Five Ohio 2024 Defensive Backs Ready To Breakout

<strong>SS Reggie Powers (Centerville HS) 6'0 180-</strong> Powers is a long and athletic safety with room to continue to fill out.  Though he loves the big hit, he's a fundamentally sound tackler.  Powers' takes great pursuit angles and plays with strong instincts.  Schematically he's a guy who you're going to want in the box due to his playmaking and blitzability, but he has the speed and fluid hips to cover when needed.  As he gets more experience in man coverage, I think you could see him develop the ability to lineup at free or strong safety.  He plays in one of the better big school conferences in Ohio.  I think Powers will come onto recruiting radars very soon and I project him as a D1 Power 5 caliber player. Links:  <a href="https://twitter.com/reggie_powers">Twitter/</a><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14751982/618b21ee8cd5b50b5856e856">Hudl</a> &nbsp; <strong>S Zach Jones (London HS) 6'1 180- </strong> Zach Jones is a tough nosed safety that wide receivers fear when they're going into the air for the ball or running crossers.  He has great timing on his hits and plays on the ball when playing in space.  He's also strong in the run defense as he is able to shoot gaps and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.  Zach is a good receiver, but his natural instincts and timing are why I would project him to the defensive side of the ball at the college level.  While he is a safety right now, I think there is a chance he could grow into the outside linebacker position.   If genetics hold true, that wouldn't be a far stretch as Zach's older brother, Isaiah, is signed to play outside linebacker at Indiana this fall.  As Zach continues to grow and fill out, I could see him ascending to the D1 level as well. Links:  <a href="https://twitter.com/Zach_Jones_15">Twitter/</a><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14541110/61b7f3e68cde6c022ca9567f">Hudl</a> &nbsp; <strong>CB Ja'ontay O'Bryant (Mansfield HS) 6'0 170-  </strong>The first thing you notice when you turn on film for Ja'ontay O'Bryant are his instincts.  He loves to bait quarterbacks and then use his great break and ball skills to make a play on the ball.  O'Bryant plays pretty much exclusively soft cushion man coverage.  Time after time you see him use that cushion and his late break to step in front of the receiver and pick it off.  Not just is he able to intercept the ball he has the athleticism to flip the field.  His athleticism is also on display on special teams where he is on kick coverage and as a return man.   I think O'Bryant has a chance to be a D1 football player. Links:  <a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="https://twitter.com/JaontayO">Twitter/</a><a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14751982/618b21ee8cd5b50b5856e856">Hudl</a> &nbsp; <strong>CB Bryce West (Glenville HS) 6'0 180</strong>-  When you watch Bryce West on film you see a great combo of size and high-end athlete.  He can turn and run with receivers, and he can come up and make plays in run support.  Glenville has a history of producing big time Division 1 DB's.  Three examples would be Christian Bryant, Donte Whitner, and Marshon Lattimore who all went on to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Could West follow in their footsteps?  It's very possible.  While West just finished his sophomore season, he's already made enough of an impression to earn a scholarship offer to Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes.  He's also gotten offers from several other P5 schools such as Michigan State, Penn State, and Pitt.  I would expect those offers to continue to pile up next summer as West makes his way to the college camp tour.  He could really begin to explode onto the scene nationally. Links:  <a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="https://twitter.com/bryvonny">Twitter/</a><a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GAaAF">Hudl</a> &nbsp; <strong>DB Koy Beasley (LaSalle HS) 6'0 180-</strong>  When you watch Beasley on film what sticks out most are his speed and athleticism.  He transitions easily from his backpedal to full sprint.  He is very comfortable in space and covers a tremendous amount of ground.  His ability to quickly gain depth allows him to cover both the field and the boundry sides of the field making it extremely tough for opposing offenses to attack vertically.  I can already envision Beasley as a single high safety in a cover 3 somewhere at the D1 level.  While he's not a big hitter, he is a willing tackler in run support.  I can't wait to see how Beasley continues to develop and his recruiting process begins to take off. Links:  <a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="https://twitter.com/KoyBeasley">Twitter/</a><a style="background-color: #edeef0;" href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14807442/612e6bf6f5612002e8a85bf7">Hudl</a>