Deep Dive: Johnston/Harnett County CBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After pausing for a month for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 rankings updates, it's time to jump back into our county-by-county deep dives, highlighting the best players from across the Raleigh-Durham area. We're on the defensive side of the ball and I'm attempting to split up the corners and the safeties. Here, I'm looking at the top cornerbacks in Johnston/Harnett County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Past Johnston/Harnett County Deep Dives</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-qbs/">Quarterbacks</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-rbs/">Running Backs</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-wrs/">Wide Receivers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-ol/">Offensive Line</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-idls/">Interior Defensive Line</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-edge-rushers/">Edge Rushers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-top-johnston-harnett-county-lbs/">Linebackers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 5 CBs in Johnston/Harnett County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366314"],"_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-6877b3a5198d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Although Crumel might play some safety for Clayton this season, he has to make our list as the top corner in Johnston/Harnett County. He has the talent, technique, and production (seven pass breakups as a freshman) to be a truly elite defensive back. He's physical in the running game and I'm interested to see if he can make a bigger impact closer to the middle of the field this season rather than out on an island every play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1665469"],"_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-6877b3a519947"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've ranked [player_tooltip player_id='1665469' first='DJ' last='Brown'] as a wide receiver, but he makes our Deep Dives list as a cornerback, a position he was excellent at last season, with 34 tackles and two picks. He's a bit on the lighter side, but he has excellent hips and footwork to stay in front of offensive players and he isn't afraid of contact either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1715912"],"_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-6877b3a51999b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you're looking for a breakout candidate in 2025, look no further than the Leesville Road transfer corner Lovelace-Davis. He played all 12 games on varsity last season for a 10-2 team and now moves to a school known for its defensive back play. He has good footwork and long frame. He's a guy who could become a future star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1715934"],"_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-6877b3a519a64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Batiste is undersized at corner, but you won't find a guy with better ball production than the Cleveland corner. As a sophomore, he had seven interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns -- including a key pick six in a third round playoff win over CE Jordan. At some point, quarterbacks will learn to stop testing him, but it didn't happen last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1715930"],"_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-6877b3a519aba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Evans flew a bit under the radar last season, but he had great production and his film is impressive. On film, he looks like a guy with a safety's ball skills and the sideline-to-sideline run-stuffing ability of a linebacker, all while playing primarily in the slot. In fact, I think he's probably a safety at the next level, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have plenty of success as a high school corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Johnston/Harnett County CBs</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1646236' first='Malachi' last='Burt']</strong>, Clayton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chrystian Cokley</strong>, West Johnston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1702937' first='Jaime' last='Groves']</strong>, Smithfield-Selma</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->