10 Defensive Backs to Watch in 2024

<p>The 2024 season in the Natural State is just weeks away, with Week Zero set to commence on August 25th. Hundreds of talented prospects in the class of 2025 and beyond have the potential to play at the next level, including FBS, FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA, or JUCO. Prep Redzone conducts thorough research and evaluation to uncover under-the-radar athletes poised to leave their mark on the upcoming season. Here are 10 defensive back prospects for coaches and recruiters to add to the recruiting board.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1396249' first='Jakorey' last='Larry'] is a ball-hawking defensive back with good awareness in the secondary. Larry displays good fluidity and footwork in his transitions to switch his hips and get vertical with his receiver or stay inside the hip pocket on breaks, not allowing any room for separation. This is all due to good change of direction, acceleration, balance, bend, and lateral agility. He also consistently arrives at the catch point to force an INT or PBU. </p>   <p>Note - 3.5 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LarryJakorey/status/1757058143278830057 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1396272' first='Kevin' last='Williams'] showcases good athletic ability and quickness throughout his reps. He is physical in Press-Man and displays his ability to jam receivers at the LOS with good UOH to throw them off their route, slowing their reaction and staying inside the hip pocket, not allowing much room for separation and forcing PBUs. He is someone to keep an eye on in 2024. </p>   <p>Note - 3.0 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Kevinw501/status/1817283884209537316 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1396277' first='Braylan' last='McDowell'] plays with a sideline-to-sideline motor, showcasing his physicality and good awareness in the secondary.  McDowell displays solid read and react ability, quickly breaking on the football vs the run to make a play in space or arriving at the catch point with good foot quickness, change of direction, and fluidity while in zone coverage, forcing multiple PBU's. </p>   <p>Note - 3.7 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/B_McDowell06/status/1755031447033794719 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1396645' first='Kemon' last='Porter'] is a young prospect who displays good athleticism and speed in the secondary. He has good read-and-react ability and a solid change of direction to attack downhill against the run or stay inside the hip pocket on breaks to force a PBU. His COD and solid fluidity allow him to transition quickly and stick with his man vertically, not allowing any room for separation.</p>   <p>Note - 3.8 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NOFLYK4/status/1817217755646501303 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='403107' first='Aaron' last='Austin III'] is one of the top young prospects in the state of Arkansas. Austin is a versatile athlete due to his ability to play Off-Man/Zone, Press, or Nickel, possessing a very good sideline-to-sideline motor that showcases his speed, athleticism, and fluidity. He displays good athleticism due to a good change of direction and fluidity that enables him to transition quickly and get vertical with the wide receiver or stay inside the hip pocket on a break without allowing any room for separation. Solid recovery speed and physicality, coupled with notable ball skills and good use of hands. In summary, he displays good read-and-react ability, highlighted by his COD and good acceleration, enabling him to attack downhill vs the run or arrive at the catch point to disrupt the pass and force a PBU. Coaches, add him to your recruiting board and get to him first. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 4.0 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/primetimeTrey3/status/1765953189289795776 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='915702' first='Jacoby' last='Wade'] is an athletic defensive back with good speed in the secondary. Wade displays good footwork, dip, and fluidity when backpedaling and transitioning to flip his hips. He has a knack for the ball in the air due to his good awareness and read/react ability with closing speed on the backend to arrive at the catch point, forcing a PBU or TO. Doesn't allow much separation on breaks due to solid COD and good fluiditiy, staying inside the hip pocket throughout.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 3.7 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jwade_25/status/1761494661602935278 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1397448' first='Mikaelyon' last='Peoples'] is another young defensive prospect to watch. He showcases solid footwork and transition skills. Peoples displays good pre-snap and post-snap recognition, quickly reacting to the ball, whether underneath or off breaks. Off those breaks, he can use his eyes to stay inside the hip pocket and not allow separation due to good speed, COD, agility, and body control.</p>   <p>Note - 3.5 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MikaelyonP/status/1813445141606056085 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='255757' first='Curtis' last='Barrow Jr.'] excels in both man and zone coverage due to good speed, athleticism, and physicality. Barrow Jr. displays good lateral agility, solid fluidity, change of direction, balance and burst to transition, and get vertical or attack on breaks and not allow much room for separation. He knows how to read and react effectively, staying in his zone and keying his eyes on the quarterback. </p>   <p>Note - 3.7 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CJBarrow26/status/1732226333076291594 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='930003' first='Bryce' last='Barnes'] is fluid and controlled at defensive back, which allows him to transition on breaks quickly. Barnes displays good read and react ability with good change of direction, balance and burst to break with the wide out and not allow any separation, keying over the top to force a PBU. His mental processing is beneficial in run support, attacking downhill quickly with good angles and technique. Barnes is a riser and someone to watch in 2024. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 3.4 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/11bryceb/status/1806789875183813060 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1068041' first='Cameron' last='Mitchell'] is an athletic defensive back with physicality that showcases very good speed and awareness in the secondary. Mitchell displays good technique with good hip fluidity to transition out of the backpedal when defending. He has good read and react ability, breaking on the ball and making a play efficiently and consistently. He can stay inside the hip pocket on breaks due to good COD and burst, as he is a very disciplined corner in both man and zone coverage.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 3.7 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CameronM2025/status/1770835799090622539 </div></figure>

The 2024 season in the Natural State is just weeks away, with Week Zero set to commence on August 25th. Hundreds of talented prospects in the class of 2025 and beyond have the potential to play at the next level, including FBS, FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA, or JUCO. Prep Redzone conducts thorough research and evaluation to uncover under-the-radar athletes poised to leave their mark on the upcoming season. Here are 10 defensive back prospects for coaches and recruiters to add to the recruiting board.