2023 Defensive Backs

[TwentyTwo]

Thanks to White Lightning for his assistance trying to post pics correctly again. Not exact ; but hope it works..

Hard to believe it is July already!

Some talented White DB's coming up the ranks of College Football will be too good for the NFL / Combine to pass up., CB Cooper DeJean and Safety Cole Bishop have 1st Round potential in their futures! Not enough White DB's in the NFL; Pro Bowler Harrison Smith can not play forever. He will have to pass the torch to somebody,

Cooper DeJean (Jr) 6'-1" 207 Iowa
Preseason second-team All-America "Corner Back" by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele; Tremendous quick twitch athlete that breaks stereotypes
Music City Bowl MVP in '22; Set single season record with 3 INT return TD's . . . one of five sophomores named to 2022 Player Council.

Cole Bishop (Jr) 6'-2" 206 Utah
1st Team pre-season Pac-12 All-Conference ; Honorable Mention last season . 2nd Team Pre-season All American (Athlon's)
13 Starts as a Safety Led the team in tackles (83) and had the most TFL (6.0) in the secondary.Also defended four passes (one INT, three PBU) and made 1.5 sacks.Posted a career-high 12 tackles (0.5 TFL) and a QB hurry during the season opener at Florida.
Started 6 games his Freshman season! With some impressive stats including Blocked FG vs Oregon & Fumble recovery in Rose Bowl!
Back up Safety Nate Ritchie back from Two year mission ; could also make an impact



Beau Freyler (Jr.) 6'-2" 212 Iowa State
2022 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 ... played in 11 of 12 games, starting every game he played ... finished second on the team with 68 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for a loss ... ranked 18th among Big 12 players with 6.18 tackles per game
In '21 emerged as one of the Big 12’s top rookie defensive backs; 15 tackles tied for the third-most by a Cyclone in a bowl game and the most-ever by a freshman.

Hudson Clark (Sr.) 6'-2" 185 Arkansas
Free Safety (former WALK ON Corner Back)
Career 136 tackles ; 4 INT's 6 TFL ; 2 FR

Bryson Shaw (Sr.) 6-0 190 USC
Free Safety Last season had 50 tackles (5th on the team), including 1 for loss, plus 4 pass breakups, 1 INT and 1 fumble recovery
Also remember him for the bloody bridge of the nose in the Cotton Bowl
Career began at Ohio State

Jack Howell (Jr) 5'-10" 200 Colorado State
A first-team All-Mountain West selection; 108 Tackles ; 3 INT's last season
Dad played in the NFL

Makes for a solid Safety tandem with Henry Blackburn (included in past; will post pic later)

Justin Barron (Jr,) 6'-4" 220 Syracuse
Free Safety 3rd on team w 65 tackles ; 5 TFL ; 1 Fumble recovery

Have several more to add when get the time.

 

[white lightning]

Your an artist brother. I salute TwentyTwo!

 

[TwentyTwo]

Appreciate you WhiteLightning!

Many of the next round of DB's could have made it on the Top page had it not been so late.

Quinn Schulte (Sr.) 6'-1" 209 Iowa
Former WALK-ON is a Pre Season 2nd Team All Big 10 Athlon's; Thumper in the Secondary! Will light you up!
Nearly identical in size to team mate CB Cooper DeJean

Trevor Woods (Jr.) 6 '- 1 " 200 Colorado
Arguably the Buffs’ best defensive player in 2022.
From Katy TX (suburban Houston)

Cole Batson (Soph.) 6'-4" 209 Boston College
Projected Starting Free Safety;
Shined in 2 starts / spot duty as Freshman ; had an INT & 2 Pass Deflections ; including 9 Tackles vs N.C.State;
From southern California; Dad & Uncle played at Stanford



Dan Jackson (Sr.) 6'-1" 190 Georgia
Strong Safety suffered season ending injury (stress fracture in foot) last October,
Look for this former WALK ON to bounce back making an impact amongst the 5 Star recruits at DB
#17 is an outcast ; but don't count em out!

