2028 Defensive Back Newcomers: Winter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We released our updated <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 class rankings</a> last Monday, which included 58 newcomers from the sophomore class, pushing our total ranked players in the 2028 class to 281. We're almost finished breaking down every new player in the rankings. Last week, I looked at some of the numbers driving the update in my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-update-january/">Behind the Scenes</a> piece, then wrote <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/3-things-to-know-about-the-2028-class/">three things to know</a> about the class as a whole. Now, it's one of my favorite pieces, the newcomers. Here, we're evaluating every new defensive back in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: If you haven't looked at our piece highlighting the 2028 stock-risers at the defensive back position, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/winter-stock-risers-2028-defensive-backs/">check it out</a>.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newly-Ranked 2028 Defensive Backs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2112037"],"_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-6984bf46f09e9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bowman has taken some of his momentum from a strong sophomore year into the offseason, picking up a couple of early FBS offers. While he's a true two-way player, with over 500 receiving yards, we like him best as a long corner, where he was a part of seven takeaways for an excellent Southern Durham defense. He has length, speed, and ball skills, a deadly combination for a corner, and we expect him to continue to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1974721"],"_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-6984bf46f0b2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There's a world in which we move Varga to the athlete category, as he contributes in all three phases of the game. But he's best known as a ball-hawking safety. He scored on both defense and special teams last year, racked up 62 solo tackles, and was a part of four takeaways as a sophomore. His length and range give him excellent coverage upside, and he's already living around the ball as a run defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2005270"],"_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-6984bf46f0c43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A high-upside corner thanks to his athleticism, Edwards' biggest contribution this year was as a consistent return man, and he's electric when he gets the ball in his hands. He also picked off two passes and has great ball skills, with seven pass deflections on the season. As he continues to grow, he'll be a player to watch as Wake Forest loses some talent in the secondary next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2074879"],"_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-6984bf46f0d56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hilliard was at his best for Northern Guilford when the lights were brightest, and he picked off two of his six passes in a key regional semifinal game against Ashbrook. He led the conference with six picks and finished with 60 tackles from his safety position. He has the chance to move up in our rankings next season as the Nighthawks' defense loses several key contributors, making Hilliard the team's leading returning tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2104417"],"_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-6984bf46f0e63"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aycock had the misfortune of playing in one of the best 5A/6A conferences in the state, but Johnson more than held his own, leading the team in tackles and being named one of our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/unsung-heroes-big-east-5a-6a/">unsung heroes</a>. He plays far bigger than his frame suggests, and he was remarkably consistent, both as a cover corner and near the line of scrimmage as a run-stopper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1952814"],"_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-6984bf46f0f74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Southeast Alamance coaching staff isn't afraid to play younger players, and Parrish benefited from that confidence in 2025. The sophomore corner has length and plenty of strength to match up with bigger wide receivers, and he flashed ball skills last year, too. He picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and deflected a handful of passes, helping Southeast Alamance's strong defense hold the opposition at bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2028 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->