2024 Defensive Backs

TwentyTwo

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Last season only Two DB's were selected in the '24 NFL Draft...but BOTH went in the 2nd Round!!
Corner Back Cooper Dejean (Iowa/ Eagles 40th overall) & Cole Bishop (Utah/ Bills 59th)
.........Dejean was the highest white Corner Back taken since Brian Davis-Nebraska 1987/ 30th pick 2nd Round (back when NFL had only 28 teams)
/ Tory Nixon 1985 /33rd pick; Jason Sehorn 1994 / 2nd Round 59th pick) are a few others higher picks; Dustin Fox 2005 (3rd Round/80th) was moved to Safety
Dejean's team mate at Iowa Riley Moss was 2023 Draft was the first White CB taken in the NFL Draft (3rd / 83rd Broncos)

This '24 season looks to have "more depth" . Hunter Wohler should be a Day 2 NFL Draft pick; But would like to see more DB's than just TWO like this year;(but they were BOTH heavy hitters) How many NFL Drafts in the past have had ZERO White DBs Drafted at all?? Or just One??
Would like to see an average of at least 5!!

Interesting that 3 of the 10 DBs shown wear the number #17

Hunter Wohler (Sr.) 6'-2" 215 Wisconsin
1st Team All-Big Ten (AP), Led the Badgers and all Big Ten DB's with 120 total tackles, most for a Badger DB since 1991.
was the only DB in the country to have 110+ tackles and multiple interceptions … totaled 74 solo tackles, the most of any DB in the nation!
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Dillon Thieneman (Soph.) 6'-0 205 Purdue
2023 Freshman All American ; started in all 12 games! Ranked 3rd nationally in INT's (6) & solo tackles (74), leading all freshmen and setting new Purdue freshman records ; Led the team with 106 tackles, ranking fifth in the Big Ten among all players and the most by any freshman in the country
Athlon's Pre-Season 1st Team All Big 10 ; 2nd Team All American!
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Jack Howell (Sr.) 6'- 0 200 Colorado State
Last year 1st Team All-Mountain West • Bronko Nagurski ; Chuck Bednarik & Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Led the team in tackles with 114, including 50 solo stops • Finished 2nd in the Mountain West in total tackles
Dad John won Super Bowl with Tampa Bay Bucs
Forms a Talented Safety duo with heavy hitting Henry Blackburn shown #11 (Grad.) 6'-0 205
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Quinn Schulte (Grad.) 6'-1" 209 Iowa
Former WALK-ON is a Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate… Athlon preseason 2nd team All-Big Ten.
Started at Free Safety in all 14 games… recorded 65 tackles (40 solo, 25 assists), including 2.5 tackles for a loss of nine yards, ranked 4th on team this season… also had 1 INT for 39 yards, 4 pass break-ups on the season…
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Hudson Clark (Sr.) 6'-2" 190 Arkansas
Former WALK-ON Corner Back; now a Free Safety
2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Last season 1st Team Academic All-America
Recorded 51 tackles with a career-best 4.5 tackles for loss, 4 PBU's; one fumble recovery, a half sack ; 5 career INTs
Redshirt Freshman(Covid) year had an incredible 3 INT game vs Ole Miss at CB
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Dan Jackson (Sr.) 6.- 1" 190 Georgia
Former WALK ON ; Missed some time due to Foot Injury
Projected Starting " Strong Safety " enters Senior season w 73 tackles ; 2 Forced Fumbles ; 2 INTs ; 2 Pass deflections
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Isaac Gifford (Sr.) 6 '- 1" 205 Nebraska
2023 started all 12 games; led team with a career-high 86 tackles, becoming the first Husker DB to have 80 tackles in a season since Nathan Gerry in 2014; also ranked 2nd on the team with a career-high 8 pass breakups and finished with a career-high 6.5 tackles for loss and one interception.
An honorable-mention All-Big Ten pick
Older brother Luke plays in the NFL
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Justin Barron (Sr.) 6'-4" 231 Syracuse
Converted WR is one of the largest DB's in the nation! 34 career Starts
Enters the 2024 season ranked 15th in program history for tackles by a DB (201) , 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles & 2 fumble recoveries
...Team captain during training camp played the majority of this past season with an injury that required him to wear a cast when he played.
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Nate Ritchie (Soph.) 6'-2" 208 Utah
Projected Starting Strong Safety to take over for Cole Bishop mentioned above ..
made 3 starts last season ;Tied a career-high with 7 stops (0.5 TFL) vs. Northwestern in the Las Vegas Bowl. Contributed an 8 -yard sack ; 4 tackles vs. Cal.
2020: Started all 5 games as a TRUE Freshman during COVID shortened season; then went on 2 year Mission
Led the secondary with 28 total tackles (4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack), adding one fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Career-high seven tackles against Washington. Six tackles (1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) against No. 21 Colorado, also recovering a fumble in the game … five tackles (1.0 TFL against Oregon State and USC Five tackles (1.0 TFL) and a pass breakup against Washington State.
Dad played at BYU
2020 pic with Wazzu RB Max Borghi
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Did not include talented Iowa CB Sebastian Castro considered Latino? He's a caste buster too....

