The Film Room: TN2027 Defensive Backs (Part II)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breaking down highlights is something we constantly do here at Prep Redzone Tennessee as we are always in eval mode. Today we look at five defensive back prospects that are destined for the college level and will be added into our new upcoming senior rankings. </h2>     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='1641243' first='Malik' last='Dean Jr.'] - Germantown   Strengths: Dean. Jr might be one of the more under the radar prospects we have from the TN2027 class at this given time. Sporting great size (6'2 188) with room to grow further, the Red Devils safety has the look and physical abilities and traits that translate well to the college game. Dean Jr. has long arms with a wide radius that can make things difficult for opposing receivers when bringing in the pass. He does a good job of working in space then reading the pass and making a play on the ball. A lot of clips you see in his junior film shows Dean Jr. handling cover corner, which speaks towards his overall athleticism and versatility. This Memphis area product runs well, showing nice closing speed and the ability to keep close on his man. While I like the athletic traits, I am enamored with his physical prowess. Dean Jr. will lay the wood. He provides some big hits on film with room to get faster and become more violent. You can work this guy in the box against the run or ask him to blitz the backfield. I like Dean's potential best playing the boundary at safety but his versatility could allow him to work the field or even nickel as well. Special teams is another area where I believe the Red Devils defender can make an impact too.    Needed Development: The biggest area of work for Dean, Jr would be with his overall speed. While the Red Devils safety does run well, he could get faster and become more explosive. Enhancing his speed would make him more of a playmaker on the back, more so than just a physical tackler. Increasing his range is something else I believe would boost his overall game further as well. On occasions, stiffness can be seen in the hips and initial movements. I see the potential inside Dean Jr. to become agile and fluid over time as he continues to grow into his body and develops under a college weight system.    College Potential: I definitely see a D1 prospect here with Dean Jr. with the potential of becoming a Power Four guy down the road. He is on the fringe of being that guy very soon. Things could change this summer when Dean Jr. hits the college camp scene and turns some heads with his physical upside. The Red Devils senior looks to be one of those guys that I scout in the off-season that turns into a new player throughout his senior season, which usually comes from further development and body growth. This is definitely a guy to keep track of moving forward as someone that could work his way into Power Four status but Dean Jr. must get on the grind and push his game to new heights.    - - - - -    (S) [player_tooltip player_id='2147342' first='Jacob' last='Jewell'] - Ravenwood   Strengths: Looking the part of a college guy is the first thing you recognize about Jewell when flipping on his tape. He stands about 6'2 185 pounds with a physically well built body and room to get bigger. This guy is a natural athlete as well that displays the occasional explosive play. Jewell shows good lower body movements from his solid footwork towards his ability to flip his hips and run. The Raptors defensive back plays a smart brand of football, showing good intelligence and play recognition, especially when coming off his man and chasing down the ball. Jewell stays focused on his task. He plays engaged with that certain want-to and desire you want in your players. A lot of his junior film is seen playing on the outside at cornerback, which speaks towards his athleticism and versatility but I personally like his upside best at safety. Jewell is one of the fastest prospects on the Raptors current roster and when you have speed, you have a shot to succeed. The range is good with Jewell and something I think can improve further as he continues to learn the game and grow into his body.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/jjewell.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2164088" style="width:242px;height:auto" /></figure>   Needed Development: There is a lot to like about Jewell but he is still far from a finished product. What I see on film is a good athlete that doesn't realize how athletic he is, meaning Jewell could play faster and more impactful based on his physical makeup. Gaining a quicker first step, an initial burst is something I see the Raptors safety needing to enhance further. Loosening up hips is something Jewell can work on as well. Doing that would allow him to get faster towards the ball and produce more physical contact. If Jewell doesn't become more physical, he may be relegated to playing nickel on the next level. I see football intelligence with this Mid-Tennessee product but more time in the film room would increase his on the field smarts and make him a more impactful player.    College Potential: Jewell is a long term, big pay off prospect that has all the physical tools you want in a college safety. He is big, he runs well and he has versatility to manage several roles within the defensive backfield. The college offers have yet to flow his way and I think that's because coaches want to see him work in camps this summer and see how far he has developed. The Raptors senior is a definite FCS guy but I think Jewell has D1, possible Power Four potential within him. I see scenarios where Jewell might have to begin his career on the FCS level but with further development and production, he could certainly transfer up one day.    - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1617434' first='Mason' last='Laster'] - Alcoa   Strengths: If Laster was two or three inches taller, he would already be a household name and one of the top overall defensive backs from our TN2027 class. The Tornadoes defender is exceptionally athletic with some of the quickest feet in the state that allows him to consistently put himself around the ball. Laster shows strong play recognition and football intelligence along with a great first step. Those two skills alone makes him appealing as a potential ball hawk that could be utilized all around the secondary. This East Tennessee product runs well, displaying the ability to stay on path with his receiver. He transitions his hips nicely, showing smooth lower body movements and the footwork to put himself in position to make plays on the ball. There are a lot of clips inside his junior film showing Laster playing the island and I can see where he might remain outside due to his ability to run. One key strength about Laster is his versatility. He is skilled enough to manage cornerback, field safety or nickelback, which is where I think his upside fits best. He can definitely work in space while having nice range but will also play in run support too. I see value as well with Laster on special teams as possibly an exceptional gunner.    