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<p>Defensive back is a position that will give you athletes of all sizes because of the variety of positions around the defensive backfield. From the explosive and shifty slot corners, to the long, lean perimeter CBs, to the safeties over the top that can range in a pretty wide range of height/weights. Our recap of the top DBs from the Whitewater Mega Camp is a great example of the variety at the position. Lucky for recruiters, it is a 2026 heavy article with a 2027 sprinkled in at the end to keep an eye on. Let's dive in!</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Being from out of state Tyler was a new name to hit my radar, but it was hard to ignore the athlete. He checked in at 6' 180 lbs and it was a well built frame. That frame also proved to be loaded up with athleticism. The '26 ran a 4.59 40, 7.31 L-Drill, 4.62 shuttle, and jumped 8'11". For his team at Spring Lake Park the 2026 plays QB on offense and safety on defense. So playing man coverage wasn't something he has a ton of experience doing but that speed and really solid agility was able to always keep him within striking distance on reps I watched. The MN athlete holds a couple of well deserved offers from the D3 level.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Another out of state athlete who caught my eyes was James Butler from Illinois. The DB position came from far and wide and they made the trip worth it. James is another athlete who first caught my attention with his combine numbers. Starting with a 4.64 40, a 7.6 L-Drill, 4.62 shuttle, and ending with a 9'8" broad jump. When the pads went on is when I really became a fan of James. The '26 was aggressive, pressing at the line and doing well at making the WRs earn their release. Once in the route James was able to stick really tight coverage on most reps and flashed a very effective closing burst to break up passes. The CB confidence you look for was apparent. It was a good day for the 2026 from IL.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Another IL 2026 DB that crushed the day was Abai Atabekov with his 4.63 40, 7.75 L-Drill, 4.65 shuttle, and 9'5" broad jump. Abai is another athlete who plays the safety position, so lining up at CB was definitely a newer experience for him. The kid still delivered. He flashed some quick hips to turn out of his backpedal. Had reps that showed off a nice closing burst to erase any separation that got opened up. He also was aggressive at the catch point to disrupt WRs and break up passes. Being able to drop down and provide coverage as a safety is huge for a safety to be able to show he can do. Abai did that.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">An athlete who has spent his Friday nights as a hybrid S/OLB that impressed at camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1801704' first='Jack' last='Jurgella']. He started the day off with a 4.84 40, 7.38 L-Drill, 4.3 shuttle, and a 9' broad jump. The 6'2" 185 lbs athlete has a big frame with room to continue to fill out if a team wants to use him at that S/LB hybrid role, or he can stay at that size and make an impact in the secondary. Jack was able to have several strong reps relying on that change of direction and agility to keep up with receivers through route breaks. I went to the tape to learn more about him and really liked what I saw. He is a playmaker wherever you put him on the field. Don't sleep on this kid.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Rafael made the trip up from IL and wasted no time dominating the day. His combine was one of the best of the day. We saw him put up a 4.81 40, 6.93 L-Drill, 4.21 shuttle, and a 9'3" broad jump. His short area burst, body control, and agility at 6'3" 175 lbs was outstanding. Knowing he has that type of ability to play in tight spaces, like running with a receiver through route breaks, is a huge bonus when looking at safeties. Not to mention he has a great frame, ball skills, and enough range to be trusted to read and roam on the back end. Rafael definitely looks like a hidden gem in the state of Illinois.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Another DB who popped up on my notes multiple times when I watched the underclassmen side of 1v1s was Amarii Ward. The 2027 also produced a strong combine with a 4.81 40, 7.5 L-Drill, 4.69 shuttle, and a 9'5" broad jump. At CB in 1v1s Amarii was aggressive and trusted that athleticism to keep him with his man even when he played with that aggressive decision-making. Ward is building up a solid base of frame, athleticism, and experience as a two-way athlete. Put this kid on your radar for 2027s.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">I want to wrap up this position recap with an athlete who caught my eyes with his combine numbers. I unfortunately didn't get to see many of his reps, but the numbers he posted have him on my radar going forward. Andrew put up a 4.6 40, 7.47 L-Drill, 4.5 shuttle, and a 8'6" broad jump. He also checked in at 6' 168 lbs. You can bet I will be keeping an eye out for how the DB/LB continues to perform on one of the top teams in 2025 I recommend coaches do the same.</p>
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Defensive back is a position that will give you athletes of all sizes because of the variety of positions around the defensive backfield. From the explosive and shifty slot corners, to the long, lean perimeter CBs, to the safeties over the top that can range in a pretty wide range of height/weights. Our recap of the top DBs from the Whitewater Mega Camp is a great example of the variety at the position. Lucky for recruiters, it is a 2026 heavy article with a 2027 sprinkled in at the end to keep an eye on. Let's dive in!
HEIGHT
6'2"
WEIGHT
190
POS
ATH
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
5'11"
WEIGHT
167
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
School:
McHenry Community
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HEIGHT
6'1"
WEIGHT
165
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
6'2"
WEIGHT
185
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
6'3"
WEIGHT
175
POS
ATH
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
5'11"
WEIGHT
160
POS
DB
CLASS
2027
School:
Milwaukee Ronald Reagan
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HEIGHT
6'0"
WEIGHT
168
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
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