Midseason Reports: Underrated Performing Defensive Backs

As we have reached the midseason point, we would like to highlight some underrated defenders in the state. While these guys might not be leading or even top ten in a statistic category so far this year, it does not take away that they are having phenomenal seasons and deserve recognition. We will look at some of the most underrated defensive backs halfway through the season.    2025 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1353933' first='McKenneth' last='Woodberry'] is an impressive all around athlete for Cesar Chavez. Currently on the year, he has 26 total tackles, 15 of those as solo tackles, 2 TFLs, 3 INTs, and a few pass deflections. His most impressive game so far was against Westview, where he recorded 2 interceptions, one of them for a pick six. He is a technician at cornerback, always in proper position to allow him to be able to make these big plays. He has no problem locating the football in the air and will make offenses pay if the ball is underthrown, snagging it out of the air. But what separates Woodberry from most defenders is his returning ability, displaying outstanding instincts and agility in the open field. His elusiveness allows him to play all three phases of the game for his team as a receiver, returner, and defensive back. His team is currently on bye this week as they will head to Westwood next week. The Drake commit is looking forward to continuing proving he is one of the best corners in the state.      2025 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1145525' first='Logan' last='Haynie'] is having a remarkable senior year campaign. Through six games, he has 34 total tackles, 17 of those as solo tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 3 INTs. His best performance came against Downey, where he did it all with 5 solo tackles out of his total 7 tackles that game, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Playing primarily as a free safety, his ability to read and come downhill when needed is remarkable. He flashes elite quickness and incredible speed to fire towards the ball carrier. His tackling form is effective as he aims just below the waist and is able to use sneaky upper body strength to shoot through and wrap up the ball carrier. Red Mountain is on bye this week as they will welcome ALA-Queen Creek next week to keep their undefeated season alive. Red Mountain is one of the top teams in the state, and Haynie is a significant contributor to this top-tier team.      2027 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1697600' first='Kameron' last='Williams'] is having a tremendous impact on his team in his first varsity season. Only being a sophomore, he has 28 total tackles, .5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 1 pass deflection, and 1 fumble recovery. His best game came recently against Tolleson, where he was everywhere for his team having 4 total tackles, an INT, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. Williams has great intellect at the safety position, able to read and diagnose where the play is going. This allows him to always be around the play to put himself in a position to make plays such as interceptions or recovering fumbles. He has good ball tracking skills and great ability to high point the football. His team is also on a bye this week as they will head to Mountain View next week for a big game. Williams is an exciting young defensive player in Arizona to keep your eyes on.      2025 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1353883' first='Devin' last='Murphy'] has been a pivotal player for this Maryvale defense. Amassing a total of 33 total tackles, 18 of those as solo tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INTs, and a few pass deflections. His best game came against Cholla, where he had 7 solo tackles of his 10 total, 2 INTs, and a pass deflection. Murphy can simply fly from his free safety position. His range and agility are astonishing, as he can cover an incredible amount of ground. He is really impressive in the red zone where the field is a little more condensed, and he is able to use his speed to come down and disrupt the offense in the backfield. On a well-needed bye week this week, they will head to Cooper Canyon next week looking to bounce back after a loss. Murphy has had an excellent start to the season, and it will be exciting to see what he does in his remaining games in his senior year.      2026 Defensive Back Christopher Hernandez is proving his worth on the outside for the Campo Verde defense. He has a total of 18 total tackles, 15 of those as solo tackles, a TFL, 3 INTs, and a few pass deflections. His most notable game was his performance vs Millennium, where he had 6 solo tackles of his 8 total that game and an interception. He is a great tackler at the cornerback position. He displays good drive out of his break and accelerates downhill with fierce aggression to get the receiver down for a minimal gain. He has good agility and can move smoothly down the field to stick with vertical threat receivers. Campo Verde will head to Sunnyslope next week off of their bye week. Hernandez will look to lockdown a talented receiver group in this contest.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notable Players:</h2>   Chase Tafoya DB Ironwood - 22 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, 2 INT, 8 pass deflections   [player_tooltip player_id='884769' first='Keegan' last='McCarthy'] DB Canyon View - 41 Total Tackles, 22 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 1 pass deflection   Cash Shope DB Boulder Creek - 26 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery

As we have reached the midseason point, we would like to highlight some underrated defenders in the state. While these guys might not be leading or even top ten in a statistic category so far this year, it does not take away that they are having phenomenal seasons and deserve recognition. We will look at some of the most underrated defensive backs halfway through the season.