Six IL DBs with Developmental Upside in the Class of 28

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive back group in Illinois' 2028 class continues to show strong depth, especially among prospects who are still growing into their frames and refining their technique. This middle-tier group brings a blend of length, athleticism, and football IQ that projects well long term as they gain varsity experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2092151' first='Pierre' last='Ray Jr']. | FS | Richards</strong><br>Ray is a rangy safety who shows good instincts and field awareness. He reads route concepts well, closes quickly on the football, and plays with confidence in space. His ability to stay disciplined while still attacking downhill gives him reliable back-end value.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1682047' first='Anthony' last='Carter'] | CB | Providence Catholic</strong><br>Carter brings length and athletic fluidity to the cornerback position. He stays patient in coverage, shows good hip mobility, and competes well at the catch point. As his strength continues to develop, his ability to handle physical receivers should continue to rise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor Muersch | CB | Lemont Township</strong><br>Muersch is a technically sound defensive back who plays with good balance and control. He keeps plays in front of him, reads route combinations effectively, and shows comfort in man coverage. His consistency and football IQ provide a strong foundation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aaron Davis | CB | Homewood-Flossmoor</strong><br>Davis is a quick, reactive corner who thrives in space. He mirrors well, closes rapidly on underneath throws, and shows natural movement skills. His speed and competitiveness allow him to stay attached through the route stem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2114373' first='Jamari' last='Evans'] | CB | Mount Carmel</strong><br>Evans offers strong athletic tools and smooth transitional movement. He stays disciplined in coverage, shows good anticipation, and competes at the point of attack. His development curve points toward rising value in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mysonne O'Kuesa | DB | Crete-Monee</strong><br>O'Kuesa brings physicality and positional versatility to the defensive backfield. He plays with aggression, closes well downhill, and shows comfort operating in space. As his coverage technique sharpens, his impact should continue to grow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->