Winter Stock-Risers: 2028 Defensive Backs

We're onto Week 2 of our latest rankings update. Last week, we released our updated <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 class rankings</a>, and we've been churning out content since then. As always, I started by going <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-update-january/">behind the scenes</a> of the update, and then wrote about the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/3-things-to-know-about-the-2028-class/">class as a whole</a>. This week, we're looking at all the defenders who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 defensive back stock-risers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Defensive Back Stock-Risers</h2>    Covington's ball skills stand out immediately, as his seven interceptions were among the best in the state. He's also garnered some legitimate Power Four interest on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, pointing to his impressive upside. He's probably not finished growing, and the combination of recent production and future potential makes him an obvious stock-riser.     We evaluated Hammonds earlier this rankings cycle as a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/6-2028s-to-know-for-next-rankings-update/">potential rankings riser in the spring</a>, and we stand by those comments. I love a rangy safety prospect, and Hammonds is as good as they get in pass coverage from his free safety position at this age. He's developing as a run stopper, but he's not afraid of contact, and we think he'll grow into one of the better well-rounded safety prospects in the class.     Despite his slight stature, Covington is one of the more physical sophomores you'll find at the corner position. In fact, early in the season, teams kept trying to isolate him in the screen game. After he made stop after stop, teams later in the year stopped testing him in that way. He has good straight-line speed, helpful to recover, or to come down and make tackles on quick throws or outside runs.     Geer is a bit under the radar, largely because he's one of those defensive backs that offenses simply avoid. When the ball is in the air, though, there's a good chance he's going to make a play. He had seven pass deflections and an interception on only a handful of targets. He missed a bit of time with an injury, further limiting his exposure, but as he fills out his frame, he should start to pop up on the recruiting radar of local FBS schools.     One of several 2028 defensive backs to get off to a hot start on the recruiting trail, Dobson's measurables are off the charts. He's one of the longest corners you'll see at the high school level, and with the ability to play out wide, at either safety position, or in the slot, he fits any team or scheme. As a sophomore, his production more than matched his potential, as he was one of the best players on the field on both defense and special teams.     A pure cover corner, Johnson has excellent hips and footwork that allow him to match up with all sorts of receivers in man coverage, something he plays more often than your average sophomore corner. The interception numbers won't turn your head, but he has the ball skills and football I.Q. to rack up bigger numbers in the future. A lot of his film consists of him blanketing receivers before the opposing quarterback throws it away or the ball flutters out of bounds.     We saw Williams at our Prep Redzone Showcase last summer and immediately fell in love with the long, rangy corner. His movement skills and technical ability, namely the way he moves in short areas, are mature beyond his years. We felt fairly confident he'd have a breakout sophomore year, and that's what he did, with 39 tackles and two interceptions.    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.

We're onto Week 2 of our latest rankings update. Last week, we released our updated 2028 class rankings, and we've been churning out content since then. As always, I started by going behind the scenes of the update, and then wrote about the class as a whole. This week, we're looking at all the defenders who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 defensive back stock-risers.