2026 Rankings Update 4.0: Defensive Back

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_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-677856379a082"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With another high school football season behind us in the state of Kentucky, it is time for another round of rankings updates! After wrapping up the class of 2025, we have now moved to the class of 2026. With the newest rankings update for 2026 class being officially posted, I've been taking the past couple weeks to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I 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 2026 in the state of Kentucky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1326126"],"_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-677856379bf5e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1326126' first='Hank' last='James'] established himself as the top defensive back in the state in his class with a strong junior year. James lined up at safety where he was very impressive in coverage. He does a great job of reading the quarterback then using his speed to cover a ton of ground to get to the football once it is in the air. Once he gets in position, James has shown impressive ball skills, coming away with one interception this past season. He also showed the ability to fill the lane and provide support against the run, finishing the year with 41 tackles and one tackle for loss in 12 games. James also caught one touchdown pass as a junior. Hank currently holds offers from Maryland, Troy, Toledo, New Mexico State, and Massachusetts, and I expect more to come his way as he is a high-caliber defensive back prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401701"],"_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-67785bbfa4f69"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401701' first='Corey' last='Warner'] is a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a junior. Warner lined up on the outside at corner where he was very reliable in man coverage. Corey does a great job of opening up a running with receivers to mirror their routes, staying in their hip pocket the whole way. When the ball is thrown his way, Warner does a great job of breaking with perfect timing to make a play. Corey finished his junior year with one interception in 12 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the run, finishing the season with 34 tackles and two tackles for loss. Warner currently holds offers from Eastern Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, and Toledo, and I expect more to come his way heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401928"],"_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-67785bbfa4fbe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401928' first='Stone' last='Perkins'] is another defensive back who has been on our radar for a while and continued to stand out this past season. Perkins lines up at corner where he is very reliable in coverage. He thrives in both man and zone coverage, showing the ability to sit back and read route combinations, and use his speed to open up and run with receivers when needed. When the ball is thrown in his direction, he has shown the ability to break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play, coming away with one interception and returning it for a touchdown this past season. He also finished the year with 32 tackles and a tackle for loss in 15 games, and made an impact on offense, catching 23 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns. Stone currently holds offers from Miami (OH) and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1326127"],"_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-67785bbfa5005"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1326127' first='James' last='Briscoe'] continued to prove that he is one of the top defensive backs in the state in his class with a solid junior year. He showed a ton of versatility, showing the ability to move all around the secondary at multiple positions. Briscoe does a great job of reading the quarterback and route combinations then flowing through the secondary to put himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown tremendous ball skills, finishing the season with four interceptions in 13 games, returning one of them for a touchdown. Briscoe also finished the year with 42 tackles and one tackle for loss, and played a key role on offense, catching nine passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. James currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way soon as he is a very talented prospect who can definitely play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971495"],"_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-67785bbfa504c"} --> <!-- 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 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='971495' first='A'Davion' last='Dale']. A'Davion had a strong junior year at corner where he was very impressive in zone coverage. He does a great job of reading route combinations and putting himself in a good position to make a play on the ball. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown the ability to react with perfect timing, finishing the season with one interception and multiple pass breakups in nine games. He also finished the year with 28 tackles and one tackle for loss, and made an impact on offense with 28 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown. Dale currently holds offers from Toledo and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the Division I level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->