The Watch List- 2026 DBs Ready To Dominate This Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome back to The Watch List! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have some lockdown 2026 DBs across the state who have really caught our attention recently- and trust me, you're going to want to look out for them this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, make sure you check out their film below! We have so much talent in the state, and these kids deserve more eyes!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1679664"],"_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-6833c4fa679db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1679664' first='Antoine' last='Sledge'] is a lockdown DB out of Daphne who has been really impressing in the recruiting world in the last few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opposing QBs on Daphne's schedule- you're going to want to circle #5. [player_tooltip player_id='1679664' first='Antoine' last='Sledge'] is a certified DUDE in coverage with great ball skills, hands, and timing he uses to break up and pick off passes all over the field. On top of his skills in coverage, Sledge flies downhill to provide great run support- he's quick, is a reliable tackler, and can make some really impressive plays in pursuit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's clear Sledge is a big leader in Daphne's secondary. I loved watching how he communicated and orchestrated things pre-snap, he's got a great understanding of what his defense needs to do every time he's on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past month, Sledge has picked up offers from North Alabama, Arkansas State, and West Alabama!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure you check out Sledge's tape below, he's a talented DB with a huge season ahead:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18464820/6734d33a6123e6ab092246af' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6833c4fa67b93"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1679668"],"_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-6833c4fa67be3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1679668' first='Deitric' last='Young'] is a really talented DB out of Woodlawn who has seen his stock rise a bunch over the last month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's one guy you do not want to meet head-on, it's Dietric Young. He's a physical, aggressive DB who can dish out massive hits to the ballcarrier, put pressure on the QB, and defend the run at a really high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young is really athletic- he has great speed, instincts, and skills in pursuit he uses to fly around the field and create stops. I'm especially impressed with what he can do down by/behind the line of scrimmage- he easily slips by blockers to meet and wrap up the ballcarrier for little to no gain almost every play. I loved what I saw in Young's tape, he's an enforcer type who demands attention from offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recently, Young has picked up offers from UT Martin, FAMU, North Alabama, and more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out some of Young's tape below, he and this Woodlawn defense are set for a HUGE year this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16479155/68339b6a1a6c126b6e755a75' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6833c4fa67c09"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1679673"],"_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-6833c4fa67c4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1679673' first='James' last='Jackson'] is a talented DB out of McGill Toolen who made tons of plays out in their secondary last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1679673' first='James' last='Jackson'] is a versatile corner who can line up and produce in both man and zone coverage. He's quick on his feet, isn't easily baited, and has the play recognition/instincts to always be near the ball making an impact. I was really impressed with Jackson's skills in coverage, he's physical and has great timing, hands, and ball skills he uses to track and make plays on the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is just as impressive against the urn. He's a willing tackler who doesn't shy away from contact and frequently stops RBs from breaking off huge gains in the open field. There's a lot to like with Jackson's tape, I think he'll have a huge year this upcoming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last fall, Jackson recorded 25 total tackles, 6 PBUs, one INT, and 2 FRs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out some of what Jackson did in his junior season below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21766891/675dd7d05b45ca7238aa46c5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6833c4fa67c70"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1335014"],"_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-6833c4fa67cb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1335014' first='Clinton' last='Smith III'] is a talented DB out of Auburn who is set up for a huge senior season this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith III is a versatile DB who does a lot of great things for Auburn's defense. AT 6'0 170, he has great size, speed, and instincts he uses to fly around the field and create stops both out in coverage and against the run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think I'm most impressed with how Smith plays the run. He's quick to react, flies downhill, and fills in rushing lanes/pursues after the RB to consistently make some really huge stops down near the line of scrimmage. Smith was a huge piece of Auburn's talented defense last fall, it'll be exciting seeing what he can do in his senior season this upcoming fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure you watch some of Smith's junior season below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16709324/677c2da3f0659bf234a708e2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6833c4fa67cd2"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158051"],"_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-6833c4fa67d13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1158051' first='Chimenum' last='Ajinwo'] is a lockdown DB out of Pelham who has strengthened their secondary a ton over the last few seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right off the bat, it's clear Ajinwo has a high football IQ. He's a really smart defender who constantly knows where he needs to be to make plays, and is super quick to react to opposing offenses. When you pair his intelligence with his speed and tackling, you've got a guy who is going to present your offense with a LOT of problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really love watching Ajinwo attack the run. He flies downhill, gets low, and wraps up the ball carrier down by the line of scrimmage, and way downfield to prevent scoring plays. Ajinwo can also easily take away one of your pass catchers- he's really talented in coverage and rarely has QBs throw in his direction with how much he sticks to WRs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ajinwo has some really impressive tape from last year you can check out below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18097911/672be975742f7fc5272591b3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6833c4fa67d35"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->