The Five Best TXHSFB Secondary Units in Class 6A and 5A

6A

5. Waxahachie

If you were surprised by Waxahachie being a preseason state championship pick in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, hopefully these position rankings have brought you up to speed on the powerhouse emerging in far south Dallas. Waxahachie has landed on the top five list in Class 6A for offensive line, defensive line, and secondary.

New head coach Lawrence Williams, elevated from defensive coordinator, says his secondary has four cornerbacks with Division I offers and preseason Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year Jayquan Snell at safety. Snell (6-foot-3, 200), a Texas A&M commit, is the No. 9-overall player in the DCTX Hot 100.

But Snell is far from alone at safety. Williams describes Jayden Johnson as the glue of the defense at free safety. Johnson plays much bigger than his listed size and is seemingly always around the football. Nickelback Mikal Winbush is a great tackler whom Williams says shores up the secondary.

As for those cornerbacks, Braylon Davis, a Montana State commit, earned First Team All-District honors in the vaunted 11-6A last season. Rising junior Demico Zamora recently received his first Division I offer to UIW. Mark Piper holds offers to Texas Southern, East Central, Wagner, Henderson State, and Western Illinois. Adrian Cooper Jr. is a rangy 6-foot-1, 160-pound defensive back committed to Trinity.

4. Humble Summer Creek

Humble Summer Creek returns just three defensive starters from last year’s 12-2 team. But coach Kenny Harrison is psyched about his defensive backfield, which returns two First Team All-District players in senior CB Caleb White and junior safety Savion James.

“With the experience that we have coming back, with guys playing at a high level, it has me excited,” Harrison said. “This may be the best secondary we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

White (5-foot-10, 170), a Louisiana commit, only had 13 tackles the entire season, which is a testament to how rarely he was tested. When opposing teams tried to throw his way, it didn’t end well for them. White had four pass breakups and five interceptions.

“Caleb plays with a lot of confidence, which you don’t see in a lot of guys,” Harrison said. “Last year, we matched him up against a lot of the top receivers on the other team. He didn’t have many catches on him the entire season.”

James (5-foot-11, 170) had 86 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and two interceptions last season in a breakout sophomore campaign. Harrison calls James one of the team’s biggest leaders on and off the field despite only being a junior. As a pure prospect, Harrison says he has better ball skills than most receivers, and a willingness to lower the shoulder in the run game.

“He’s a phenomenal kid, and he’ll be effective against both the run and pass,” Harrison said. “He has great ball skills, and he’s a great open-field tackler.”

Fellow junior safety Ke’Shawn Singleton (5-foot-8, 160) is a high-IQ safety with the aggressiveness of a linebacker. That mentality allows Summer Creek to play him closer to the box. Singleton had 37 tackles and a pass breakup last season. 

Harrison says safety Chaise Anderson and cornerback Preston Singleton are both well-rounded players who had excellent springs. The staff expects big contributions out of both of them.

3. Cibolo Steele

Over 20 years at Cibolo Steele, David Saenz has seen many legendary defensive backs come through the Knights’ locker room. Think about five-star Caden Sterns, NFL safety JT Woods, and Vanderbilt safety Dontae Carter. 

Saenz says this year’s defensive backs group has the intangibles you cannot coach: measurables, work ethic, and football instincts.

Senior free safety Eli Johnson (6-foot-3, 205) is the best example. The Ohio State commit is a preseason First Team All-State selection in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine and the state’s No .2-ranked safety. A starter since his sophomore year, Saenz says Johnson has a wealth of experience. He can play deep safety in Cover 2, or roll down to outside linebacker in short-yardage situations.

His counterpart, senior strong safety Jayden Ghee (6-foot-1, 180), was a fellow First Team All-District selection. The San Diego State commit had 47.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and four interceptions. Saenz says Ghee has all the instincts the best defensive backs in school history have possessed. 

