2026 Defensive Backs Getting Deeper

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our latest ranking update for the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2026-rankings/">state's 2026 class came out on Thursday</a></strong>. The latest ranking update now features the top 175 players in the state's 2026 class. Every time we do a ranking update, we dive into prospect breakdowns following each release. In this breakdown, we're putting the spotlight on the defensive back position. As the title of this article suggests, we are buying stock in this DB class because it is getting deeper and deeper, every time we do an update. We're taking a look at eight of the defensive backs, whether they are cornerbacks or safeties that have elevated their games. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2026 breakdowns and more ranking updates throughout the next month!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1179994"],"_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-67bf567156f03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Choctaw cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1179994' first='Da'Jon' last='Green'] was a prospect in the 2026 class that started popping up on a lot of radars around this time last year. Choctaw is no stranger to producing defensive backs at a very high level over the last five years and it appears that Green is the next guy up from that group. In fact, the Yellowjackets have a few names returning on the defensive side of the ball that make them a very interesting team to follow in 2025. For Green, his recruitment really started to take off around this time last year and it hasn't really slowed down. Green is a lockdown player that has shown steady improvement and continues to have his best football ahead of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["858871"],"_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-67bf567156fae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There are a handful of players that we have circled going into the 2025 season that we are fired up to see after they dealt with nagging or season-ending injuries in 2024. Union defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='858871' first='Daijon' last='Gaines'] is one of those guys. When Gaines is healthy, he's one of the best safeties in the state. Union's coaches pointed to him as being the next guy up for the Redhawks very early on in his high school career. While Choctaw is developing a reputation for producing DB's at a high level, Union has been doing that for a while now. Gaines is definitely a name to know moving forward and it's been good to see that despite dealing with injuries, he's still getting recruited at a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402368"],"_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-67bf56715702c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was around this time last year that we first really watched Owasso's [player_tooltip player_id='402368' first='Carter' last='Langenderfer'] and realized that he not only needed to be on our radar but he needed to be relatively high. He first stood out to us in several 7v7 tournaments and then he followed it up with a terrific junior season and that earned the attention of college coaches making him another 2026 DB with multiple offers. Langenderfer is part of an Owasso secondary that has the potential to be absolutely nasty in 2025. He is terrific at the safety position and his instincts are outstanding. It's only been a year of writing about the Owasso standout but he's definitely someone that has a very high upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402375"],"_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-67bf5671570a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bethany cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='402375' first='Evenson' last='Malaska'] has certainly had a roller coaster career so far. He started for Bethany as a freshman and at the time, he was considered one of the top prospects in this class and he was really starting to pick up momentum as a prospect. Malaska would then miss most, if not all of his sophomore season and that momentum started to slow down a bit. The Bethany standout came back in 2024 and picked up like he hadn't missed most of the year prior and once again, firmly established himself as one of the best guys at the position. Malaska is a cornerback that still has a high upside and after reminding everyone in 2024 who he is, we're buying stock. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402381"],"_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-67bf567157112"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='402381' first='Oliver' last='Smith'] is the second Union Redhawk on this breakdown and another example of why Union is one of the best programs at developing and producing defensive backs at a high level. Smith is a 2026 prospect that six months ago, that was a great time to buy stock in him because you could see the signs that a breakout season was coming and it certainly happened. Smith plays the cornerback position with a confidence level that you need to play corner but he also has an energy level that never seems to drop. He brings the fight every single play and he was one of our favorite defensive backs to watch in person last season and he's starting to get noticed by colleges. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["338550"],"_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-67bf56715718a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bixby's [player_tooltip player_id='338550' first='Emory' last='Snyder'] had to patiently wait for his time to shine on Friday nights and that came in 2024. We knew about Snyder prior to the 2024 season because of his work in various 7v7 tournaments and really shining on both sides of the ball. But when the 2024 season kicked off, he immediately started to stand out at the cornerback position. There is a lot to like when you watch Snyder on film or in person. He's long, athletic and had a lot of success in his first full season as a starter. And this came in a year where he was going up against some really strong competition. Snyder was rewarded with his breakout 2024 season with offers from all over the country and it's continuing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["587270"],"_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-67bf5671571fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Out of the eight prospects on this breakdown, Heritage Hall's [player_tooltip player_id='587270' first='Jerrod' last='Williams'] was the toughest one to break down and evaluate because of his ability to be an absolute gamechanger wherever he lines up on the field. We got a chance to see Heritage Hall in person just once in 2024 and Williams was arguably the most explosive player on the field with eventual champion Lincoln Christian. Williams moved from cornerback to safety in 2024 and that allowed him the freedom to roam and use that athletic ability to play centerfield for the Heritage Hall defense. He's also the top target in the passing game and a dangerous kick returner. Williams does a lot of things at a very high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["858878"],"_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-67bf56715726b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Closing out this breakdown with a prospect that we're very high on moving forward and is still flying a bit under the radar. McAlester's [player_tooltip player_id='858878' first='Cleveland' last='Williamson'] had a terrific start to his junior season and quickly became one of the top ball hawks in Class 5A. The Buffaloes obviously dealt with drama off the field during the 2024 season but as we start looking ahead to 2025, it wouldn't be surprising to see Williamson pick up right where he left off and become that top ball hawk in the class. He really good size and length and that knack for being in the right spot at the right time, to make a play on the ball, or a play on the receiver. Either way, Williamson is a name to know. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->