Needed Development: While the athletic tools and ball skills are in place for Laster, getting bigger and stronger is at the forefront for him when it comes to his development. Doing so will allow him to make a bigger impact on the run game. It would also allow him to take on physicality better at the point of attack when playing man to man coverage. Learning the game further is a developmental trait for everybody on the high school level but continued understanding of football would push Laster to new levels within his game and himself.    College Potential: When scouting and recruiting this East Tennessee product, you have to look past his height and see the player he can be and that's an active, athletic and fast performer that can develop into a playmaker on the back end. Laster is a baller, a gamer that brings a lot of explosive tools to the playing field that I think can work on the Power Four playing stage. I can see college staffs looking past Laster due to his overall size but it only takes one program to fall in love with upside and roll the dice on him. I think he is worth it. Laster might have to begin his college career on the D1 or more likely the FCS level but as long as he continues to develop at a proper rate and produces, getting to the big stage is very possible for the Tornadoes defensive back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Photo-Jan-26-2026-11-46-41-AM.jpg?w=712" alt="" class="wp-image-2113285" style="aspect-ratio:0.6959996133335481;width:201px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Alcoa DB [player_tooltip player_id='1617434' first='Mason' last='Laster'] at the state championship game.</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    (S) [player_tooltip player_id='1104284' first='Dequavion' last='Bell'] - Munford   Strengths: Bell is a multi-year starter with a lot of game experience, so he is well versed with strong football knowledge that could be utilized in multiple areas on the back end. Looking through his junior film, you see a rangy guy with the ability to chase down the ball from wherever he is positioned at. Bell recognizes the play early then attacks without hesitation. The Cougars senior tracks the ball well. He does a nice job of seeing what's happening then putting himself in position to make plays on the ball. While I like his work against the pass, he may be even more impactful stopping the run. Bell has no problem coming up into the action and making physical contact against the ball carrier. An underrated trait with Bell is his speed. He does need to get faster but coaches are looking past his speed as he displays the ability to cut and run while staying on path with the receiver. His film shows versatility as the Cougars defensive back displays work at cornerback and safety. He has the athleticism to manage several positions on the back end with his biggest upside residing at safety where I think he can handle the boundary or the field.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/quabell.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1688016" style="width:234px;height:auto" /></figure>   Needed Development: This Memphis area prospect is a solid ball player but I think he has higher levels to his game that Bell has yet to tap into. While the Cougars senior does run well, he could be a tick faster along with being more explosive. His initial bursts out of his break could be quicker as well. Enhancing his lower half agility is another area where I think Bell could develop further, which would help with his explosion. Getting bigger and stronger is something this senior safety can focus on as well. He has the frame to pack on more weight and become more forceful stopping the run.    College Potential: I can see potential with Bell making his way to the big stage of college ball one day but he must take that next step in his game to get there. If he can push himself this off-season to get bigger and improve his speed and explosion, I can see the Cougars senior sneaking into the D1 ranks. He is definitely a FCS level guy that I think will see his offer list start to expand after performing at camps this summer.    - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='2122414' first='Turner' last='Weber'] - Brentwood   Strengths: Weber is coming off a productive junior season with his Bruins team where he is seen taking a lot of snaps out at cornerback. I don't believe that is his future but it shows his athleticism and ability to adapt. What I like most about Weber is his football intelligence and desire to find the ball. You especially see this when attacking the run game. The Bruins defensive back attacks blocks, sheds them then slows up the ball carrier in his tracks. A sneaky trait about Weber is his ability to run. He is faster than you may think. This Mid-Tennessee product isn't the fastest but he runs well enough to keep himself in the action and make plays on the ball. It's the football intelligence that helps him stand out as Weber shows a nice feel for reading the play prior to the snap or seeing it while the play happens. He allows his footwork to keep glued to the receiver and Weber shows the willingness to be physical. While he handles corner for his Bruins squad, I see Weber transitioning to safety where he shows the upside to become a ball hawk that could also play in the box versus the run.    Needed Development: If Weber wants to push his game to new levels, he must become faster and more explosive. Looking through his film, you don't see a lot of sudden movements, which lends towards increasing his agility and hips. The Bruins senior is a good athlete but I feel he could enhance that area with continued development. He also needs to hit the dinner table and weight room to pack on more pounds. Doing so would allow him to become more physical overall and more impactful against the opposition's run game.    College Potential: As things sit right now headed into summer camp season, I see Weber as an FCS level guy that could work his way higher with further enhancement in the athletic department. I see the Bruins defensive back as a developmental guy that may need time to grow into his body and game but the talent is good. The secondary value is strong too as I do see Weber as a safety but I could see him taking snaps at nickelback as well. This is a smart, technique sound and tough ball player that could have a breakout senior season and take his stock to new levels while seeing his recruitment go into a positive direction.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/tweber.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-2164092" style="width:249px;height:auto" /></figure>