At cornerback, Michael “Trey” Johnson III (6-foot-4, 195) is a North Carolina commit who earned First Team All-District honors with 44 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Saenz says Johnson is perfect for Steele’s Cover 2 scheme because he has the physicality and length to dominate receivers in press man coverage. 

Senior Alex Patton (6-foot, 180) is the other starter at cornerback opposite Johnson. His father is a college coach, and Patton has inherited the family’s football IQ. Patton is a quick-twitch athlete who is not afraid of contact.

Sophomore safety Jordan Jackson (5-foot-10, 160) will be the fifth starting defensive back this fall. Jackson has already picked up a UTEP offer, and the coaching staff expects big things from him at nickel. 

Steele has favored more five-defensive-back formations, which allows key reserves Ethan Jones and Wenzel Pollard to make an impact. Both are bought-in program guys.

2. Humble Atascocita

In his first offseason as Humble Atascocita’s head coach, Kyle Coats has one big takeaway from his defensive back group – those dudes need to win.

“The biggest thing is that they’re all competitors,” Coats said. “They don’t want to lose at anything. During sprints in the summer that we’ve been doing when the skill guys are all together, they always want to beat each other, let alone beat the offense.”

Atascocita will roll out three Power Four commits in Week 1.

Senior cornerback Trenton Blaylock (6-foot-2, 178), a four-star per DCTX, is an Oklahoma commit. Blaylock is the son of former NFL running back Derrick Blaylock and inherited all of that athleticism. But he’s made immense strides in his technique this offseason. Coats said he broke up three passes in Monday’s practice alone.

“If you ask him to go make a play, he can make basically any play you need him to,” Coats said. “He’s super fast, but he’s grown a lot in his technique just since I’ve been here. He’s really buying into being a press corner, getting up in people’s faces and holding the line of scrimmage.”

Fellow corner Joshua Banks (6-foot, 185) is a Texas Tech commit who earned Second Team All-District honors in the vaunted 23-6A along with Blaylock. The four-star battled shoulder injuries much of last season, which makes the postseason awards all the more impressive. Now fully healthy, he’s primed for a big year. 

“He’s kind of a natural corner in the sense that he does a great job of shadowing people and being able to run with and match your tempo,” Coats said. “If you’re a fast guy, he can run with you. If you’re a slow guy that’s great with cuts, he can match your cuts. He’s special.”

Senior Tavon Bolden Jr. (6-foot-2, 185) is arguably the captain of the secondary as the deep middle safety who gets everyone lined up. Coats says he’s a really smart football player with a physique and skill set that’s just as impressive.

“You go out there and watch the entire practice, and you can’t take your eyes off No. 1,” Coats said. “That’s a pretty looking freaking football player right there. That’s what an NFL safety looks like at 17 years old.”

Coats says that junior Paul Durant, a low safety/nickel, has jumped off the page all offseason. He can play in the box or roll back to cover deep. Junior Caleb Collins has been the group’s vocal leader and throws his body into offensive players as a box safety playing the boundary.

Coats has been extremely impressed with cornerbacks Joshua Washington and Rashard White this offseason. Washington is a 15-year-old fighting for a starting spot at Atascocita, which is extremely rare. White, meanwhile, is a senior with college football dreams that could be realized this fall. Washington and White started at cornerback during Atascocita’s state qualifying 7-on-7 tournament when Blaylock and Banks were on college visits, highlighting the depth in the team’s secondary.

1. North Crowley

North Crowley thought they’d have five-star cornerback John Meredith in the secondary this fall. But the Panthers still have the best defensive back group in Class 6A even after Meredith’s transfer was denied by the UIL and he enrolled at the University of Texas. 

New head coach Demarcus Harris, elevated from defensive coordinator this offseason, wants everyone to know North Crowley is going to be just fine in the back end.

“Our secondary, everybody talks about the first guys, but we’re probably about 12 people deep,” Harris said.

His confidence starts with reigning District Overall MVP Elijajuan Houston (6-foot, 180). The Arizona State commit had 66 tackles and three interceptions from the safety spot last year. But he’s just as impactful in between snaps, making all of the checks and calls for the defensive formation.  

