TN2027 Rankings Breakdown (Defensive Backs)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Diving into our secondary rankings, we find a deep class full of talent that may not be strong at the top but shows potential to grow over the coming months. The defensive backs are well represented inside our "Top 300" with the most players ranked by position and I think it can grow with others joining the fold after the 2026 season. </h2>     - Over the past several years, no position has seen more growth than the defensive backs as the Volunteer State is consistently putting back end defenders into the college ranks. This year's class should be the same, however it's not as top heavy as year's past. I do see depth though with several guys down the rankings that have the college traits but need further development and a strong senior year to gain more recruiting traction. Overall, it's a solid defensive back class that can appear better after the Fall season.    Top Tier (Top 100) ……   - This cycle wasn't that easy finding our top rated defensive back but in the end, we feel like Haywood safety [player_tooltip player_id='1162582' first='Jaden' last='Butler'] was the top guy. The Tomcats athletic back end ball hawk grabbed the top spot due to his physical abilities and upside on the next level as well as how early Butler can make an impact during his time at Tennessee. This West Tennessee product committed to the Vols a few months ago over several high caliber offers. I expect interest to remain for Butler until he signs because the Tomcats senior is too talented to not pay attention to.    Westview senior and new Kentucky commit [player_tooltip player_id='1422977' first='Miles' last='Brown'] comes in next ranked 2nd among the defensive backs and 29th overall. The Chargers defender has a chance to develop at cover corner during his time in Lexington and finding someone that can lock down one side of the field is hard to find but Brown might have the capabilities to do the job. At worst, the Wildcats have a defender that can handle several secondary roles while also contributing on special teams.    The lone returning starter inside the Baylor secondary this Fall is [player_tooltip player_id='1605749' first='Jordan' last='Darren Djila']. Ranked 3rd among the defensive backs and 35th overall, this Canadian native brings a versatile skill set to the field where Darren Djila could develop at multiple secondary positions. This guy is a good athlete but an even better technician that does a lot of little things right. I personally like his upside best at nickel but Darren Djila could easily form into a ball hawking safety.    Currently committed to Mississippi State, safety [player_tooltip player_id='378857' first='Hudson' last='Fuqua'] is an athletic, hard hitter, instinctive back end defender that I think has higher levels to his game and could be in-store for a breakout senior year. Ranked 37th overall and 4th among the defensive backs, Fuqua has a chance to boost himself into a “Top 25” prospect by the end of the Fall season with shown improvement in his production and playmaking abilities.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/9-Hudson-Fuqua.jpg?w=1017" alt="" class="wp-image-1298887" style="aspect-ratio:0.9941547383439959;width:240px;height:auto" /></figure>   We don't have a lot of true cover corners in this class but one guy who could develop there is [player_tooltip player_id='1642438' first='Romel' last='Koon, Jr']. This Brentwood Academy senior is a natural athlete that moves, runs well while having quick feet and the ability to flip his hips and stay with the receiver. Koon, Jr (65th overall/5th DB) has a large offer list but I think he still has a lot of development to go, especially with his weight and overall size. If the Eagles cornerback can get bigger, he may be able to make a quicker impact on the college level.    Next up are two West Tennessee products that I think have a shot at moving into the top five defensive backs in this class with strong senior seasons. Those guys would be [player_tooltip player_id='1641243' first='Malik' last='Dean Jr.'] (67th overall/6th DB) from Germantown and [player_tooltip player_id='933041' first='Darion' last='Taylor'] (68th overall/7th DB) from Humboldt. Standing 6 '2 180 pounds, Dean Jr. has the college size desired to become an excellent in the box safety that plays well versus the run while having good range against the pass.    I'm a big fan of Taylor and his upside to potentially develop into a cover corner on the college stage. The Vikings senior is a fluid, athletic guy that runs well and stays consistently on path with his receiver. He does need to get a tick faster while gaining more weight but I like the tools for him to develop on the outside and if he doesn't, Taylor could become an excellent field safety.    A fast riser up our rankings board this Spring has been new Ensworth defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='2179336' first='Jackson' last='Sensabaugh']. Just recently making the move to Ensworth from Dobyns-Bennett, Sensabaugh (70th overall/8th DB) is a high impact guy that brings athleticism and versatility to the secondary along with strong upside on special teams. The Tigers senior has a shot to develop out wide at cornerback but could certainly form into an instinctive safety.   Last season was a breakout junior season for Pearl Cohn defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='2076919' first='Landan' last='Left'] but I think he could be in-store for a bigger senior year. A versatile piece on the back end, Left (75th overall/9th DB) could be utilized in a variety of ways from lining up at nickel or handling either safety spots. I personally like him best at nickel where he can cover running backs and tight ends while supporting the run game. I also see value with Left on special teams as well.    