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<p>Many of the nine selections that make up the defensive backs for our All-State team will make plays in a variety of positions all over the field this season. However, their work in the secondary stands above the rest.</p>
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<p>This time next year, quite a few of these safeties and cornerbacks will be preparing for their freshman seasons at FBS colleges. First, they all want to close out their high school careers on top.</p>
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<p>Here's a closer look at our All-State defensive backs.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson']</p>
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<p>School: Dorman</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>Anderson has the unique ability to play safety like a linebacker and play linebacker like a safety. Quite simply, the Clemson commitment likes to run down throws and run down ball carriers. If one play could encapsulate Anderson's abilities, it came at Gaffney last fall. Lined up four yards off the line of scrimmage at a linebacker spot, Anderson pauses for a second after the snap to read the play. As the quarterback scrambles to his left, Anderson drops back nine yards into pass coverage. With no receiver nearby, Anderson suddenly sprints back up the field for a sack resulting in a nine-yard loss.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins']</p>
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<p>School: Christ Church</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>You could call Atkins (pictured) a cover cornerback, but blanket cornerback would be a better description. It's got to be a pretty frustrating night for wide receivers lined up across from Atkins each Friday in the fall. Last season, it meant a whole lot of running with not much to show for it as Atkins allowed just five catches to opposing receivers. Atkins, who's committed to Navy, also had 51 tackles and seven pass breakups. Atkins could also see an increased role in the offense at wide receiver this season.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best']</p>
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<p>School: Ridge View</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>There's speed and then there's [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] speed. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback has posted a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash and a 10.52 in the 100M, which he won the Class 5A state championship in last track season. The N.C. State commit also was part of Ridge View's state championship 4x100 relay team and placed third in the 200M. Best recorded 22 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss, and had two interceptions for the Blazers last season.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston']</p>
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<p>School: Hammond</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Boston has the size to line up in various spots on defense and that's precisely what he did in helping Hammond win its eighth consecutive SCISA state championship. He was positioned at safety and cornerback, with a sprinkling of outside linebacker, last season. Boston is a lockdown cover corner, who can also deliver big hits when called for. In his first season with the Skyhawks last fall, he finished with 27 tackles, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a safety.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson']</p>
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<p>School: Catawba Ridge</p>
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<p>Class: 2027</p>
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<p>Dobson is the only non-senior in our secondary and just one look at his collegiate offer list could tell you why. By the time his senior season arrives, it'll be easier to list which Power Four programs haven't made him an offer. The junior's list currently includes the likes of Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon and LSU. The 48 tackles he posted last season is an eye-popping total for a cornerback, but it just shows the physicality he possesses. Dobson also had 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and averaged 40.9 yards on 11 kickoff returns, two of which resulted in touchdowns.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='473009' first='Jeremiah' last='Favorite']</p>
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<p>School: Boiling Springs</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>If there was a triple crown award for football returns, Favorite would've likely won it last season. With his speed, which was clocked at more than 22 mph at a Carolina Coaches Combine earlier this year, he actually would've run away with it. The Michigan State commit found the end zone on a punt return, kickoff return and interception return last season and it wasn't like there were a whole lot of chances. By the numbers, Favorite returned 25 percent of his (four) kickoffs, 20 percent of his (five) punts and 25 percent of his (four) interceptions for touchdowns.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze']</p>
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<p>School: Gilbert</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Meetze may not look like the most intimidating tackler coming off the bus. But tote a football in his direction, and he's liable to hit you like a bus. Meetze has been a tackling machine during his Gilbert career as he has racked up nearly 300 stops, including 126 last season. He also has five interceptions over the past two years. Whether its laying a big hit on a receiver over the middle or going low to trip up a bigger ball carrier, Meetze seems to have a natural instinct to use the best tackling technique on a consistent basis.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey']</p>
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<p>School: Cross</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>Ramsey may represent the smallest school among other defensive backs on our All-State list, but nobody stands taller. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Ramsey provides a big target for Cross on offense and a big problem for opposing offenses. Last season, he led the Trojans with 40 receptions for 749 yards and nine touchdowns and led the state with 13 interceptions, two of which resulted in touchdowns. He also recovered three fumbles, had 54 tackles and scored touchdowns on five of seven direct snaps out of the wildcat formation. Ramsey has multiple Power Four offers and could play safety, defensive end, wide receiver or tight end at the next level.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins']</p>
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<p>School: Strom Thurmond</p>
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<p>Class: 2026</p>
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<p>Simpkins was an impact player all over the field for Strom Thurmond last season as he found the end zone five times - three rushing touchdowns on offense as well as an interception and punt return for scores. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Simpkins is a big defensive back who tallied 19 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups last season. Simpkins is also a standout baseball player for the Rebels and an excellent student as he has a 4.5 GPA. Simpkins has offers from numerous FCS schools, including Princeton, Yale and Dartmouth.</p>
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Many of the nine selections that make up the defensive backs for our All-State team will make plays in a variety of positions all over the field this season. However, their work in the secondary stands above the rest.
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