“He impacts the game in so many different ways,” Harris said. “He does everything for us. I also think he would be our best linebacker, best receiver, best running back. He’s one of those types of players.”

One guy Houston doesn’t have to worry about performing – senior CB Jerry Outhouse (6-foot-1, 195). The UCLA commit and DCTX four-star recruit had 45 tackles and two interceptions in a First Team All-District season last fall. Outhouse has 4.4 speed and a Division I frame, but Harris said his work ethic has allowed him to show the most growth of anyone in the secondary over his high school career.

“The one thing I love about Jerry Outhouse – he’s probably one of the most coachable kids you’d ever want to be around,” Harris said. “He wants to be the best player. He wants to be great and be coached up.”

At the opposite corner to Outhouse, sophomore Braylen Cunningham (5-foot-11, 170) returns after a breakout freshman season in which he won District Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Cunningham has changed his body this offseason after committing to the weight room, but Harris says it’s the ice water in his veins that makes him a special player. He returned punts and kickoffs as a freshman, which is nearly unheard of for a Class 6A team of North Crowley’s caliber.

“He never gets rattled. He’s got the perfect mindset for a cornerback. Everything is always ok with him.”

Junior nickel Brock Lacy (6-foot-1, 210) was yet another First Team All-District performer in the secondary after posting 65 tackles. Lacy has 16 offers because he combines elite size and broad shoulders with dynamic speed, running the third leg of North Crowley’s 4x100M relay.

“He’s that big nickel back that everybody is looking for nowadays,” Harris said. “They’ve got this special set of skills where they can play great in coverage, the run game, and they’re great at blitzing. Brock is all of those things.”

Senior TJ Boyd (6-foot-3, 210) backs up Lacy. Harris said Boyd looks exactly like former North Crowley star Jonathan Cunningham, who is now at Texas.

Senior safety Zion Miller (5-foot-10, 175) doesn’t grab as many headlines as Houston, his counterpart. That’s because Harris dubs him the ‘silent worker.’ But both have been on varsity since their sophomore seasons. Miller actually led North Crowley in interceptions this offseason in 7-on-7, and he’s an elite long and triple jumper.

Miller and Houston are perfect role models for sophomore safety Marquise Robinson (6-foot-3, 210). Harris said that when it’s all said and done, Robinson could develop into the nation’s No. 1 safety. He already runs a 4.4 laser-timed 40-yard dash and looks the part of a Division I safety.

“He’s probably the best looking DB that we have, as crazy as that sounds,” Harris said. “And he’s only a sophomore.”

North Crowley has an embarrassment of riches at cornerback. Haydeign Hunt is the tallest cornerback in the room and has seven offers. Harris said he’d be a three-year starter if he were at any other school. Sophomore Keith Walker is the future of the position, along with Cunningham. He’s already 190 pounds. Tarleton commit Tre’Von Warren, dubbed ‘Monster,’ works at cornerback, safety, and nickelback every day.

5A

5. Amarillo Palo Duro

Palo Duro head coach Eric Mims says he sounds like a tape recording when he discusses his secondary – all his defensive backs are long and athletic. At any given time, the Dons could have four 6-foot-2 guys in their secondary. Pair that with defensive coordinator Dannie Snyder, whom Mims describes as one of the best – and most underrated – coordinators in the state, and this group could be special.

If State 7-on-7 was any indication, this group could be special. Palo Duro shut out John Tyler High and North Forney, which has a University of Texas commit at wide receiver.

The best example of length and athleticism in the secondary is Julian “Deuce” Reese (6-foot-3, 195). Reese, a quarterback and free safety, was the District MVP with 3,053 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also had 449 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Reese will play limited snaps on defense because of how critical he is to Palo Duro’s RPO scheme. But when he does, opposing quarterbacks will know it. He had two interceptions last fall, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Reese is the team’s actual quarterback, but junior safety Noah Faragoza (6-foot-2, 180) is the quarterback of the defense. Mims describes him as a stud who can fly downhill in the alley and is a sure tackler. He can play any spot in the secondary, but earned Second Team All-District at safety with 54 tackles and three interceptions. Emiliano Castillo is another 6-foot-2 safety who is long and athletic. 