USJ senior [player_tooltip player_id='1687518' first='Bradley' last='Stamper'] (88th overall/10th DB) is one of the more athletic, versatile guys we have from our TN2027 class that I believe fully transitions into safety once he arrives into the college game. Standing 6 '4 185 pounds and growing, the Bruins senior defender has a wide radius with loads of range that can be used in the box or out in the field. Stamper does need further work in several areas, including adding more weight but the raw tools with him translates well to the college game.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-watch-list/?position=DB" id="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-watch-list/?position=DB">#TN2027 Defensive Back Database/Rankings</a>   We have a pair of Brentwood Academy teammates up next with safety [player_tooltip player_id='2082939' first='Hill' last='Strong'] (89th overall/11th DB) and versatile senior [player_tooltip player_id='2105993' first='Troy' last='Porties'] (90th overall/12th DB) that have a chance to boost their stocks with strong senior campaigns. Strong is an athletic, rangy guy that shows explosive flashes on film and the speed to chase the ball sideline to sideline. I like the game that Porties brings to the playing field as I could see developing at all three positions with possibly his best upside working best at nickelback. I think both Strong and Porties have their best football days ahead of them.    Keep track of Ravenwood senior [player_tooltip player_id='2170536' first='Dallas' last='Stallings'] (94th overall/13th DB) this Fall to be one of our breakout stars of the 2026 season. His film shows an athletic, fluid mover with excellent footwork and the speed to stay on path with his receiver as well as the patience needed to not be handsy but keep his opponent in-check. The Raptors defensive back isn't the tallest but he makes up for it with discipline, speed and technique.    Our final defensive back inside the “Top 100” is a sleeper talent that I am high on and that's Gallatin senior [player_tooltip player_id='1595502' first='K'Saun' last='Barksdale']. I see a lot of upside with this guy and Barksdale is still developing, so watch out in the future for him to potentially form into an instinctive, ball hawking safety. I could also see some college staff like Barksdale (95th overall/14th DB) for receiver but I believe his talents would be best suited trolling the secondary.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/kbarksdale.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-2216605" style="width:246px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    The Next Tier (Top 200) ……   - This section will be heavy with potential, with players that have college tools and traits but have to either put it all together or just need more time to completely mature into themselves and the game of football. I do see several prospects in this portion of the article that could manuever their way into the “Top 100” and potentially become Power Four, D1 or FCS level prospects by the end of the 2026 season.    The next defensive back on the list that just missed out on the “Top 100” is Ensworth safety [player_tooltip player_id='1585715' first='Quinn' last='Taylor']. Athletic and rangy with a great first step, Taylor (120th overall/15th DB) has a lot of potential on the back end of the secondary that fits well playing the field but could certainly work the box as well. The Tigers senior does need to keep building his body but the athletic tools are in place to become an impact safety in college.    East Nashville has a pair of secondary teammates in [player_tooltip player_id='2147346' first='Ke'Vontae' last='Pitts'] (123rd overall/16th DB) and [player_tooltip player_id='1974488' first='Cason' last='Reed'] (128th overall/20th DB) that have an opportunity this Fall to put forth big senior years and boost their rankings into potential “Top 100” players. Pitts is a versatile piece that I think fits best at safety but could certainly form into a solid nickelback as well. Reed is a pure safety guy, one who fits the field well as a possible rangy ball hawk. I see a lot of athletic upside with Reed that has yet to be fulfilled but that could start to happen this Fall season.    Standing 185 pounds, Ravenwood safety [player_tooltip player_id='1616602' first='Jacob' last='Jewell'] (124th overall/17th DB) has the look and overall size desired for the college level but the Raptors still has work to do, especially with his burst and speed. If Jewell can increase his lower half explosion, bigger schools may start paying attention. If [player_tooltip player_id='1617434' first='Mason' last='Laster'] was two inches taller and a little bit thicker, he would have D1 programs all over him because the Alcoa senior has some of the quickest feet in this year's secondary class. Looking over his film, Laster (125th overall/18th DB) shows outstanding instincts, a great initial burst and the speed to chase down the ball from anywhere.    MASE senior [player_tooltip player_id='1158912' first='Kadience' last='Nelson'] (127th overall/19th DB) has some of the best ball hawking instincts within our TN2027 secondary group but sits lower in our rankings right now due to his size and need of added weight. This Memphis area prospect does fit well at field safety but Nelson is a versatile guy that could work the other safety role or nickelback as well. If Nelson can add in the needed while continuing to develop his game, moving into the “Top 100” is possible.    