2029 Stock-Risers: Back Seven Defenders

We just released our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2029-north-carolina-high-school-football-rankings/">updated 2029 rankings</a>, and we've already gone <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2029-rankings-spring/">behind the scenes</a> of this update's creation. We had 20 stock risers in a new-player-heavy update, so we're going through the players who rose in the rankings. Let's look at the back seven defenders: the linebackers and defensive backs who moved up in our 2029 rankings update.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2029 Linebacker and Defensive Back Stock-Risers</h2>   Editor's Note: Check out our other coverage from our 2029 rankings update rollout:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/2029-skill-position-stock-risers/">Skill Position Stock-Risers</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2029-rankings-spring/">Behind the Scenes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/2029-stock-risers-big-men-in-the-trenches/">Trenches Stock-Risers </a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/newly-ranked-2029-qbs-and-rbs/">Newly-Ranked QBs/RBs</a>    Ikard is one of my favorite pure defensive backs in a strong class. As a safety surrounded by talent, he was targeted often as a freshman and rose to the occasion. Duke and Kent State stepped in earlier this spring with offers, and we think that as he continues to grow, more will come. I'm interested to see exactly where he plays next year, but wherever he ends up, he'll make an impact.     I <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/future-2029-stock-risers-defense/">predicted back in February</a> that Nesby would ultimately move up our rankings in this update, as he's one of the most versatile athletes in the class. He's a multi-sport athlete with versatility to play both sides of the ball and versatility within the defensive backfield. He's at his best in space, when he can read and react. When he gets the ball, he's electric and he's shown every early sign that he'll be a big-time recruit.     Baker is one of the top players in the state, regardless of position. He moved over to Robinson this year after thriving at Northwest Cabarrus as a freshman. Given the state of the Bulldogs' backfield, I think he'll primarily live on the defensive side of the ball, where his coverage skills are evident. I'm not sure if he'll ultimately end up as a safety or a corner, but his versatility is key at the high school level.     Green didn't play a ton as a freshman, but he has elite upside, ranking first among defensive backs in the class. He's been fantastic this offseason. As a sophomore, we expect him to break out on Friday nights. His elite length and speed mean he should immediately make an impact in the starting lineup. With his ball skills, don't be surprised if he picks off some passes, too.     Smith will move to Middle Creek this offseason after a promising freshman year at Willow Spring. He's a hybrid linebacker-safety prospect who will likely play closer to the line of scrimmage this year after putting on some weight this offseason. He brings a different skill set than the other Middle Creek linebackers, so I'm interested to see how he fits there. That said, I love his athletic upside.     Playing behind a strong defensive line, Johnson was excellent at swooping in and cleaning up the mess in the running game. He's a strong, reliable tackler with great size. If a player has those two things going for him, it's usually a good indication he'll eventually end up as a talented recruit. He made some great plays down the field, and with Dudley's leading tackler departing, I think we'll see him make more plays near the line of scrimmage as a sophomore.    There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2029 rankings. 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. Team preview season is beginning soon! Coaches, fill out our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeB9YBH_he_sOP-lhvI26XRh0P9vobS8PsVJy_5QCJ4jQLTvQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118251332469799088451">team preview info sheet</a> so we can properly cover your athletes.

We just released our updated 2029 rankings, and we've already gone behind the scenes of this update's creation. We had 20 stock risers in a new-player-heavy update, so we're going through the players who rose in the rankings. Let's look at the back seven defenders: the linebackers and defensive backs who moved up in our 2029 rankings update.