While Faragoza is the vocal leader, senior cornerback Makoy Sims (6-foot-1, 170) is the silent assassin. Sims was a First Team All-District selection with 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble. 

“His family is deeply rooted in our community,” Mims said. “All of his family – siblings and parents – have graduated from Palo Duro High School. He has a great work ethic. You can’t get him to talk, but you can get him to work. He’s here every day mastering his craft.”

Mims says sophomore Jaiven Harris is one of the team’s best wide receivers, but he’s pushing to start at corner opposite Sims. At 5-foot-9, Harris doesn’t yet have the length of some of the other prospects, but he has ‘athleticism jumping out of his bones.’ Don Drake Green will share time with Harris.

4. New Braunfels

New Braunfels (11-3) is coming off back-to-back trips to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1986. The Unicorns may have dropped from Class 5A DI to Class 5A DII, but their new district was named the toughest in all of 5A by Dave Campbell’s. The good news for coach Brad Molder is that his secondary returns a District Defensive Newcomer of the Year (Kingston Brown) and two Second Team All-District performers (Kane Bunch and Kenny Harper).

“We’re faster than we’ve been in the secondary in a really long time, and bigger and stronger on top of it,” Molder said. 

That athleticism starts with Brown, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound rising junior who already holds offers to Texas Tech, Baylor, and SMU. But for all of Brown’s physicality, Molder says it’s his mentality that separates him from the average high school football player.

“He has a desire to be the best that he could possibly be,” Molder said. “God obviously has blessed him with a lot of physical attributes to be as fast and as long as he is at corner. But he’s also very intelligent and a high-character kid. His competitive spirit is second-to-none.”

Fellow junior Kane Bunch (5-foot-11, 170) had 74 tackles and an interception in his first year as a full-time starter at safety. Bunch, the son of New Braunfels defensive coordinator Charlie Bunch, has a high football IQ, but has matched his speed this offseason to run as fast as his mind.

Senior cornerback Kenny Harper (5-foot-11, 160) is a terrific zone defender opposite Brown. He also got much faster running hurdles this offseason.

New Braunfels is still searching for another starting safety, but rising sophomore Austin Rich could get a look. Rich played on the varsity as a freshman and is training at running back, wide receiver, and safety this offseason. He was offered on the spot at an East Carolina camp after running a 4.5 40-yard dash.

3. West Mesquite

New West Mesquite head coach Jeremy Williams always held a special place in his heart for West Mesquite people. He grew up on Bruton Road, just a couple of minutes from West Mesquite’s campus. He came to admire their blue-collar attitude. Now, entering his first season at the helm, he sees those same traits in his defensive backfield. The Wranglers return three First Team All-District defensive backs.

Senior strong safety Brian Logan Jr. (5-foot-8, 165) was a Second Team All-State selection with 50 tackles, seven interceptions, and four defensive touchdowns. He is the middle safety in West Mesquite’s three-high look, but Williams says he’s a ballhawk that can fly to all areas of the field. He has offers to Abilene Christian, Northern Arizona, East Central, and Texas A&M Texarkana.

Fellow safety Devin Blackerby (5-foot-10, 165) is the defensive captain with 55 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and four interceptions. He’s also electric with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his pick six and two kickoff return touchdowns. Williams describes Blackerby as a smart and instinctive player who wins on Friday night with his preparation all week.

“He watches a lot of film, so he knows what’s going to happen before it happens,” Williams said.

Donovan Johnson (5-foot-10, 170) will be the field safety. He’s a rangy defender with a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Senior cornerback Kentrell Blackshear (6-foot-1, 175) had 50 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and four interceptions in a breakout junior year. He has 10 offers from the likes of UTSA, Texas State, and UTEP. 