Jack Henderson (Sr.) 6'-3" 210 Minnesota...... former FCS Stud at SE Louisiana has NFL potential
Projected Starting Nickle Back Ourlads
33 career games • made 163 career tackles (93 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 13 pass breakups, 6 INT's, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery

And Freshman team mate Coleman Bryson (RS Fr.) 6'-2" 210 Minnesota
Currently listed 2nd Team
Check out his PICK SIX in the BOWL Game!

Coleman Bryson takes the INT 71 yards to the house - ESPN Video

Coleman Bryson jumps the route and returns the interception 71 yards for a Golden Gopher touchdown.

www.espn.com

Isaac Gifford (Jr.) 6'-1" 200 Nebraska
Starting Rover Back
10 starts as a Soph. 3rd on team 70 tackles ; 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack ; 3 pass breakups.

Mitch Leigber (Jr.) 6'-1" 202 Stanford
Projected Starting Free Safety
Moved from DB to RUNNING BACK ; making 4 starts to finish last season (due to season-ending injuries to the top 2 RB's)
Rushed for 2 TD's ...including 22 carries 83 yards + 7 rec 53 yards (136 All purpose yards) vs Cal
PAC 12 Academic Honor Roll



Asa Turner (Sr.) 6'-3" 206 Washington
All Pac 12 Honorable Mention
Free Safety Started 9 games in 2022 ..4th on team 52 total tackles despite missing 3 games due to injury ...had 2 INT's

Nick Andersen (Soph.) 5'-11" 194 Wake Forest
Missed entire '22 season due to injury .....Currently 2nd team Depth Chart
Former WALK ON historic rookie season tied 8th nationally w 4 INT's ... Also finished 30th in nation with 47 solo tackles
3 INT's 11 tackles vs VaTech



Henry Blackburn (Sr.) 6'-0 205 Colorado State
Starting Free Safety
Last season had a season-best 14 tackles at Boise State ;
5th on the team in tackles with 53
• His 8 pass breakups ranked 2nd on team
Formidable duo with Strong Safety Jack Howell

Hunter Wohler (Jr.) 6'-2" 211 Wisconsin
Projected Starting Free Safety (Our Lads?)...Strong Safety (Athlon Sports)
Loads of All Star potential...started one game last season
First INT vs. Maryland in his return from an injury (11/5) … made a season-high six tackles at Iowa (11/12) … made four tackles, one for a loss, vs. Minnesota (11/26)

Got a few more potential studs from the ACC currently 2nd team on their Depth Charts
Senior Free Safety Tyler Venables ( Clemson ) & Soph. Free Safety Will Hardy 6'-2" 215 ( UNC )

 

[Red Raider]

I must say, this has to be the best crop of DB’s we’ve had in a while! Low on CB’s compared to the previous years where there was usually at least 3 throughout the FBS. But great to see lots of starters, especially at some bigger school.

 

[Heralded_Defender]

Haven’t seen him mentioned on this site, maybe overlooked because of his name. Nevada transfer Tre Weed starter 36 games for Eastern Washington. Projected to start at Nickelback for Nevada but could play outside as well.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

not surprisingly in the modern world of the Caste System, Hudson Clark continues to be the underdog.

Clark, who is the Razorbacks’ best cover corner and their best playmaker at safety (he actually graded out as the SEC’s #2 coverage safety last season), didn’t get the start in their season opener. instead, the Hogs went with all upsiders at defensive black.

still, once he got on the field, Clark did what he seemingly always does; he made plays. he picked off the Razorbacks’ first pass of the season, which led to a snowball effect as they intercepted three more afterward, and he had a tackle for loss, as well as 2 solo tackles.

Clark was named a first-team all-SEC safety last season, he’s been named the National Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week twice in his career, and he has more interceptions than his defensive black teammates combined … yet he’s the guy coming off the bench.

makes total sense if you understand that “the best players play” isn’t always true.

 

[Leonardfan]

not surprisingly in the modern world of the Caste System, Hudson Clark continues to be the underdog.

