5 Shutdown Defensive Backs Ready to Make Noise in 2028

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1991411"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6d2f06d015b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1991411' first='Grayson' last='Schmell'] is a smooth athlete who plays well as a cornerback. In coverage, he shows a good ability to play both man-to-man and zone coverage. He is a playmaker who created two fumbles. He also shows good ball skills. If the ball is thrown near him, he usually makes a play on it, as he has 6 pass breakups. Schmell also showed good tackling ability, especially in the open field. He is a talented player in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Regular season highlights. Excited for playoffs!!<br><br>- 3 Interceptions tied 2nd in EPC (at corner)<br>-6 PBU's<br>-2 force fumbles<br>-23 tackles <br>- 0 TDS allowed ‼️<a href="https://t.co/3APmOYErRh">https://t.co/3APmOYErRh</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1991411' first='Grayson' last='Schmell'] (@Grayson_schmell) <a href="https://x.com/Grayson_schmell/status/1983436622076228043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624102"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6d2f06d0244"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1624102' first='Cole' last='Tancredi'] is a good strong safety. He does a superb job of playing in space. His ability to play in space and make the proper reads is impressive. He is a good run defender. He reads his keys well and comes upfield. He makes tackles in or near the line of scrimmage. He also shows a good job of covering in the flat as a pass defender. He also does a wonderful job of blitzing off the edge. Tancredi is a highly skilled player in the 2027 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Junior year highlights below<a href="https://t.co/hCjBePHt6R">https://t.co/hCjBePHt6R</a><br><br>Captain and 2 way starter <br>Stats this year <br>47 tackles <br>30 solo<br>6 TFL<br>1 sack<br>2 FF<br>1 FR <br>4 PBU<br>1 INT<br>1 blocked pat <a href="https://x.com/CoachA_Lemke?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachA_Lemke</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachHonick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHonick</a> <a href="https://x.com/DELCOFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DELCOFootball</a> <a href="https://x.com/__khaddy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@__khaddy</a> <a href="https://x.com/PRZVicCastillo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PRZVicCastillo</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1624102' first='Cole' last='Tancredi'] (@coletancredi23) <a href="https://x.com/coletancredi23/status/1983522721570189731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2105757"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6d2f06d031a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2105757' first='Zakaa' last='Cooper'] is a good cornerback in the 2028 class. He has good size (6'1") and athleticism. He is a prototypical cornerback. He does a good job in both man-to-man and zone coverage. In man-to-man, he shows good ability to match up against good wide receivers. Then, in coverage, he does a superb job of covering the deep ball and still coming upfield to make plays. He also shows a good ability to make tackles in the open field. Cooper is the rare taller cornerback (6'1"), and it helps him make plays all over the field. He is a talented cornerback in the 2028 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my end of the year sophomore defensive highlights.<a href="https://t.co/dfXi8wrBLJ">https://t.co/dfXi8wrBLJ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2105757' first='Zakaa' last='Cooper'] (@1_Zakaa) <a href="https://x.com/1_Zakaa/status/1983258575913812280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1894140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6d2f06d03ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1894140' first='Caleb' last='Portis'] is a good cornerback. He has excellent size (6'1") and speed. Playing for Fox Chapel, which struggled, Portis was a bright spot. He has the mindset of a linebacker playing cornerback. His ability to make tackles in the open field is impressive. He also shows good coverage skills with his ability to make plays. Portis is a highly skilled cornerback with a bright future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sophomore Season Highlights<br>2028 6'1” 170lbs<br>5A starter CB<br>43 Tckls 36 Solo 3 PBU<a href="https://x.com/theking1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theking1</a> @LIGSportsGroup <a href="https://x.com/210ths?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@210ths</a> <a href="https://x.com/kouniverse_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kouniverse_</a> <a href="https://x.com/PAELITE7v7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PAELITE7v7</a> <a href="https://x.com/PA_TodaySports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PA_TodaySports</a> <a href="https://x.com/BallHawkMedia1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BallHawkMedia1</a> <a href="https://x.com/wpialsportsnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wpialsportsnews</a> <a href="https://x.com/WPIAL_Insider?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPIAL_Insider</a> <a href="https://x.com/PRZVicCastillo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PRZVicCastillo</a> <a href="https://x.com/sixstarfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sixstarfootball</a> <a href="https://x.com/NextLevelAtFit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NextLevelAtFit</a> <a href="https://x.com/PAPrepVarsity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PAPrepVarsity</a> <a href="https://t.co/yvnEU6GF5T">pic.twitter.com/yvnEU6GF5T</a></p>&mdash; Caleb E Portis (@Caleb_Portis412) <a href="https://x.com/Caleb_Portis412/status/1982607995080224788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2159855"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6d2f06d04c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2159855' first='Mason' last='Noecker'] is a good free safety. He shows a terrific ability to make plays all over the field. He has a nose for the ball, as he had 4 interceptions last year. The 4 interceptions were great plays by him. He was able to read the play and make plays on the ball thrown near him. He also showed an adept ability to make tackles all over the field. Noecker is a terrific player in the 2028 class. His instincts and skills are excellent for a defensive back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my sophomore season highlights!!!<br>4 INT'S<br>55 Tot tackles<br> <a href="https://t.co/18p2xmPH1s">https://t.co/18p2xmPH1s</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2159855' first='Mason' last='Noecker'] (@noecker_mason) <a href="https://x.com/noecker_mason/status/2018438101212016971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->