Midseason 2025 Defensive Back Check-In

<p>A few weeks ago, I checked in on the juniors midway through the season. Now I'm working on the senior class. I started with the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/09/midseason-2025-quarterback-check-in/">quarterbacks</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/midseason-2025-running-back-check-in/">running backs</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/midseason-2025-wide-receiver-check-in/">wide receivers</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/midseason-2025-defensive-line-check-in/">defensive linemen</a>, and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/midseason-2025-linebacker-check-in/">linebackers</a> so now it's time to check out the defensive backs. I'll check in on the top three linebackers in our 2025 rankings, evaluate a few more who have had strong starts to the season and then list a few more who we've heard good things about that we hope to evaluate soon.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Midseason Check-In: 2025 Defensive Backs</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Young is a true athlete in every sense of the word, averaging 24 yards a reception and picking off three passes so far this year. On offense, he primarily wins with athleticism and speed, but defensively, he plays with excellent leverage and technique. He's a willing tackler and can play either corner or safety. He''s a deployable chess piece and whatever school he chooses when he announces in early November will be very excited to use him defensively.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Obviously, the size sticks out for Blair, who is a true 6-4/6-5 and a true deep safety. He also plays receiver and there's been some chatter from outside sources who think he should permanently stay on the offensive side of the ball, but we disagree. He's hybrid safety who has the change of direction and ball skills to handle pass coverage and the physicality to come up in run support.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Winston has always had good technique and had surprising physicality when he was undersized. Now, he's put on the good weight so that physicality really makes a difference on the field. He can play corner or safety and loves to come up and make tackles in the running game. I'm a big fan of Winston's game.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Defensive Backs Impressing Early</h3>   <p>Obviously, we're paying attention to what prospects outside of the top three are doing. Here are a few guys further down the rankings who are really impressing.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Adkins is a Swiss Army Knife on defense for Clayton, as hell play free safety, box safety, or line up over receivers on the outside or in the slot. He's a big hitter, not afraid to stick his body in there with bigger running backs or receivers. I also love his instincts and though he doesn't have many interceptions this year, he has the ball skills to compete at the Division 1 level in college.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hill was tiny as a freshman, but too talented to keep off the field. He carved out a role on multiple state championship teams and now as a senior, he's the leader of the secondary. It hasn't hurt that he's grown and has decent size now. He has exceptional athleticism, and his ball skills are among the best of any player in the 2025 class.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ford's length and quickness give him really impressive range as a free safety. His instincts certainly help with that as well and he's been able to rack up several pass breakups and a couple of interceptions this season. He plays some corner as well and he's good enough at mirroring receivers to succeed there, but his future is at safety, where he's able to play with his eyes to the quarterback.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2025 Defensive Backs Who Have Impressed</h2>   <p>Here are some more guys we've liked early. We've written about some of them recently while others we hope to break down with full scouting reports later this season.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='919599' first='Cairo' last='Skanes'], Providence Day</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1226461' first='AJ' last='Graham'], Mooresville</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1363730' first='Adom' last='Hembrick'], EE Smith</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='947144' first='Jovon' last='Wright'], Rolesville</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1068198' first='Nigel' last='Best'], Enloe</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1182774' first='Cowen' last='Harris'], Christ the King</h3>   <p>Feel like we missed someone? Let me know on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).</p>

A few weeks ago, I checked in on the juniors midway through the season. Now I'm working on the senior class. I started with the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive linemen, and linebackers so now it's time to check out the defensive backs. I'll check in on the top three linebackers in our 2025 rankings, evaluate a few more who have had strong starts to the season and then list a few more who we've heard good things about that we hope to evaluate soon.