CFI Winter Showcase: Top Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Charlotte Football Insiders (CFI) Winter Showcase hosted over 150 players – primarily juniors and seniors – on Saturday, December 7th at Rocky River High School. The purpose of the CFI Winter Showcase is to place kids in front of as many college football coaches as possible. Coaches from Johnson C. Smith, Benedict, Allen, Brevard, Carson-Newman, Winston-Salem State, Erskine, &amp; others came to evaluate players in person. Top performers were named at each position for the showcase – this article will focus on the top defensive backs named at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1222362"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea499383"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The senior safety prospect has a good day, showing off very good overall athleticism throughout the agility circuit portion of the showcase. On film Mark makes plays in all three phases of the game. He can be a dynamic punt returner, exploding into space with good speed and vision. Mark shows off similar traits at the running back position, making him a dynamic athlete anywhere on the field. Mark has had a few offers to play college football, but has not committed to a school at this time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1333966"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea4993e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Joshua had a good season in helping lead Mountain Island to the 2nd round of the state playoffs. Josh was named All-Conference and recently received an offer from McPherson College. In seeing Josh up close, he has good instincts in both man and zone coverage. Josh also has good hands and can pluck the ball out of air with ease, making him a ball-hawking threat as a cornerback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1259949"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea49942a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marcus has an excellent skill set as a 2026 DB to watch in the Charlotte area next season. In watching Marcus up close, he excels at man coverage. Marcus has good bursts coming out of his breaks, and is not afraid to be left on an island in coverage. Marcus has the right mental makeup to play the corner position, and he has made plays on film that are impressive. Marcus also has good long speed to cover receivers all over the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1034840"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea49946a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaleel showed why he is one of our higher ranked defensive backs in our Class of 2026 rankings. There was one rep where Jaleel showed off his physical strength and simply didn't even let a wide receiver get off the line of scrimmage in one on ones. Jaleel also showed excellent footwork in man coverage. For a safety prospect, these are the kinds of players that colleges get excited about - having the physicality to come up in run support, yet also have the coverage ability to hold up against slot receivers. Jaleel was offered by the previous staff at Charlotte, and other in-state schools need to put him on their boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1153738"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea4994a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really liked Micah's showcase performance overall. Micah showed that he can turn and run in coverage as a cornerback, and then make plays on the football with good technique. On top of that, Micah has obviously been in the weight room as he came up and played some good press man technique in one on ones, really disrupting the release of multiple receivers off the line of scrimmage. Micah was offered by the previous Charlotte staff, and merits attention from other in-state schools also. I think with another strong off-season, Micah will start to see some offers come his way going into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1600453' first='Trey' last='Floyd']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cox Mill","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67610ea499549"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I thought Trey had a good showcase overall. His footwork was excellent going through the agility drill portion of the showcase, showing quick feet and a nice change of direction. During the 1 on 1 portion of the showcase, Trey had a couple of good reps where he was able to mirror the wide receiver's routes and make a couple of nice breakups on in-breaking routes. Trey also showed some good speed and will be a player to watch going into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->