Behind the Rankings: 2024 Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">The 2022 high school football season is in full swing and we have released our initial player rankings for the state of Kentucky. Now that I have covered the class of 2023, I will now turn my attention to the top incoming junior prospects in Kentucky. After covering the offensive side of the ball, I have moved my attention to the defensive side of the ball this week. I will now wrap up the top defensive prospects in the junior class by focusing on the skilled play makers on the back end of the defense. With that being said, here are our top defensive backs in the class of 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632ced623ae8e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408049"],"_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_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408049' first='Jeremiah' last='Lowe'] is not only the top defensive back in his class but one of the top players in the entire state as we have him as the fifth ranked overall prospect in the class of 2024. Lowe lines up on the outside at corner and truly locks down his side of the field. He has shown that he can be relied on in both man and zone coverage as he thrives in both. In man coverage, he has the ability to open up and run with receivers while staying in their hip pocket and mirroring their routes. When the ball is thrown his way, he shows great timing in breaking on the ball to come away with interceptions. He also does a great job of fighting across the intended receiver's body to knock down passes. Lowe currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, Michigan, and Missouri, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a true Power 5 level talent at corner.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["408040"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408040' first='JT' last='Haskins'] is another Lexington area defensive back that I have been high on for a while now. He is currently ranked right behind Lowe as our sixth overall player in the class of 2024. Haskins is a true ball hawk at safety with the ability to read the quarterback and route concepts, and time his break on the ball perfectly. He shows the speed to cover ground in a hurry and catch interceptions in stride, taking them back for touchdowns on a regular basis. Haskins also shows some physicality in his game with the ability to come downhill and lay hits on intended receivers to knock the ball loose. JT currently holds offers from Louisville, Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Akron, and Tennessee Tech, and I expect more to come as I believe he has the skill set to play safety for a Power 5 program.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["422905"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Lining up on the opposite side of Lowe in the very talented Frederick Douglass secondary is [player_tooltip player_id='422905' first='Terrion' last='Hicks']. Hicks is a physical corner that is tremendous in run support. He shows the willingness to come downhill in a hurry against the run and explodes through contact once he gets to the ball carrier. Like Lowe, Hicks shows the ability to thrive in both man and zone coverage. When the ball is thrown his way, Hicks shows the ability to break on the ball with perfect timing to make plays. Terrion currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Northwestern, and that list will continue to grow as he has received a ton of college interest and is yet another Power 5 caliber prospect on the Broncos defense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["423718"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A defensive back that has jumped onto my radar recently is safety [player_tooltip player_id='423718' first='Malik' last='Summers'] from Warren East. Summers plays the free safety role and does a great job of covering a lot of ground on the back end. He is very fluid in his drops and does a great job of reading route combinations and the quarterback in order to put himself in a position to make plays. When the ball is thrown anywhere close to him, Summers has the ball skills to go up and catch interceptions at the highest point. Summers also is reliable in run support as he does a great job of filling the lane and is a very good tackle in the open field. While Summers doesn't currently hold any official offers, he is a player to watch over the next two seasons as he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["381924"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='381924' first='Sam' last='Wright'] is an under-the-radar safety that I am very high on and believe deserves more recognition. He is coming off a solid sophomore season in which he finished with 70 total tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. Wright stood out to me against the run as he does a great job of reading the play and coming downhill to fill the running lane. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does runs his feet on contact and does a good job of securing the tackle. In pass coverage, Wright has great route recognition skills and shows the ability to react at the right time to make plays on the ball. Sam doesn't currently hold any offers but I believe that he is another name to keep an eye on as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">Best of the Rest (Players included in Top 125):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">6. [player_tooltip player_id='381927' first='Parker' last='Chaney']| 6'0", 180 lbs.| Lexington Christian Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">7. [player_tooltip player_id='423795' first='Elijah' last='Clinkscale']| 5'10", 160 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">8. [player_tooltip player_id='408036' first='Troy' last='Humphreys']| 6'1", 180 lbs.| Kentucky Country Day School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">9. [player_tooltip player_id='408044' first='Isaiah' last='Watts']| 5'11", 170 lbs.| Bryan Station High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">10. [player_tooltip player_id='381889' first='Josiah' last='Eubanks']| 6'0", 190 lbs.| Fern Creek High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">11. [player_tooltip player_id='313662' first='Amare' last='Martin']| 5'11", 150 lbs.| Murray High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">12. [player_tooltip player_id='381906' first='Wick' last='Dotson']| 5'10", 180 lbs.| Bowling Green High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">13. [player_tooltip player_id='313650' first='Nasir' last='Muhammad']| 6'0", 155 lbs.| Louisville Male High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">14. [player_tooltip player_id='381936' first='John' last='Croley']| 6'0", 180 lbs.| Whitley County High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">15. [player_tooltip player_id='423719' first='Ramari' last='Taylor']| 6'1", 165 lbs.| Fern Creek High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->