By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
Defensive backs are the final line of protection.
Along with defending the move, DBs help linemen and linebackers in stuffing the run and blitzing.
Immediately, as we proceed to rank the place teams within the West forward of the upcoming faculty soccer season, we have a look at the area’s high Defensive backfields.
1. Arizona State Solar Devils
The Solar Devils are loaded within the again third of the protection.
That is an elite secondary: ASU was twenty third within the nation with 4.93 passes defended per sport, and this yr the unit shall be even higher.
Keith Abney is usually a lock down nook and Javan Robinson will make it troublesome for offenses to push every part to his aspect. Xavion Alford is among the greatest safeties within the nation, and Myles Rowser offers them a formidable duo on the place.
Throw Nyland Inexperienced and Adrian Wilson into the combo with Kyndrich Breedlove plating the Nickel and this unit is extraordinarily deep and gifted.
2. Oregon Geese
The high participant in my particular person DB rankings was Oregon security Dillon Thieneman. The Purdue switch will anchor the again half of the Duck protection.
This unit misplaced rather a lot from final season however is loaded with playmakers. Ify Obidegwu is a star within the making at cornerback.
The opposite corners on the skin—Theran Johnson, Jahlil Florence, and Daylen Austin—can all make performs.
Kingston Lopa joins Thieneman at security to offer the Geese a dynamic one-two punch within the final line of protection.
3. Washington Huskies
I am a giant fan of Ephesians Prysock at nook; he has the dimensions and velocity to cowl anybody, and his size is unmatched. And he’s solely the second-best nook for the Huskies.
Tacario Davis will line up reverse and might shut down anybody. CJ Christian and Makell Esteen will man the protection spots together with Alex McLaughlin, three large hitters that may make performs.
UW averaged 4.5 passes defended per outing in 2024 and the passing protection was second within the nation.
The secondary is not going to be simple to throw in opposition to in 2025.
4. Utah Utes
Tao Johnson is de facto good behind the protection, and this secondary shall be anchored by the junior.
Don Saunders may present an immediate impression coming in from Texas A&M, whereas Smith Snowden is a ball hawk at nook and might match up within the slot.
Nate Ritchie may make performs and Jackson Bennee may turn into the following nice Utah DB after seeing motion totally on particular groups as a freshman.
The Utes all the time have good secondaries and 2025 ought to be no totally different.
5. USC Trojans
The Trojans have the items to provide a top-notch defensive backfield in 2025.
Bishop Fitzgerald is a hard-hitting security who could make performs. Pair him with Kamari Ramsey and Kennedy Urlacher, and the Trojans are loaded at security.
DJ Harvey is a playmaker on the skin and might disrupt issues within the run sport as effectively. Braylon Conoley, Prophet Brown, and DeCarlos Nicholson can match up and canopy.
The Trojans passing protection ought to be much-improved in 2025.
6. BYU Cougars
The Cougars led the nation final season in interceptions per sport with 1.69 and have been fifteenth within the nation with 5.15 passes defended per sport. Now, the LBs actually helped in that interception whole, however this BYU secondary is stout.
For the Cougars it actually is a case of the sum of its components outweighing any particular person. No particular person participant confirmed up on my checklist of the High 12 DBs within the West, however the unit can get issues executed. Raider Damuni could possibly be a star at security and Tanner Wall and Faletau Satuala shall be a superb match reverse.
Evan Johnson, Mory Bamba and Jonathan Kabeya could not bounce out at you when enthusiastic about dominant gamers on the nook place, however in addition they received’t get beat fairly often. The Cougar move protection ought to be very opportunistic as soon as once more in 2025.
7. Boise State Broncos
Jeremiah Earby is a star at cornerback and Ty Benefield is one of the best security within the Mountain West.
Add in one other potential First-Staff All-Mountain West decide on the different nook in A’Marion McCoy, together with Zion Washington as SS, and the Broncos have fairly the beginning 4 on the tail finish of their protection.
This was a unit that struggled at instances in 2024 however ought to be a lot improved this fall.
8. Fresno State Bulldogs
It looks like the Bulldogs are all the time producing good defensive backs.
This season, that unit shall be spearheaded by Al’zillion Hamilton at CB and Camryn Bracha at security. As a unit final season, Fresno state was 62nd within the nation in opposition to the move and ranked 18th with 1.2 interceptions per sport.
There may be depth at CB with Jakari Embry, Simeon Harris, and Jomarion Briggs, all in line to play reverse Hamilton.
Ethan Tierney and Jayen Davis will supply a stable second choice at security.
9. UCLA Bruins
UCLA had some points defending the move in 2024, however these points have been addressed within the portal.
Key Lawrence shall be a difference-maker for this protection at security. He’s a flexible participant who can do a number of issues for the Bruins. Kanye Clark and Andre Jordan ought to be stable cornerbacks.
The Bruins are rather a lot deeper at that place this yr with Scooter Jackson, Cole Martin, and Robert Stafford all capable of cowl receivers on the skin.
10. Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers are loaded with upperclassmen within the secondary and people juniors and seniors will step up for OSU.
Kobe Singleton, Mason White, and Exodus Ayers give the Beavs choices at CB. The safeties ought to be stable, with Skyler Thomas and Jaheim Patterson seeing many of the motion.
Oregon State was good in opposition to the move in 2024, giving up simply 214.1 yards per sport and ought to be stellar as soon as once more this fall.
11. San Jose State Spartans
The Spartans misplaced each beginning CBs from a protection that was second within the nation in interceptions per sport final season.
The lone returnee from that rotation is Jalen Bainer, and he has the possibility to be excellent.
The Spartans have an opportunity to be higher this season with extra depth within the defensive backfield, with Caleb Pressley and Isiah Revis each trying like All-Convention sort performers.
JT Taylor, Caleb Womack, Runye Norton, and Kejuan Bullard will all assist make the SJSU defensive backs one of many deepest models within the Mountain West.
12. Colorado Buffaloes
The Buffs clearly misplaced rather a lot at the back of the protection with Travis Hunter now suiting up for the Jags.
What they return on the place is DJ McKinney, and he was a workhorse for Colorado in 2024. Search for him to be the shutdown man this season with RJ Johnson, Makari Vickers, or Ivan Yates on the opposite aspect.
The center of the secondary shall be manned by a pair of massive hitters in Carter Stoutmire and Tawfig Byrd.
Byrd hits like a LB, can cowl like a DB, and has a nostril for the ball.
writes about numerous matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, faculty sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
