PRZMN 2029 DB's to Watch in 2026

DB is one of the toughest positions to play at any level, and it's hard to find particularly great DBs that have shined already at this stage, but this last batch of freshmen from the Class of 2029 showcased a fruitful amount of potentially high-caliber starters in the secondary that shined in liminal spurts across last season and will look to break out onto the scene entering the 2026 season. We take a look today at 6 DBs in MN from the Class of 2029 to keep an eye on in 2026!    The most evident DB name to already garner major attention at his age, [player_tooltip player_id='2065977' first='Brody' last='Anderson'] is looking to become the next big stud from Jackson County Central to watch going forward. A flexible DB who can play both at CB and Safety, while also seeing playing time on both offense and special teams, Anderson can do it all for the Wolves. Fluid with his reads and proving difficult to shake off in man coverage, Anderson already showed glimpses of great game-sense in the secondary, understanding when to bail on his coverage and attack the ball-carrier, tackling low, and despite his size, does not get pushed back easily at the point of contact. Anderson will be quite a problem for opponents in the 2A conference going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1657637' first='Will' last='Charcut'] has already garnered serious attention as a stellar shutdown CB for the Millers. Charcut recorded 25 tackles, 2 PBUs, a FF, and 2 INTs in 8 appearances among the varsity defense as a freshman. Showing impressive size and length for his age, Charcut uses that well in man coverage, being able to reach out and swat passes away while being able to essentially run the deep routes for the WRs, excelling in 1-on-1 coverage on vert routes and going up in the air for the INT as if he was the intended target. Charcut's coverage skills are impressively refined for his age, and I'm excited to see how that continues to grow over the next 3 seasons as he proves himself very much capable as a lockdown outside CB.     An intriguing DB that certainly may dissuade scouts due to his size, but Tyler Grawey has proven himself to be quite the ball-hawk for the relaunched Panthers' team. One of several freshmen to get immediate playing time for the team, Grawey recorded 6 INTs with 1 returned for a TD over his freshman season. Maybe not the most imposing looking for a FS, but Grawey shows excellent ball-skills, and it's best not to try to force it down the field, as Grawey has shown to track the ball and make a play for the secondary every time the QB tried to do too much with it. Grawey will have time to grow into size, but he's already proving to be a difference maker for the Panthers as they continue to find their identity within the 3A conference.     Playing opposite of Grawey in the secondary is Carter Thompson, who showcases the skillset and fluidity stopping both the run and the pass to handle the role as a Strong Safety. Thompson recorded 20 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 PBUs, and 1 INT during his freshman season. Thompson shows solid lateral sideline-to-sideline coverage against the run, being able to break into the backfield and showing good reads against option-plays, being able to shut down runs behind the line while also showcasing solid coverage skills as a zone-defender. Thompson will look to aid the Panthers as they continue to build their chemistry to become potentially a potent unit sooner rather than later.     Jones Thode emerged during the 2025 season as a promising piece for the Tigers' secondary. Thode recorded 21 tackles and 3 PBUs during his freshman season. Thode doesn't have much film from his freshman season, but he flashed as a modest defender who rotated often within the varsity lineup, proving capable with solid coverage skills and athleticism at the position. Hopefully, as Thode becomes a more prominent piece of their secondary, his visibility will increase significantly as a cog of their unit.     While not receiving playing time during his freshman season for Brooklyn Center, [player_tooltip player_id='2078929' first='Arman' last='Rice-El'] has rose significantly through his growth this offseason within showcase events. At our Stock-Up Showcase event in December, Rice-El flashed well during the 1-on-1 portion of the event with his ability to close space quickly and his sharp timing with his hand contact, showcasing strong fundamentals in his man-coverage ability, and he's clearly taking pointers in his growth with the aid of his teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1658006' first='Rodney' last='Pierce-Tyler Jr.'] Rice-El may be the latest of underclassmen who break out quickly within the Centaurs' varsity lineup entering the 2026 season to further fuel their talented roster.

DB is one of the toughest positions to play at any level, and it's hard to find particularly great DBs that have shined already at this stage, but this last batch of freshmen from the Class of 2029 showcased a fruitful amount of potentially high-caliber starters in the secondary that shined in liminal spurts across last season and will look to break out onto the scene entering the 2026 season. We take a look today at 6 DBs in MN from the Class of 2029 to keep an eye on in 2026!