2029 Rankings Release: DB

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2029","_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-69977c5e48d94"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the 2026 high school football offseason, we are wrapping up our latest round of rankings update. To finish off the rankings update, we have a new class rankings release! Our debut Top 100 rankings for the class of 2029 in the state of Kentucky has been officially posted. With these rankings being released, I have been taking the past few weeks to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the front seven already taken care of, here are our top defensive backs in the class of 2029 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["868416"],"_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-69977c5e4a48d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='868416' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] made a big impact in the Somerset secondary as a freshman. Anderson lines up at corner where he is very reliable in zone coverage. He does a great job of reading route combinations and flowing through the secondary accordingly. When the ball is thrown his way, he does a great job of reacting with perfect timing to make a play on the ball. Drew finished his freshman year with one interception and several pass breakups in 13 games. He also showed the ability to provide support against the run, recording 58 tackles. Drew is a player who I expect college coaches to be keeping a close eye on over the next few seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1650792"],"_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-69978ff027bed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1650792' first='Rylan' last='Kelsey'] is another defensive back who made an immediate impact as a freshman. Kelsey lines up at safety where he is very impressive in coverage. He does a great job of reading the quarterback and route combinations then flowing through the secondary to put himself in position to make a play. Kelsey has shown impressive ball skills when the ball is thrown in his direction, coming away with a team-high two interceptions in 12 games this past season. He is also a very physical hitter, which he utilizes to knock the ball loose from intended receivers in the passing game and to make tackles against the run. Rylan recorded 57 tackles as a freshman. He also made an impact on offense, catching three passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Kelsey will be a player worth keeping an eye on heading into his sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1518213"],"_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-699793c8b7f03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1518213' first='Brandon' last='Smith'] is another safety who had an impressive freshman season. Smith is a ballhawk in the secondary, showing the ability to read routes then cover a ton of ground to get to the ball once it is in the air. He has shown excellent ball skills when the ball is thrown in his direction, finishing his freshman year with two interceptions in 12 games (tied for team lead). Smith has also shown the ability to make plays against the run, finishing this past season with 51 tackles. Brandon will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1665544"],"_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-699797713909b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1665544' first='Aiden' last='Zuniga'] had a solid freshman year at corner for Taylor County. He proved to be very dependable in coverage, showing the ability to read receivers' routes then react quickly to put himself in position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, he does a great job of fighting through the receiver to defend the pass. He finished this past season with one interception and multiple pass breakups in 10 games. Zuniga also accounted for 53 tackles and one tackle for loss as a freshman, and made an impact on offense, catching four passes for 32 yards. Aiden will be a player worth paying close attention to as he continues to grow and develop moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648917"],"_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-6997977139130"} --> <!-- 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 2029 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1648917' first='Jamaal' last='Haskins']. Haskins lines up at safety where he has proven to be very reliable in coverage. He does a great job of reading both the quarterback and route combinations then flowing through the secondary accordingly to put himself in a good position to make a play. Jamaal has shown impressive ball skills when the ball is thrown in his vicinity, coming away with a team-leading two interceptions in nine games as a freshman. He also showed the ability to fill the lane and make tackles against the run, recording 21 tackles this past season. Jamaal will definitely be a player to keep an eye on over the next three seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->