Should have more posted in the coming days and weeks! Happy 4th!
Made a list of 37 DBs..this was the "10 " that came up first........
 
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TwentyTwo

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Thanks for the encouraging words y'all !

Here's some more talented DB's across the land in no particular order.

Scottie Edwards (Jr.) 6'-1" 205 Stanford
Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Started 10 games ; before missing the final two games
Tied for the team lead 2 INTs ; Finished season with 45 tackles
From Utah
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Wyett Ekeler (Sr.) 5'- 11" 200 Wyoming
Free Safety Honorable Mention All-MWC by the coaches & media ; 3rd team Phil Steele.
3rd on team 77 tackles; 49 solo stops & 28 assisted tackles. 5.5 TFL's ; 2 Sacks. 2 INTs one for TD vs. Nevada. Tied for team lead 7 PBU's; 2 forced fumbles ; recovered one fumble.
Starred as RB in HS, rushing for 1,435 yards and 22 TDs as a senior. Yet, the Cowboys viewed him as a DB — even though he virtually hadn’t played defense before — and Ekeler met the challenge head-on.
Younger 1/2 brother of RB Austin Ekeler
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Beau Freyler (Sr.) 6'-2" 220 Iowa State
Co-Captain (2023) ; 2nd Team All-Big 12 - Associated Press (2023)
Last season Started all 13 games, running his consecutive games started streak to 22 games ... finished with 107 tackles, becoming the first Cyclone to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2017 ... tied for fourth among Big 12 players for tackles .. 4.0 TFL 's & 1 Sack ... led ISU in tackles in 9 of 13 games ... posted 5 games with 10-plus tackles ; 3 INTs ; 5 PBU's ... matched career high with 15 tackles vs. K-State
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Cole Batson (RS Jr.) 6'- 4" 208 Boston College
Started 8 games at Free Safety ;played in 10 total games before missing final 3 due to injury… collected 37 tackles ; INT ; 2 PBUs on the season…From southern California ; only White player on the BC Defense
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Jack Henderson (Sr.) 6'-2" 215 Minnesota...former FCS Transfer from SE Louisiana
Started 7 games and still LED TEAM in Tackles with 59 ! added 5 TFL's , 1 Sack, 2 INTs & 1 PBU
Also standout LaCrosse player; has NFL potential
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Coleman Bryson (RS Soph.) 6'-2 " 215 Minnesota
2023 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in 13 games • saw most of his action on special teams, but played more on defense toward the end of the season ; Redshirt season had a 70 yard TD INT vs Syracuse in 2022 Pinstripe Bowl to earn MVP honors
From Georgia
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Nick Andersen (Jr.) 5'-11" 194 Wake Forest
Former WALK ON ...All ACC 3rd team as a True Freshman 2020 w 4 INTs (8th Nationally in Covid year) ; Not sure he's been the same since missing '22 season due to Injury
Early Mock NFL Draft in '23 had em going 5th Round to Bears
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Bryson Shaw (Sr.) 6'- 0 190 former Ohio State Transfer
Now listed 2nd team; despite being 4th on the team in Tackles last year ; a UCLA transfer wit dat upside is listed #1 ahead of Shaw according to the dweeb experts
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TwentyTwo

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THANKS Ximasa! Remember that name is the HS recruiting...he was listed as a "Safety" ...glad Iowa continues to give opportunities to White Corner Backs! And hopefully RS Freshman Teegan Davis can climb the Depth Chart in the future too!

Iowa now has another white kid CB! JOHN NESTOR !!!

John Nestor (Soph.) 5' - 11" 196 Iowa
1st Team Corner Back...Brings lots of Energy!
From Illinois
Here compared to Riley Moss





Wrook Brown ( Jr.) 5'- 11" 187 Wyoming.....Corner Back (Nickleback)
11 starts last season ; 3 INTs (6th in MWC) ; 47 Tackles ; 4 PBU's ; Forced Fumble
From Texas
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Trevor Woods (Sr.) 6 - 2 " 205 Colorado
NOT SURE WHY ?? Converted from Safety to LB against Stanford......Now listed at LB
If he gets the chance in the NFL? Gotta think he will move back to SAFETY @ 205 lbs
The Only White Starter on Defense ...3rd on team w 56 Tackles despite missing 3 games due to Injury
3 INTs .....3 star recruit From Texas...one of the few holdovers from the old Colorado team
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Asa Turner (Sr.) 6 '- 3" 210 Florida (Washington Transfer)
Versatile athlete missed abt half last season due to injury
Pac-12 Honorable Mention in '22 ; Three-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
From California....saw Ricky Pearsall leave the PAC 12 for the SEC ; maybe worth a try!
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Talan Alfrey (Jr.) 6'-2" 205 BYU
Named to Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Played in final three games after return from injury; 10 Tackles vs. Oklahoma!
Freshman season Recorded 41 tackles; 3 PBUs
From Washington
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Michael Taaffe (Jr.) 6'- 0 195 Texas
Former WALK-ON 2023 .....Honorable mention All-Big 12
In a Battle for Starting position (see Leonardfan Longhorns write up) 10 Career Starts so far ;
Last season 48 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 TFLs , 3 INTs , 2 PBUs & one blocked punt … intercepted passes in three consecutive games against Houston, BYU and Kansas State! First Longhorn to do that since 2017!
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TwentyTwo

