We cap off the 2024 class this week ending it with a loaded 2024 defensive back class. This is by far one of the most highly talented classes, it was extremely hard to narrow down the list, but enough talking let’s dive right into the top-ranked 2024 defensive back recruits in Texas.
#25.Peyton Morgan (24) | 6′, 170 | S | Weiss
Peyton is a ball hawk who could raise his stock significantly very soon. This is an FBS prospect who can come downhill and lay the lumber on defenders or turn his head around and make a play on the football. FBS caliber athlete with a high ceiling for success.
#24.Ashton Williams (24) | 6′, 175 | DB | Byron Nelson
Ashton shows more ability to get off blocks and make tackles in the run game. Possesses a ton of potential as a jammer. Uses frame to advantage and plays a physical style of coverage. Hold offers to Arizona, Texas Tech, and Kanas State.
#24.Kerry Williams (24) | 5’10, 165 | CB | South Oak Cliff
Kerry is an elite playmaker who can undercut passes and come downhill to lay the lumber on defenders. Shows excellent closing speed, and can make the big plays and break-up passes. FBS caliber prospects with a high ceiling.
#23.Paul Mencke Jr. (24) | 6’2, 175 | S | Samuel Clemens
Paul can flatten ball carriers. Shows a high motor and pursuit when he comes downhill from that safety position and can stop plays from ever developing. Special athlete with division I size and talent.
#22.Damani Maxson (24) | 6′, 170 | DB | Clear Lake
Tall, long free safety prospect with elite frame potential relative to the position. Long arms, plays wells against run and pass. Looks like the knockout hit coming downhill with great velocity and speed. With more film, this FBS caliber athlete could raise his stock significantly this season.
#21.Gideon Strickland (24) | 6’2,175 | DB | Cypress Woods
Gideon has excellent awareness of the field, shows great closing speed, and is very physical at the point of contact. Has long arms, and a lengthy athletics frame. Shows he can trail receivers and make a play on the ball. FBS caliber athlete with all the intangibles and skills.
#20.Kenyan Kelly (24) | 6’1, 180 | S | Denison
Kenyan is a run-stopping defensive back who can lay defenders outcrossing his path in the middle of the field. Gots the big hit capabilities and athleticism with speed to make big-time plays all over the field for Denison. Holds offer to Arkansas, Marshall, and Oklahoma
#19.Bailey Fletcher (24) | 6′, 170 | CB | Reagan
Bailey is a hard-hitting defensive back who can light up ball carriers, a very physical open-field tackler who can also get his head around, trail receivers, and make a play on the football. FBS caliber athlete who has a high ceiling for success and will continue to develop and move up a lot of rankings and recruiting boards
#18.William Nettles (24) | 6′, 170 | CB | Dallas Christian School
SMU was the first to offer, Nettles uses his long arms and a lengthy-athletic frame to his advantage. Shows some great athleticism and speed in his backpedal; is also able to trail receivers and get his head around to make a play on the ball. Plays both ways on offense and defense. A consistent guy who can come with the ball. FBS prospect who could develop into a lockdown corner.
#17.Landyn Cleveland (24) | 6′ 185 | S | Mansfield Legacy
Landyn is that man. An elite athlete who can demolish defenders when he makes contact. You can hear the hit from the stands when Clevalasnd makes contact on the field. Light on his feet and sinks hips. Multi-year starter at the next level that projects to have long-term success.
#16.Leonard Moore (24) | 6’1, 160 | CB | Round Rock
Moore is an excellent cover corner who can come of the LOS and make a play in the backfield. Flips hips and tracks the ball in the air and can bat down passes with his frame and lengthy arms that Moore uses to his advantage. FBS prospect with some offers (5) already to schools like Missouri, TCU, AND Tulsa.
#15.Luke Johnson (24) | 5’10, 160 |DB | CC Veterans Memorial
Luke Johnson is a ball hawk. A dangerous hitter on defense and special teams. Makes you wince when you see him lay hits on the ball carrier, you know your fixing to see a collision similar to that of a car wreck. A hard hitter who can cover the back half of the field and is athletic enough to make the big plays look routine all over the field.
#14.Braylon Conley (24) | 6’0, 170 | DB | Atascocita
Braylon is battle-tested against some tough competition in his division. Looks to be a corner who plays physically within a route and makes tackles. Can rack up TFL or come up with INT’s. Will be special for Atascocita and be one to develop into a highly ranked corner.