Clark, who is the Razorbacks’ best cover corner and their best playmaker at safety (he actually graded out as the SEC’s #2 coverage safety last season), didn’t get the start in their season opener. instead, the Hogs went with all upsiders at defensive black.

still, once he got on the field, Clark did what he seemingly always does; he made plays. he picked off the Razorbacks’ first pass of the season, which led to a snowball effect as they intercepted three more afterward, and he had a tackle for loss, as well as 2 solo tackles.

Clark was named a first-team all-SEC safety last season, he’s been named the National Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week twice in his career, and he has more interceptions than his defensive black teammates combined … yet he’s the guy coming off the bench.

makes total sense if you understand that “the best players play” isn’t always true.

Great post! Caste System in a nutshell.

 

[SneakyQuick]

Amazing a guy with his potential wasnt highly recruited right??? Hah hah

Arkansas defensive back Hudson Clark may be the best walk-on in the country

Hudson Clark was named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy just a year after Grant Morgan won it for Arkansas.

razorbackswire.usatoday.com

 

[Bucky]

Clark must have been from a small town! Nope from Dallas/Fort Worth area that supposedly is a recruiting hotbed(for blacks)! Just a White CB getting the usual shaft.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Hudson Clark routinely put opposing receivers on “Hud Island” back in high school, a clever moniker referencing “Revis Island” the deserted location former all-Pro cornerback Derrell Revis would place wideouts he lined up to cover.

still, despite his high school accomplishments at a big high school in a supposed high priority recruiting area AND his strong showing on the collegiate field, he STILL gets the shaft. as Leonardfan said, caste system in a nutshell.

 

[Don Wassall]

"Jimmy Chitwood" has been one of the leading and most effective chroniclers of the Caste System for going on two decades now and still going strong. Cheers!

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

"Jimmy Chitwood" has been one of the leading and most effective chroniclers of the Caste System for going on two decades now and still going strong. Cheers!

thank you for the kind words, Don. it’s a shame such information is necessary, and an even bigger shame that more of our people aren’t aware of the insidious nature of the Caste System.

 

[Bucky]

HUD island is decent but Hudson Bay. Now that name might be here to stay! Good work as always JC your work on these positional threads drew me in all those years ago. Our player positional threads are always top notch. Good job to the CF lads.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Hudson Clark got the start for Arkansas at Ole Miss on Saturday, and he had a solid outing if without any forced turnovers (although he did have a nice tackle-for-loss in run support).

Clark, starting the game at slot corner (where he played almost exclusively, albeit with a few snaps at free safety late), was only targeted once in man coverage in the contest: he gave up a 9-yard completion on 3rd-and-14.

once again, he showed that he’s certainly the best cover man the Hogs can field, though he’s still a spindly, physically overmatched (but willing) defender in the running game. one wonders, in the absence of the Caste System, how the masses account for players like Clark being such a rarity.

 

[jimmyjerapolo]

Hudson Clark got the start for Arkansas at Ole Miss on Saturday, and he had a solid outing if without any forced turnovers (although he did have a nice tackle-for-loss in run support).

Clark, starting the game at slot corner (where he played almost exclusively, albeit with a few snaps at free safety late), was only targeted once in man coverage in the contest: he gave up a 9-yard completion on 3rd-and-14.

once again, he showed that he’s certainly the best cover man the Hogs can field, though he’s still a spindly, physically overmatched (but willing) defender in the running game. one wonders, in the absence of the Caste System, how the masses account for players like Clark being such a rarity.

Let's not forget he was a 0-star recruit with ZERO D1 offers despite being an all-state player in Texas. He was also a USA Today All-SEC selection last season and still struggled to get on the field this year. Cases like Hudson's should be highlighted for all the lurkers and skeptics.

 

[El Gringo]

Cody Schrader was a walk on at a damn division 2 school and now is excelling in the SEC as a runningback!