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Have to include Mid Major ; FCS & D2 DB's too!
Somewhat encouraged by the DB Depth this season.......

Maxen Hook (Sr.) 6'-0 203 Toledo
Last season First-team All-MAC...Third straight year making an All-MAC team...Tied for 3rd in MAC with 3 INTs...3rd on team with 69 tackles.
The NFL is gonna give em a look.
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Tanner Volk (Sr.) 6'-1" 175 Central Washington
VIDEO Game Stats!
Led the entire NCAA and tied a CWU single-season record for INT's with 13! ... Led all of NCAA Division II and finished 3rd in CWU single-season history with 124 tackles..
First ever Wildcat and junior to win the Cliff Harris Award... Harlon Hill finalist... CCA Ron Lenz National Defensive Player of the Year... Don Hansen National Defensive Player of the Year... D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Year...1st Team All-American for the AFCA, AP, D2CCA, D2Football.com
Thanks to Leonardfan for including him on Senior Bowl Watch List for NFL Scouts
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Cole Wisneiwski (Sr.) 6'- 4" 218 North Dakota State
Out 8 - 10 Weeks (Foot surgery) ; Will he Redshirt??
Bison Top Defender ! Good size at Safety has NFL site possible 2nd position OLB
Consensus 1st team FCS All-American in his first year playing Safety after three seasons at LB...Started 14 games,
8 INT's (including 75 yard TD); tying the Missouri Valley Football Conference and NDSU single-season records...Also led NDSU with 92 total tackles and 5 pass breakups...Credited with 2.0 tackles for loss and one forced fumble...
Wisconsin native
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Will Brooks
(Sr) 6'-1 " 206 Tennessee
Former WALK-ON ; Don's Vols new Write up has him Starting; had em on my 2nd team list ; saw him play some last season; had to look up WHO is #35? Only White Defender
Saw action in 10 games with one start and played 189 defensive snaps on the season, primarily at STAR and safety … Made his first-career start (STAR) in the regular-season finale vs. Vanderbilt (11/25) and led the team with a career-high eight tackles, including one TFL, in the victory over the Commodores ... Played a career-high 70 defensive snaps while filling in at the STAR position against No. 1 Georgia (11/18), racking up six tackles in the contest
Alabama native
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Others to WATCH for ....
Tate Hallock Western Michigan
Alexander Tuebner Boise State
Gunner Maldanado (white?) Arizona
Dayne Hodge Tulsa
Jordan Hansen No. Illinois

Also keep an eye on 2nd Teamer's ?
Tristan Dunn Washington
Erik McCarthy Oklahoma
Will Hardy UNC
CB Jack Luttrell Arizona
Bray Hubbard Alabama
Luke Talich Notre Dame
 

Leonardfan

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SJSU DB Robert Rahimi had a nice game last night - 9 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack, 1 TFL. Another to watch!
 

TwentyTwo

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I saw him and thought he (Rahmini) was Arabic....sometimes this Caste stuff can get difficult where i need a round-table panel discussion. Who to include and who NOT to include


SJSU DB Robert Rahimi had a nice game last night - 9 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack, 1 TFL. Another to watch!


Shout out to Heralded Defender making UC-Davis thread
Another FCS stud DB

Rex Connors (Jr.) 6'-1" 210 UC -Davis
17 career pass delections & 6 INTs; 149 tackles ; 6.5 TFLs
The NFL should give em a look in 2026 !
Possibly a Andrew Wingard situation ; undrafted ; makes the 53 man roster; who's to say he wont get a few starts?
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TwentyTwo

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Thanks for posting that literally just watched Bray Hubbard's INT on local TV sports replay.
Deserves his own pic

Bray Hubbard (Soph.) 6'-2" 204 Alabama
Has a nose for the ball!
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Following the SEC most all my life since about 2nd grade...trying to remember when was the last time the SEC had this many white starting DBs making an impact ? Its been a good while! ....well now the SEC is 16 teams ; but still a positive
4 of the 5 WALK-ON's??
Dan Jackson ...UGA
Will Brooks ...Tennessee
Bray Hubbard ...Alabama
Hudson Clark...Arkansas
Michael Taaffe ....Texas

Meanwhile his ex team mate DB Jake Pope now at UGA ; taking some heat for celebrating w Ole Miss fans after the big loss
 
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