Iowa Class of 28' DBs to Watch in 2026

In our latest report for oncoming junior talents to watch out for in 2026, we move to the secondary, where these DBs have already made am impact either as ball-hawking playmakers or versatile defenders that have flashed well both against the pass and the run. Here are 8 DBs from Iowa part of the class of 2028 to watch out for this upcoming season!    [player_tooltip player_id='1924714' first='Carson' last='Mahoney']'s impact to the Saints' defense was immense, immediately stepping in and playing a massive role toward Xavier's undefeated run to the 4A title while already solidifying his place as the top DB prospect in Iowa for the class of 2028. Mahoney recorded 44 tackles (30 solo), 4 PBUs, 3 INTs, a FF, and a fumble recovery during his junior season. Mahoney often served as the Saints' deep man down the middle of the field, excelling as a Free Safety with his great vision and instincts in coverage, shutting down passes over the middle and showing good timing in his jumps. Mahoney also played well against the run, showing great pursuit angles to be able to track the ball carrier across the other side of the field, and his hits showed devastating power to either break up passes or knock the ball out for a fumble. It will be interesting to see how Mahoney builds off such a strong campaign, which will be especially scary for his opponents knowing he still has two years to go.     Playing next to Mahoney often in the Saints' secondary was [player_tooltip player_id='2086240' first='Max' last='Dougherty'], who also made a prevalent impact for the defense that allowed just 10.9 PPG to their opponents. Dougherty recorded 23 tackles, 2 PBUs, and 1 INT. While he played more of a Strong Safety role, Dougherty was a flexible weapon who could line up both in the box, as a deep 1/2 field defender, and as an apex defender lined up man-to-man with the slot receiver. Dougherty shows great ball skills in pass coverage, flashing an impressive range in knocking away passes, and he's a strong run defender who can cover both perimeters and shows good technique on his tackles. Dougherty's athleticism is impressive for his age, and he's also flashed as a top baseball prospect for Xavier. Alongside with Mahoney, these two could arguably become the best Safety tandem in Iowa to watch out for over the next 2 seasons.     [player_tooltip player_id='1031692' first='Jayden' last='Stumpff']'s athleticism is high-caliber for his age, and he's already using it to Prairie's advantage, with the potential to become one of the most dangerous junior prospects to watch out for next season. Stumpff recorded 35.5 tackles (26 solo), 2.5 TFLs, 5 PBUs, and 1 INT returned for a TD in 2025. Putting to perspective with how impressive of an athlete Stumpff is, he ran a 4.5 40 yard time, posts a 38" vertical jump, and squats 385 lb already. Stumpff showcases exceptional pass coverage skills, being able to react and break to the ball quickly on short passes, while also reacting instinctively to the run, limiting outside runs and QB scrambles behind the line. Stumpff has plenty of upside, and the ceiling for this kid will be extremely high going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1953613' first='Josh' last='Lampe'] is another outstanding athlete with high upside who has already made an impact for Newton's defense, guiding them to their first double-digit winning season since 2006. Lampe recorded 36.5 tackles (31 solo), 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble. Lampe's testing numbers are considerably impressive, including a 4.5 40 yard time, a 38" vertical jump, a 230 lb max bench, and a 335 lb max squat. Lampe's impacts as a defender have been more evident in the box, proving to be an excellent open-field tackler, containing the outside run well, and also showing great hustle in minimizing bigger plays in the run and short-pass game. Lampe's talents at Strong Safety should continue to grow and he will be a great mainstay for the Cardinals' defense as they look to stay in deep contention in Class 4A going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='2090133' first='Cale' last='Shovlain'] flashed on both sides of the ball, but with a more prominent role for Assumption's defense, Shovlain's athleticism and pass coverage skills were on display a lot more during his sophomore season. Shovlain recorded 25.5 tackles (19 solo), a forced fumble, 6 PBUs, and an INT in 2025. A flexible DB who lined up both as an outside CB and at Safety, Shovlain did an exceptional job in pass coverage, doing a great job at flipping his hips and attacking the ball from underneath, while also maintaining solid footwork to keep up with the receiver and flashing range as a sideline-to-sideline tackler. Shovlain will likely remain most used on the defensive side for the Knights going forward, with his versatility and skillset proving quite beneficial to their secondary.     [player_tooltip player_id='2106193' first='Kanen' last='DeYoung'] is another promising two-way player who was one of the bright spots on a rough Bombers' team last season. Defensively, DeYoung recorded 27.5 tackles (25 solo), a TFL, a sack, a forced fumble, and 5 INTs. Flashing as a deep Safety, DeYoung immediately showcased great skills as a ball-hawk, doing a great job at reading the QB and anticipating where the ball is going before attacking the ball. DeYoung shows excellent speed and agility in coverage, along with quick acceleration to close-down on the ball both in breaking up passes and minimizing the run. DeYoung could end up seeing more playing time on the offense as well during his junior season, and he will become an important asset for the Bombers as they look to rebound following their 2-7 campaign last season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2079939' first='Tristen' last='Wingate'] was an immediate stud for the Generals' secondary, earning spots on both All-State team lists for Class A Iowa from me and Eliot. While there isn't any film on Wingate currently, Wingate was one of the most productive DBs in the conference, recording 42.5 tackles (35 solo), 3 TFLs, 10 PBUs, 5 INTs, and 1 pick six, earning statewide attention for his stellar performance. Wingate should remain a staple for the Generals' defense as he'll be quite dangerous for opposing QBs to throw his way going forward.     Rounding out this list is [player_tooltip player_id='1956818' first='Grant' last='Fischer'], a smaller DB who made a big impact for Ankeny's secondary last season. Fischer recorded 20 tackles, 7 PBUs, and 2 INTs in his sophomore season. Playing often as an outside CB, Fischer played very well defending the deep ball, showing great arm extension and hand placement to knock passes away and being able to keep up with receivers toe-to-toe. Fischer also flashed good vision and anticipation on quick passes, reading the QB knowing when to break to the line to shut down the short pass game. Fischer stands tall among the Hawks' secondary, playing behind his size as an excellent CB who can line up with his opponents' No. 1 WR very well.

In our latest report for oncoming junior talents to watch out for in 2026, we move to the secondary, where these DBs have already made am impact either as ball-hawking playmakers or versatile defenders that have flashed well both against the pass and the run. Here are 8 DBs from Iowa part of the class of 2028 to watch out for this upcoming season!