'm happy to see Adrian is different. He's pretty unproven when it comes to pass defense, but his work on offense makes me optimistic about his overall athleticism. Adrian sits at #300 during this update, and has a very good chance to move up if he continues to play well.     Billy is a prospect that seems pretty athletic, but needs to clean up the fundamentals and play speed in order to be a good prospect. He has moments of decent man coverage, and he has the speed to hold with most receivers downfield. The thing is, I don't see much fundamental polish with Billy. He shuffles when I'd like to see a backpedal, isn't quick to change direction, and, at times, doesn't seem to give 100% effort. The thing that I'm extremely optimistic about are his several camp showings and his offer from Wayne State. I may be missing something with Billy, though for now, he's ranked #338.     Alex is currently ranked relatively "low" at #351 (though every player ranked is a great high school player). However, I am bullish on Alex since seeing that he was elected as a captain for the 2024 season. Last season showed solid coverage skills, reactivity, and a good athletic floor. I also really like his effort and play speed. Look- I don't think he has any offers, and this Brother Rice team is very questionable going into 2024. Though if Alex can show improvement against the best talent, he could very easily become an elite D3 or possible GLIAC prospect in the coming months. I'll have an eye on Alex for week-by-week highlights.     Keaton's film is hit or miss for me. First off, the highlight at 0:34 is very promising. He picks off the pass via a tip, and showcases very good speed as he brings it to the house. According to Athletic.net, Keaton runs a 23.56 200M, which is decent for a DB but not quite enough for D2+ offers. Otherwise, I really like Keaton's reactivity and explosiveness when breaking on a football. I am really, really looking forward to seeing Keaton this coming season, and I could 100% see D3 offers come his way soon.     DesMond has solid tape but needs to prove himself at camps to become a prospect. He's forced some turnovers during his Junior season, but seems to lack the IQ in order to be a true college prospect. Most of his INTs were against poorly thrown balls, but does show good reactivity and playmaking ability once the ball is thrown. He's also a very good weapon on offense. Just based on his skill, DesMond is ranked as the #363 player in the state. With demonstrated improvement plus a great work ethic, DesMond will be a college prospect by the end of the season. I'm looking forward to seeing what DesMond will be able to accomplish moving forward.     Last season, Tai served as a great role player who racked up a ton of tackles from the safety position. When it comes to run defense, Tai is the best in this DB class. Though, with pass defense, there's very little to go on. I love that Tai plays like a linebacker as a safety. I like his pursuit and effort against the run. Even when being blocked, Tai does his best to work past the block and still make a tackle. In order for Tai to move up the rankings, he'll need to prove himself in regards to pass defense.     Marcelis has all the tools needed to produce a major breakout season this fall. Last season, it was a mixed bag, but he showed some flashes. He has a few great pass-defense reps. Playing off man coverage Marcelis does a good job at chopping his feet and sticking onto his man downfield. As it pertains to deep, streaking routes, he can stay with his receiver. Though, he lacks the height and length to get a hand on the ball consistently. As for run defense, there's a few highlights though I'm not sold that he's a great run defender. He's a wait and see guy for me, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs moving forward!

The current DB market is very top-heavy, with a LOT of sleepers in the middle of the rankings. These players have all the tools to be great defensive backs and could 100% prove it this coming season. Here are nine DBs who are brand-new to the rankings who can up their ranking with a great season.