Final 2025 Rankings: Defensive Back

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2495","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676336bb7d8ab"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the final weeks of 2024, another season of high school football has come and gone in the state of Kentucky. With that being said, it is time to wrap up our coverage of this year's senior class with our final rankings update. While there were a ton of talented players in the class of 2025, we have narrowed it down to the top 250 players in the class. With that being said, I will be taking the next week or so to break down these final rankings by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line, edge defenders, and linebackers already being taken care of, here are our top defensive backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366892"],"_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-676336bb7ee6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='366892' first='Micah' last='Rice'] established himself as one of the top overall players in the state after transferring to North Oldham from Archbishop Hoban (OH) for his senior year. Rice was only able to play in six games this season but was productive when on the field. He lined up at safety where he was very reliable against the run, showing the ability to come downhill in a hurry to fill the lane and make tackles in the open field. Rice finished the year with 46 tackles. He has also proven to be reliable in pass coverage, showing the ability to read the quarterback and flow through the secondary to put himself in a position to make a play. Micah signed with Louisville where I can see him developing into a key member of their secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919064"],"_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-676336bb7eebe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='919064' first='Buddy' last='Collins'] is a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a senior. Collins lined up on the outside at corner where he showed the ability to lock down his side of the field in man coverage. He does a great job of opening up and running with receivers to mirror their routes then breaking on the ball with perfect timing to break up the pass when it is thrown his way. Collins has also shown the ability to provide support against the run, finishing the year with 14 tackles and one tackle for loss. He also scored three rushing touchdowns and proved to be a dangerous returner on special teams. Buddy signed with Navy where I can see him being a true impact player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252795"],"_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-676336bb7ef18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1252795' first='Isaac' last='Brown'] is a player who has continued to climb up our rankings over the past couple seasons. He had another strong season at corner as a senior. Brown is very reliable in zone coverage, showing the ability to read route combinations and put himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown tremendous ball skills, coming away with five interceptions in 13 games this past season, returning one of them for a touchdown. He has also shown the ability to come downhill and make tackles in the open field against the run, finishing his senior year with 37 tackles and two tackles for loss. Brown signed with Southeast Missouri State where I can see him being an early contributor in their secondary once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["735613"],"_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-676336bb7ef5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='735613' first='Caleb' last='Ricks'] is a defensive back who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out this season. Ricks lined up at safety as a senior but has also shown the ability to play corner. Caleb was very impressive in coverage this season, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. He finished his senior year with six interceptions in 15 games, returning one for a touchdown. Ricks also showed the ability to fill the lane and provide support against the run, finishing the season with 62 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Caleb is committed to play baseball at Notre Dame but definitely has the talent to play defensive back at the Division I level if he were to ever have a sudden change of heart. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331748"],"_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-676336bb7ef98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five defensive backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='331748' first='Darius' last='Akal']. Akal had a strong senior year, showing the versatility to play both corner and safety. At safety, he showed the ability to read the play then break on the ball and cover a ton of ground to make a play. When lining up at corner, he showed the ability to open up and run with receivers to mirror their routes, staying in their hip pocket the whole way. He also shown the ability to make plays against the run, finishing the season with 68 tackles and one tackle for loss. Akal also came away with one sack this season and made an impact on offense, running the ball 63 times for 177 yards and seven touchdowns while also catching 22 passes for 87 yards. Darius signed with Eastern Kentucky where I can see him being a productive player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->