Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase: Nate’s Top DBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BROOKLYN PARK--</strong> In my last look from our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase, we take a look at the handful of defensive backs that caught my attention a couple Sundays back already. We had our other PRZ scouts more on this group, but still I was able to grasp a shortlist of defensive backs that flashed their skillsets in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581343' first='Brody' last='Lillo'], DB, Esko 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/BrodyLillo5">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589111,"width":"343px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/34-Brody-Lillo-crop-4800x3152-1735341687.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1589111" style="width:343px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brody was one of the first defensive backs in the group that I watched that stood out in my eyes as he was one name I had circled pre-showcase. He showed off well-versed consistency with his testing numbers with a 4.47 pro agility, a very explosive 9'5 broad jump, and went 7.47 in the L-Drill. During the later reps I watched from Brody, I was intrigued with his attention to detail with his footwork and showed off more sudden athletic movement that his change of direction from testing might show you as a defensive back that again, I felt relished the attention to detail he got from the college coaches in attendance. He showed off a great football IQ with the balance he had in pass coverage reps, as he could attack in press or win off leverage near the top of WRs routes and it's always good to see when my notebook shows off that a defensive back was "pesky" during our showcases. In my eyes, Brody has a great shot to play on Saturdays as another North Shore prospect that made his trip to Brooklyn Park worth while.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581350' first='Cartier' last='Russell'], DB, Cretin Derham-Hall 2027</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CartierRussjr21">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589112,"width":"326px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/66-Cartier-Russell-crop-4800x3152-1735341736.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1589112" style="width:326px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a young man that brought all of his speed to our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase, as we meet [player_tooltip player_id='1581350' first='Cartier' last='Russell'] out of Cretin Derham-Hall next. He showed off honest measurables from pre-showcase, and ran a super consistent 4.56 40-yard dash. He has some development to grow more with his agile movement based on the testing numbers we got, The reps I watched later from Cartier showed off though that this young man is quite instinctive in pass coverage, as he was likely one of the more sound defensive backs when it came down to his footwork I saw. The eye test also showed off the noticable length that intrigues me with Cartier as a 2027 prospect that I love the upside to grow in the 2027 class for the Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>James Gibson, DB, Blaine 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589113,"width":"338px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/13-James-Gibson-crop-4800x3152-1735341788.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1589113" style="width:338px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James was a defensive back out of Blaine in the 2027 class at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase that I didn't get to watch a ton of reps on, but the ones I did watch I could gauge the upside that is there with his skillsets. His first look for me came in testing where he ran another 4.46 in this defensive back group. I felt when I watched James during Indy reps, I felt his change of direction showed off more pulse in live reps as I felt he was a defensive back that got better rep after rep that I got to watch. His ball-tracking instinct is what intrigued me most during our Minnesota showcase as he is a defensive back that I feel plays bigger than his measurables might show you and you see it too when you watch the tape. One to watch for in the 2027 class in the coming years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Maddox Abel, DB, Rocori 2026</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589115,"width":"343px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/20-Maddox-Able-crop-4800x3152-1735341878.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1589115" style="width:343px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only outstate defensive back that cracked my shortlist of course hailed from the athlete factory of the Rocori Spartans in 2026 DB Maddox Abel. Maddox was a prospect that intrigued me with his good technique that flashed his athleticism that he has to develop as his disposal in the coming years. Even though undersized, the 1v1 reps that Maddox put together showed off a defensive back that showed off great change of direction when the wide receiver make their breaks and attacked the ball angle quickly in pursuit on crossing routes. Only could find Lacrosse tape on Maddox otherwise, but that crosses over why why I was intrigued with Maddox's overall athleticism at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1523144' first='Ashton' last='Harris'], DB, Robbinsdale Cooper 2027</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Ashton_Harris21">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1587127,"width":"334px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/32-Ashton-Harris-crop-4800x3152-1734992318.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1587127" style="width:334px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I didn't spend a lot of time with the defensive backs, but man you could gauge this young man's elite football IQ from across the dome at Park Center. He also showed off the stickiness in our top performer 1v1 reps as a defensive back that you could tell relished the attention to detail within his reps I got to watch at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase. He also showed off the closing speed which showed off some excellent instincts and range for his size with the angles he showed off attacking the ball. What's even better is Ashton is just in the 2027 class and still has the upside to grow his skillsets out even further as by far the best ball-tracker we saw at Park Center as a 2027 defensive I believe has a football future at the next-level upcoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->