Final KY 2026 Rankings: DB

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_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-69445d5ccb3ee"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of December, we have been completing our final round of rankings updates for the year. To wrap up these updates, we have released our final Top 300 rankings in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky. With these final rankings being posted, I have been taking the past week to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the front seven already being taken care of, here are our top defensive backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1326126"],"_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-694463873f692"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1326126' first='Hank' last='James'] continued to separate himself as the top defensive back in the state in his class this season. He lined up at strong safety where he was very reliable against the run. James does a great job reading the run quickly then coming downhill to fill the lane with a sense of urgency. He is a very reliable tackler once he gets to the ball carrier, finishing this past season with 85 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games. James also recorded four sacks this season and has shown the ability to read routes in coverage then react with perfect timing to make plays against the pass. Hank signed with Troy where I can see him being very successful at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401928"],"_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-694463873f7a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401928' first='Stone' last='Perkins'] has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a senior. Perkins lines up at corner where he is very reliable in coverage. He does a great job of reading route combinations then breaking on the ball with perfect timing to make a play when it is thrown his way. Stone finished his senior year with three interceptions (tied for team lead) in 12 games, returning one of them for a touchdown. He also recorded 51 tackles and one tackle for loss, and returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns this season. Perkins also played a huge role on offense as a senior, catching 16 passes for 476 yards and six touchdowns. Stone signed with Ball State where I can see him becoming a key contributor in their secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401701"],"_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-694463873f888"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Unfortunately, [player_tooltip player_id='401701' first='Corey' last='Warner'] was only able to play in one game as a senior but he has proven to be one of the top defensive backs in the state in his class throughout his career. Warner lines up at corner where he is very impressive in man coverage. He does a great job of opening up and running with receivers to mirror their routes with ease, staying in their hip pocket the whole way. When the ball is thrown his way, he does a great job of breaking in front of the intended receiver with perfect timing to make a play. Warner signed with UMass where I can see him making an early impact once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971495"],"_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-694465bc53b85"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971495' first='A'Davion' last='Dale'] has been on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. He lines up at corner where he has proven to be reliable in both man and zone coverage. Dale does a great job of reading routes while getting into his drops then reacting with perfect timing to make a play when the ball is thrown his way. As a senior, Dale broke up five passes and came away with two interceptions in 12 games. He also recorded 46 tackles and one tackle for loss this season and made an impact on offense, running the ball 31 times for 243 yards and a touchdown. Dale currently holds offers from Toledo and Eastern Kentucky, and I can see him finding success wherever he decides to play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401927"],"_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-694465bc53c2b"} --> <!-- 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 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='401927' first='Steron' last='Davidson']. Davidson lines up at corner where he is very impressive in coverage. In zone coverage, he does a great job of reading routes then reacting accordingly to put himself in position to make a play. He has also proven to be effective in man coverage, showing the physicality to jam receivers then using his speed to open up and mirror their routes, Davidson finished his senior year with one interception (which he returned for a touchdown and multiple pass breakups in 13 games. He also recorded 36 tackles, six tackles for loss, and a sack this season, and returned one kickoff for a touchdown. Davidson also played a key role on offense as a senior, running the ball 77 times for 293 yards and five touchdowns while also catching 17 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Steron signed with Austin Peay State where I can see him being a very productive player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->