2029 Rankings Winter Update: Breaking Down the DBs

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone</a>, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.   The two corners, three safeties and one hybrid we include in the updated Prep RedZone Class of 2029 rankings are a small but mighty positional group we expect to see big things from well in advance of any of them running out of high school eligibility.    Six players. That's it.    We know it won't be that way for long.   By the time the Carolinas Coaches Combines allow us to get eyes on even more defensive backs this spring, the list will grow.   For now, these six have done everything asked of them - and then some - and impressed in the process.     [player_tooltip player_id='2106764' first='Alex' last='Clamp'] Lucy Beckham   The Bengals have made the last few years a steady diet of replacing one outgoing standout with the next one - and, more importantly, allowing them to share the field together in the process. Clamp is that next Lucy Beckham player to come up the ranks with plenty of on-the-job training. His 35 tackles last fall mostly came without the spotlight on him, but that all changes heading into the safety's sophomore season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1522453' first='Kaylin' last='Culp'] Fairfield Central (pictured)   When you click on any of Culp's highlights and see him standing by his lonesome in the defensive backfield, clearly you know he's about to make a play. But what was more telling to us was how much trust he garnered with some of those decisions to leave him all by himself. Culp has tremendous ball skills and was often toying with opposing quarterbacks.     [player_tooltip player_id='1595010' first='Taddrick' last='Gibson'] Dutch Fork   The predominant Class 5A program in the state needed about 15 seconds to believe Gibson could hold his own, even as the guys place furthest to the outside. As teams started to have more problems against the Silver Foxes' front seven, they frequently had no choice but to test Gibson out there on the island. It rarely went the way they hoped, as he picked off three passes and broke up 13 more.     [player_tooltip player_id='1825516' first='Jyree' last='Grady'] River Bluff   When Grady suited up at a 5-foot-7, 150-pound safety, River Bluff knew better than to only look at his measurable. He brought a fearless attitude to the position and showed off that his initial back peddle gives him plenty of leeway to get in and/or stay in position better than most. It's why he debuted as the type of combo hitter/pass defender who will improve quickly.    [player_tooltip player_id='2106793' first='Jordan' last='Mack'] Bethune-Bowman   Mack can play either corner or safety, and he's done both in addition to his likely budding role on offense, too. He picked off a few passes, and since many of the teams on the Mohawks' schedule aren't typically the ones airing it out like left and right, it's something they'll all have to keep an even closer eye on moving forward. Mack's been impressive in limited time, and we can't wait to see what's next with him.    [player_tooltip player_id='1840728' first='Jaydon' last='Moore'] South Aiken    As a freshman, Moore's job was all over the map for nearby Aiken. There were plays where he's dropping way back bookended by others where he was asked to jump the line at the snap and protect against the run. He's since transferred to South Aiken, and as he progresses beyond the 5-foot-8, 145 pounds he played at as a freshman he's a name to keep in mind.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.