 

[jphoss]

It’s interesting how the worst defense being played in college football is in the SEC where the supposed best athletes play. And looking at their out of conference record to begin the year it’s not surprising they took plenty of L’s

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

in the Iowa-Wisconsin slugfest, two unheralded defensive backs had major impacts.

Wisconsin sophomore safety Preston Zachman was very physical, coming up big against the run. he finished the game with a team-high 6 solo tackles (9 total). more recognizable defensive backfield teammate Hunter Wohler was also superb, finishing with 5 solo tackles (7 total) and a pass breakup.

for Iowa, Cooper DeJean erased half of the field (as usual), but it was mestizo defensive backfield mate Sebastian Castro who showed out. Castro finished tying for a team-high 7 tackles, had 2 tackles-for-loss (one resulting in a safety), an interception, and forced 2 fumbles that he wasn’t credited for in the stat sheet. dude was all over the field!

 

[Bucky]

in the Iowa-Wisconsin slugfest, two unheralded defensive backs had major impacts.

Wisconsin sophomore safety Preston Zachman was very physical, coming up big against the run. he finished the game with a team-high 6 solo tackles (9 total). more recognizable defensive backfield teammate Hunter Wohler was also superb, finishing with 5 solo tackles (7 total) and a pass breakup.

for Iowa, Cooper DeJean erased half of the field (as usual), but it was mestizo defensive backfield mate Sebastian Castro who showed out. Castro finished tying for a team-high 7 tackles, had 2 tackles-for-loss (one resulting in a safety), an interception, and forced 2 fumbles that he wasn’t credited for in the stat sheet. dude was all over the field!

Nice to see Zachman seize the other starting safety job away from the Poly rapist, Latu! Thought he had a fine game in run support. Wohler played well as usual, best Badger Defender this year.

DeJean gave up a 20+ yard pass early in the game. After that nada. He also didn’t have much room returning due to Wohler being 1st guy down there everytime in his face.

Castro absolutely drilled Allen on that 2nd forced fumble. Dude can hit!

Schulte had a bit of a rough game though he’ll bounce back.

Seeing so many overachieving DBs was probably the high light of seeing this game in person.

 

[Leonardfan]

@Jimmy Chitwood - any updates on Hudson Clark? Did you get to see him this weekend?

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

@Jimmy Chitwood - any updates on Hudson Clark? Did you get to see him this weekend?

@Leonardfan i wasn’t able to watch the Razorblacks last week due to real life commitments, unfortunately.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

okay, legitimate question here: how are White people so foolish/naive/misguided/convinced that there aren’t any White athletes “good enough” to play corner at the Division I level?

here’s a case study using the profile of an actual Division I starting cornerback who is projected to be second-team all-conference this season:

as a collegiate junior, this player is officially listed at 5-foot-8, 177 lbs (yet he’s not too small). he was recruited by multiple D-1 programs out of high school where as a senior he totaled 1,377 all-purpose yards (496 rushing, 343 receiving, 418 punt returns, 80 kickoff returns) and scored 12 touchdowns on offense and credited with 27 tackles (three for loss), picked off a pair of passes, and forced two fumbles. his most explosive play was a punt of 64 yards (but despite these pedestrian numbers he had numerous offers). he also ran track, but he wasn’t fast enough to be a sprinter. instead, he was a decent but not outstanding 21-foot + long jumper (yet he’s still somehow plenty fast to play corner and return kicks).

this is the actual athletic profile of Sean Fresch, by all accounts a solid football player for Rice University (he was conference all-freshman team in 2021).

there are literally hundreds (thousands?) of White athletes who have better measurables, both physically and statistically, yet don’t get offered a single D-1 athletic scholarship to play cornerback. would someone who denies that the Caste System exists please justify this to me?

 

[backrow]

Is Jack Howell John's son? He was Bucs safety during their Super Bowl year and around it. Mostly backup to John Lynch, but started some as well.

 

[Leonardfan]

Is Jack Howell John's son? He was Bucs safety during their Super Bowl year and around it. Mostly backup to John Lynch, but started some as well.

Yep he is John's son.