#13.Joseph Brocks (24) | 5’9, 160 | CB | Rowlett
Brocks has a knack for coming up with the football and making big-time plays look routine. Light on his feet flips hips well and can run with receiver. Ball skills are phenomenal. Turn-and-locate ability is elite. Possesses closing speed and flashes turn and run ability to shadow receivers or make a play on the ball. FBS prospect with a high ceiling for success for years to come.
#12.Justin Williams (24) | 6’2 188 | S | Oak Ridge
Williams is a playmaker that can make his way into the backfield and rack up this, shows excellent closing speed, and can lay the lumber on ball carriers. Speed and size are elite, holds 5 total division I offers.
#11.Kayden Cooper (24) | 6’1, 185 | S | New Caney
Kayden is an elite athlete who is next up, a very versatile player; can play special teams and defense and dominate. He has elite speed, agility, and range of the field at the safety position with the requisite height and size. Highly productive player, Tracks the ball, and attacks it. Flips hips well and can run with the receiver. The dangerous athlete also on a special team who can make a house call anytime he touches the football. FBS prospect who will have plenty of offers and be highly ranked.
#10.Eli Bowen (24) | 5’9, 165 | DB | Guyer
Eli is battle-tested against some pretty tough competition playing for Guyer. Played well last season and looked very light on his feet in his backpedal, with excellent awareness and closing speed getting to the ball carrier and making a play on the ball. Guyer has two lockdown defenders in the Bowen brothers. Eli projects to be a highly rated defensive back in his class.
#9.Keiondre Lewis (24) | 6’1 ,180 |S | Del Valle
Lewis is a versatile player on the field with a long, lengthy frame, and arms and can cover well out in space, shows good ball skills, the ability to come up with the big-time plays and come away with the interception or come flying downhill or in the box to make plays in the backfield. Great open-field tackler and can lay the lumber.
#8.Aaron Flowers (24) | 5’11, 180 | S | Forney
Holds five Divisions I offers to schools like Baylor, SMU, and Texas Tech. Flowers will make your jaw hit the floor and your eyes widen when you see him light up a ball carrier. Physical nature that translates to tackling ability and knocking receivers off routes or making a play on the ball. Can play press or floated off the LOS, ball skills and awareness of the field are elite. Could see the immediate impact of success from a production standpoint at the college level.
#7.Maurice Williams (24) | 6’1, 185 | DB | Shadow Creek
Maurice is a threat on special teams and defense because of his speed and athleticism; which boosts his stock .plays with a hard-nosed physical nature and a high motor with elite speed. Plays well against the run and pass for Shadow Creek. Highly rated athlete with a total of 9 Division I offers, a number we will continue to see to rise.
#6.Jaden Allen (24) | 5’9, 150 | DB | Aledo
Jaden Allen may very well be one of the best cover corners on this list. Shows a smooth backpedal is comfortable in the press or off coverage and makes the big plays look routine. Texas longhorns commit to a bright future for years to come.
#5.Kobe Black (24) | 6’1 , 180 | DB | Conally
Kobe is an athlete that can dominate all over the field because of his speed and athleticism. Also not afraid to lay the wood on defense, and throw a shoulder into defenders to jar passes loose from receivers’ hands. Holds 12 Division I offers, and suspect that number to the country to rise for this elite athlete who can dominate on offense, special teams, and defense.
#4.Corian Gipson (24) | 5’11 , 150 | DB Lancaster
Carian can track and attack the football and can cover the entire back-half of the football field. This guy can cover a lot of ground with his speed and agility. A very physical player that translates to the passing and running game. Holds 14 DI offers to schools like Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech, and others.
#3.Aeryn Hampton (24) | 5’10 , 175 | DB | Daingerfield
Texas longhorns commit and athlete Aeryn Hampton can play press or floated of defenders, shows he can bait the QB into throwing his way and then undercut the route and has the elite speed and athleticism to take the football to the house untouched. Terrific athlete on both sides of the ball held 14 total DI offers before committing to the longhorns.
#2.Mario Buford (24) | 5-11, 165 | CB | DeSoto
Mario is the next elite player up for DeSoto. A gifted athlete and defensive back. He smooths in his backpedal and shows good closing speed breaking on the ball. Can jar the football loose on hits, also shows he can trail receivers, get his head around to make a play on the ball. Holds 12 early offers to schools like Nebraska, Oregon, SMU, UCF, and others.
#1.Ka’Davion Dotson (24) | 6’0″ 180 | DB | Duncanville
Ka’Davion is an elite defensive back who is a highly productive player and can lay the hit stick on defenders like Madden. Flashes turn-and-run ability to shadow wideouts in the vertical passing game. Shows a knack for the ball and great awareness. Holds 14 division I offers to schools like Baylor, Nebraska, SMU, TCU, and USC to name a few.