“He can lock down an island,” Williams said. “He’s got prototypical size at 6-foot-1 and runs track.”

Tarvaris Valentine (5-foot-10, 160) will start at cornerback opposite Blackshear.

2. Brenham

Brenham has three different three-year starters in the secondary who are all coming off All-District seasons. 

Senior safety Ledrick Walker (5-foot-10, 180) was a First Team All-District cornerback with 60 tackles and two interceptions. But he will move to safety this offseason in what coach Danny Youngs calls his more natural position. He’s a physical player primed for a monster year.

Fellow safety Quincy Adams (6-foot-1, 185) was another First Team All-District performer with 49 tackles and an interception. Youngs said the duo was dynamic together in the offseason and he’s excited to see them play together in the fall.

“When you have safeties that will come down and be physical – not just in the run game, but when people are running shallow crosses and tunnel screens – you send a safety down there and decapitate one, it kind of changes their thought process about coming through there,” Youngs said.

Corner Tre’lyn Kelly (6-foot-4, 180) was a Second Team All-District selection who had 37 tackles and two interceptions. Originally, he believed he would be a basketball player. But now he’s grown into his 6-foot-4 frame, been molded by going one-on-one with star wide receiver Chris Guidry, and is primed for a great year. Youngs says he is terrific in zone coverage.

Youngs describes sophomore corner Brennan Ragston (6-foot, 170) as Kelly from two years ago, and the duo will start opposite each other. He is long and rangy – a star triple jumper – and Youngs says he had an awesome summer that proved he was ready for the moment. 

Rylan Lewis (5-foot-9, 155) started 12 games as a sophomore safety last fall, but he’s excited about a move to Sam linebacker this year. The Sam linebacker is a critical position in Brenham’s defense, considered the fifth defensive back in a 4-2-5 scheme. The coaching staff asked themselves who consistently makes plays that change the game, and Lewis’s face kept popping up in their minds. 

“He was unbelievable in spring football,” Youngs said. “He was fired up about getting moved there. He’s great in man, zone, and as a blitzer.”

1. Denton Ryan

New Denton Ryan head coach Shane Tolleson was one of the state’s most intriguing hires this offseason. He built Waxahachie into a preseason state championship contender, but opted to return to Denton Ryan, where he was a state championship defensive coordinator. 

Tolleson mentored current Carolina Panthers tight end Jatavion Sanders when he was a dominant high school defensive end. Now, he’s coaching Sanders’s brother, senior cornerback John Catlin IV (6-foot, 160). Catlin, an Arkansas commit, was a First Team All-District selection with 31 tackles, four interceptions, and four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He may be listed at 160 pounds, but Tolleson says he plays like he’s 185.  

“He’s never on the ground,” Tolleson said. “He’s like a cat. You throw him off the top of the school, and he lands on his feet.” 

Fellow senior Kamarion Martin (5-foot-10, 180) is captain Kam in Denton Ryan’s secondary. The safety was a First Team All-District selection with 95 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He holds offers from Midwestern State, Texas Southern, and East Texas A&M.

“Water covers two-thirds of the earth,” Tolleson said. “Kam Martin covers the rest.”

At the other free safety spot, Temperance Epps (5-foot-10, 175) was a Second Team All-District selection who is a downhill striker.

Corner Juan Garcia-Okoi (6-foot-1, 170), an Oregon State commit, is a move-in from Lake Dallas who will start opposite Catlin. Senior Lijah Brown will spell for Catlin when Catlin plays offensive snaps. Tolleson says nobody is talking about him, but he truly believes Brown is the third Division I cornerback on Denton Ryan’s team.

Tolleson says he’s excited for the opportunity to coach nickel Christian Ivory (5-foot-11, 185).

“I remember him when I was here five years ago,” Tolleson said. “He was in youth football just knocking people’s helmets off. Now I’m back here as the coach, and he’s a senior.”

Amaryan Gaar and Ryan Sawyer are two talented defensive backs who are eager to break into the starting rotation. Either way, they will make a huge impact.