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2028 Rankings Update: DB

2028 Rankings Update: DB
Ryan Lippert
Ryan Lippert July 8, 2025 @ 05:37 PM
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In this article:

Deegan Ortega
Deegan Ortega 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB | 2028
KY
Grayden Reid
Grayden Reid 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB | 2028
KY
Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB | 2028
KY
Landon Kirtley
Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB | 2028
KY
Kyle Sledge Jr.
Kyle Sledge Jr. 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB | 2028
KY
<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2028","_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-686d94fb40b89"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer and closer to the start of the 2025 high school football season, we have begun a new round of rankings updates. The latest class to be updated in the state of Kentucky is the class of 2028. With these rankings being posted, I have been taking the past week to break these rankings 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 and linebackers already taken care of, here are our top defensive backs in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1638813"],"_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-686d95d9df6f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638813' first='Grayden' last='Reid'] is one of the top overall players in the state in his class. Reid mainly lines up on the outside at corner but has shown the versatility to play safety as well. He is very impressive in man coverage, showing the ability to mirror opposing receivers with ease, staying in their hip pocket the whole way. When the ball is thrown his way, Reid has shown the ability to break across the receivers face to defend the pass, coming away with several pass breakups during his freshman year at CAL. He has also shown the ability to provide run support, finishing last season with 42 tackles and one tackle for loss in 13 games. Reid currently holds several Power 4 offers and I expect that list to continue to grow as a lot of eyes will be on him after transferring to Atherton for his sophomore year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["953600"],"_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-686d98cbabea0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='953600' first='Kyle' last='Sledge Jr.'] is a player who made an immediate impact as a freshman. Sledge lines up at safety where he is a true ballhawk in coverage. He does a great job of reading the quarterback and covering a ton of ground in a hurry to put himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown impressive ball skills, coming away with three interceptions in 12 games as a freshman. He has also shown the ability to play man coverage and support the run, finishing this past season with 31 tackles. Kyle has received some college interest and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up going into his sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1089873"],"_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-686d98cbabf18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1089873' first='Andrew' last='Davis'] is a player who caught my attention at one of our showcase camps this offseason. He is very impressive in man coverage, showing the ability to use his physicality to jam and redirect opposing receivers then use his speed to mirror them. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown the ability to break with perfect timing to make a play. Davis doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep a close eye on over the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1033168"],"_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-686d99d93506d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1033168' first='Landon' last='Kirtley'] is a player who caught my attention when breaking down freshman year film. He lines up at safety where he is very reliable against the run. Kirtley does a great job of reading the play quickly then coming downhill in a hurry to fill the lane. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a good job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle. He has also shown the reliability in pass coverage, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. Kirtley should be a player to watch as he continues to develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1651730"],"_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-686d99d9350de"} --> <!-- 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 2028 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1651730' first='Deegan' last='Ortega']. Deegan is a versatile defensive back who has shown the ability to play both corner and safety. He is very reliable in pass coverage, showing the ability to read route combinations and flow through the secondary to put himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, Ortega has shown impressive ball skills, coming away with two interceptions in 11 games as a freshman. Deegan also finished this past season with 18 tackles and two tackles for loss. Ortega should be a player for college coaches to keep their eyes on over the next three years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
Grayden Reid

Grayden Reid

KY
DB
HEIGHT 6'3"
WEIGHT 185
POS DB
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Grayden
Reid DB
Class
2028
Height
6'3"
Weight
185
HS
Atherton
|
KY
2028 Rankings Update: DB
Grayden Reid is one of the top overall players in the state in his class. Reid mainly lines...
Written by Ryan Lippert
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Grayden Reid

State: Kentucky
School: Atherton
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Kyle Sledge Jr.

Kyle Sledge Jr.

KY
DB
HEIGHT 6'0"
WEIGHT 185
POS DB
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Kyle
Sledge Jr. DB
Class
2028
Height
6'0"
Weight
185
HS
Bowling Green
|
KY
2028 Rankings Update: DB
Kyle Sledge Jr. is a player who made an immediate impact as a freshman. Sledge lines up at...
Written by Ryan Lippert
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Kyle Sledge Jr.

Instagram Twitter
State: Kentucky
School: Bowling Green
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis

KY
DB
HEIGHT 6'0"
WEIGHT 160
POS DB
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Andrew
Davis DB
Class
2028
Height
6'0"
Weight
160
HS
North Oldham
|
KY
2028 Rankings Update: DB
Andrew Davis is a player who caught my attention at one of our showcase camps this offseason. He...
Written by Ryan Lippert
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Andrew Davis

State: Kentucky
School: North Oldham
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Landon Kirtley

Landon Kirtley

KY
DB
HEIGHT 6'0"
WEIGHT 164
POS DB
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Landon
Kirtley DB
Class
2028
Height
6'0"
Weight
164
HS
St Xavier
|
KY
2028 Rankings Update: DB
Landon Kirtley is a player who caught my attention when breaking down freshman year film. He lines up...
Written by Ryan Lippert
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Landon Kirtley

Instagram Twitter
State: Kentucky
School: St Xavier
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Deegan Ortega

Deegan Ortega

KY
DB
HEIGHT 6'0"
WEIGHT 160
POS DB
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Deegan
Ortega DB
Class
2028
Height
6'0"
Weight
160
HS
Eminence
|
KY
2028 Rankings Update: DB
To wrap up our top five defensive backs in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky,...
Written by Ryan Lippert
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Deegan Ortega

State: Kentucky
School: Eminence
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

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