Two new additions to the Riverdale secondary for the coming season come in next with both guys showing potential to not just raise their rankings but play their ways into D1 opportunities. Those senior defenders would be [player_tooltip player_id='2196612' first='Jaylen' last='Waller'] (129th overall/21st DB) and [player_tooltip player_id='2180821' first='Izsaiah' last='Emery-Whitfield']. Standing tall at 6 '2 with length and versatility, Waller is an intriguing guy that has piqued the interest of several college staffs due to his upside on the next level. Emery-Whitfield (137th overall/22nd DB) is a true safety that brings a nice mix of athleticism and physicality to the back end as well as upside to become a stalwart against the run.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/iwhitfield.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2216611" style="width:250px;height:auto" /></figure>   New to Tennessee and Tyner Academy this Fall, [player_tooltip player_id='1881268' first='Jadarius' last='Hinton'] (158th overall/23rd DB) is a guy that has college programs eyeing him for either side of the ball but for us at PRZTN, we like his upside best on defense as a hard hitting safety prospect that shows flashes of playmaking abilities. Another safety guy in [player_tooltip player_id='1925934' first='Tristan' last='Thornton'] broke out last Fall for his Blackman team as a ball hawk that consistently found himself around the ball. The Blaze senior (165th overall/24th DB) doesn't have the ideal size desired but Thornton makes up for it with athleticism, instincts, a quick first step and the willingness to come up and tackle in run support.    Ranked 166th overall and 25th among the defensive backs, Centennial senior [player_tooltip player_id='2114143' first='Brody' last='Haddox'] is dripping with potential but has yet to come into his own. That may begin this Fall season where Haddox has a chance to become the top player on his Cougars roster while establishing himself as a legit college guy on the back end. This 6 '2 defender shows corner work on film and I think he could develop there but safety might be where he ends up at on the next level.    So far throughout this recruiting process, Clarksville senior [player_tooltip player_id='1979576' first='Jabarie' last='Acree'] (167th overall/26th DB) has flown under the radar but is someone I am high on and think could bust out in a big way this Fall season. The Wildcats defender is one guy among a few inside this TN2027 defensive back class that I think could play cover corner on the collegiate gridiron but at worst, could develop into a ball hawk at safety. It will be interesting to see how his senior season formulates and how high he can build his stock.    Munford safety [player_tooltip player_id='1104284' first='Dequavion' last='Bell'] (168th overall/27th DB) has all the makings of an eventual D1 guy but he has yet to take that next step needed to become who I think he can. The Cougars senior looks the part and sports several tools that translate to the next level but if he can increase his explosion and speed, Bell can play his way into a higher college status. Much of the same can be said about Kirkwood defender [player_tooltip player_id='2129049' first='Jayven' last='Norris']. Ranked 169th overall and 28th among the defensive backs, Norris is a natural athlete that shows potential to play corner but he must learn the game further while playing with more confidence because the tools are there to become an impactful defender.    James Lawson senior [player_tooltip player_id='1566251' first='Kajuan' last='Taylor'] (170th overall/29th DB) and Christian Brothers ball hawk [player_tooltip player_id='1597003' first='Jonathan' last='DeStefanis'] (193rd overall/31st DB) are two safety prospects that sit on the fringe of of being bonafide D1 caliber players but need further enhancement with their games to reach that plateau. Taylor is a big dude that shows playmaking abilities on the back end but could become even better with increased agility and speed. DeStefanis is a hidden gem and instinctive safety on the back end that I think is flying under the radar but sports next level skills that I think could be flushed out further with college teaching.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/jdestefanis.jpg?w=754" alt="" class="wp-image-2216612" style="aspect-ratio:0.7363374880153404;width:204px;height:auto" /></figure>   A two sport prospect that displays tremendous upside on the gridiron, Hendersonville defender [player_tooltip player_id='1960485' first='Ayden' last='Meadows'] has the abilities and makeup to potentially handle cornerback in college but the Commandos senior has a lot of development to go before he is equipped to handle the island on the next level. Sporting good size and length along with the ability to run, Meadows (181st overall/30th DB) is dripping with potential and could be due for a breakout season in the Fall.    Moving to Whites Creek to play his senior year, [player_tooltip player_id='1664092' first='Amari' last='Mitchell'] (194th overall/32nd DB) is a potential long term big payoff prospect that has the college tools, traits and size wanted on the next level but has yet to reach his ceiling. The biggest things for Mitchell to improve upon this Fall to push his stock higher would be playing more explosive while increasing his speed along with enhancing his football knowledge.    The final defensive back ranked inside our “Top 200” is Pope Prep senior [player_tooltip player_id='2172858' first='Ethan' last='Raspberry']. The Knights senior is someone I am actually quite high on and it's due to the long term potential I see in this 6 '2 defensive back. Raspberry (195th overall/33rd DB)  is a good athlete with a wide radius that helps close up the gap within passing lanes. He can run too with a second gear that flashes on film. More work is needed to develop his overall skill set but I see the potential of a D1 guy somewhere down the road.    - - - - -    Outside The “Top 200” ……   - The secondary depth already showed itself in the above section but here it continues with guys that sit just outside the “Top 200” but display abilities to not just increase their rankings but gain more traction on the recruiting scene as well. Several defensive backs here have the physical tools that work well in college but need to develop their bodies or games much further to be given next level opportunities. I think you will see several guys talked about below put forth strong senior years that will not only boost their stocks but gain them several college offers.    Ranked 200th overall and 34th among the defensive backs, [player_tooltip player_id='966038' first='Kyree' last='Scott'] from Cleveland is a versatile back end piece that does translate best in college at safety but I could see him fitting at nickelback as well. Reasons for it is because Scott is a physical tackler that does good work against the run game while showing enough athleticism to cover in space. I think he could do well in the box covering running backs and tight ends while being a key piece stopping the oppositions run game.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/kyscott.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2216613" style="width:238px;height:auto" /></figure>   Keep track of Sevier Co. senior [player_tooltip player_id='2101292' first='John' last='Keohane'] this Fall as a potential breakout guy that not only gains more recruiting attention but could also move up inside our “Top 150” prospects. The Smoky Bears safety is athletic and fast, showing a great initial burst and closing speed along with flashes of violence. Keohane displays a lot of playmaking ability on film that stands out to me but if he can replicate last year's action on the 5A level this season, this senior safety might see a major spike in his stock.    A versatile piece that shows corner upside, Father Ryan senior [player_tooltip player_id='906479' first='T.J.' last='Gooch Jr.'] is a player that displays the athletic tools to compete on the next level but has yet to put everything together. One thing he is missing is mass and overall size. Gooch (243rd overall/36th DB)  is an agile guy that runs well but to gain more college attention, he must get bigger and stronger. The same can be said about White Station defender [player_tooltip player_id='2058200' first='Marrion' last='Wilson']. This Memphis area product (245th overall/37th DB) actually shows some of the best island work in this class but he is undersized in both height and weight, so college staffs may overlook him due to his physical traits but Wilson can play.   As we head into the Fall football year, South Pittsburg senior [player_tooltip player_id='1467318' first='Martavius' last='Smith'] (246th overall/38th DB) has established himself as one of the better cornerback prospects from the East Tennessee region but he can push his stock higher with a standout senior season. The Pirates defender is a good athlete that moves, runs well but is lacking the body weight needed to be looked at by bigger programs. If he can increase his mass while continuing to enhance his skill set, Smith might see an increase in recruiting attention.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-watch-list/" id="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-watch-list/">Tennessee Top 300</a>   Rockvale teammates [player_tooltip player_id='2101048' first='Kingston' last='McQueen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1662944' first='Dallas' last='Johnson'] are two of the more untapped talents we have from our senior secondary class that displays next level abilities but is lacking in one area or another. McQueen (247th overall/39th DB) is a true safety that looks the part physically but needs to increase his explosive game play and speed to boost his stock. Johnson (249th overall/40th DB)  looks the part as well, standing 6 '1 and nearly 180 pounds but he too is lacking the overall explosive play that college coaches look for. All the pieces are there for both these guys to have banner senior years and push their recruiting to another stratosphere.    One of the more versatile performers we have in this defensive back class is Antioch senior [player_tooltip player_id='1685249' first='Thomas' last='Evan Davis']. He is one guy I've scouted that has been hard to pinpoint his exact college position as I could see forming into a serviceable nickelback or safety. His biggest thing to improve upon this Fall is his speed. Davis (262nd overall/41st DB) shows good instincts, ball hawk tendencies but increasing his speed would help his overall game in several ways.    Brentwood senior [player_tooltip player_id='2122414' first='Turner' last='Weber'] (263rd overall/42nd DB) and [player_tooltip player_id='2160506' first='Colin' last='Mulick'] (298th overall/43rd DB) from Page are two Mid-Tennessee under the radar prospects that show good action on film but need more work in several ways to gain more attention. Weber is a deceptively good athlete that displays fluid lower body movements but needs to get bigger while maintaining his speed to boost his overall game. Mulick has good size (6'2 190) and solid length that could flourish at safety but agility and speed are two areas that must be improved upon to see his game and recruiting stock reach new heights.    Looking back at the entire 2027 defensive back class, it's not too bad, especially when you look at its overall depth and the potential residing in some of the guys talked about above. This group may not look entirely strong right now but I think it can look much better by the end of the 2026 season. I expect plenty of defenders to not only improve this Fall but reach a level where they are getting bigger and better college looks.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/marsmith-crop-320x211-1779818582.jpg?w=320" alt="" class="wp-image-2216615" style="width:301px;height:auto" /></figure>