Best high school football defensive backs in the nation entering the 2023 season

It's hard to believe it, but the 2023 high school football season is right around the corner.

Several of the nation's top teams start their season a month from today, so SBLive Sports is going to start highlighting some of the best players in the nation.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the best of the best in high school football. We'll start with those who thrive as shutdown cornerbacks or ball-hawking safeties (or both).

Kaleb Beasley, sr., Lipscomb Academy (Tennessee)

Beasley racked up nine interceptions, returning four of them for touchdowns, last year for the No. 13 team in the country. The state’s top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024 will be staying home to play college football for the Volunteers.

Zabien Brown, sr., Mater Dei (California)

The 6-foot-1 corner helped the Monarchs finish 2022 ranked No. 2 in the country, coming up with 32 tackles, three interceptions and a pick-six, and 2023 will be his turn to lead a talented secondary. Brown will be taking a path that worked out well for Heisman winner Bryce Young by going from Mater Dei to Alabama, as he committed to the Crimson Tide on July 9.

Jalyn Crawford, sr., Parkview (Georgia)

Crawford counted three interceptions as a junior and figures to be one of the state’s top players for one of the state’s top teams in 2023. The lockdown corner just came off the board with his July 15 commitment to Auburn. 

Anquon Fegans, jr., Thompson (Alabama)

Fegans was a turnover and tackling machine in 2022 as a sophomore, tallying nine interceptions (three pick-sixes) and 67 tackles. The 2025 USC commit is in line to follow and potentially team up with his older brother Tre’Quon, a four-star cornerback from the class of 2022 who recently transferred to USC from Alabama.

Xavier Filsaime, sr., McKinney (Texas)

One of two five-star seniors from Texas committed to Florida — quarterback DJ Lagway being the other — Filsaime chose the Gators over LSU, Oregon, Georgia and USC. The nation’s No. 2 safety in the Class of 2024 is a 6-foot-1 speedster who came up with 92 tackles as a junior.

Kelvin Hunter, sr., West Florence (South Carolina)

The 5-foot-11 South Carolina Gamecocks commit has a serious knack for tackling, recording more than 100 tackles as a junior. With his elite athleticism and ability to take down offensive players, Hunter is practically an extra linebacker in the form of a safety.

Ricardo Jones, sr., Northside (Georgia)

Jones is the type of player who might be underrated despite his No. 11 ranking nationally among safeties in the Class of 2024. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Clemson commit stands out physically in the secondary, using his size and speed to wreak havoc on offenses.

Charles Lester III, sr., Venice (Florida)

The nation’s No. 2 cornerback in the Class of 2024 will commit July 28, and he announced his four finalists are Florida State, Colorado, Alabama and Georgia. After picking off five passes as a junior, the five-star prospect transferred to Venice from Sarasota Riverview ahead of his senior year.

Wardell Mack, sr., John Ehret (Louisiana)

Mack is the nation’s No. 7 cornerback in the Class of 2024, and he contributes all over the field for John Ehret. He recently revealed he’s down to LSU, Texas, Florida and Florida State, so a commitment could be coming soon.

Ify Obidegwu, sr., St. Frances (Maryland)

The four-star Oregon commit will match up with some of the best receivers in the country, as the Panthers are set to face teams like Buford (Georgia), Chaminade-Madonna (Florida), St. John Bosco (California), Mater Dei (California) and IMG Academy (Florida). Also committed to Oregon is the team’s quarterback, four-star senior Michael Van Buren, so Ducks fans will want to keep tabs on St. Frances this season.

Jacob Oden, sr., Harper Woods (Michigan)

Oden plays multiple positions on both sides of the ball, but safety is likely where he will settle in once he suits up with the Michigan Wolverines. The four-star senior earned SBLive Michigan All-State honors last year as a defensive back.

Omarion Robinson, jr., Parkview (Arkansas)

Robinson left his mark on the 2022 state championship game on offense and special teams, but defense is where the playmaker will focus his talents at the next level. The state’s top-ranked junior is being recruited by Oregon, USC and the home-state Razorbacks, among others.

Ellis Robinson IV, sr., IMG Academy (Florida)

A top-15 prospect nationally in the Class of 2024, Robinson holds the coveted position of No. 1 cornerback in the recruiting rankings. The five-star Georgia commit took to social media July 6 and announced he will be shutting down his recruitment, so Bulldogs fans don’t need to worry about a potential flip.

Devin Sanchez, jr., North Shore (Texas)

Sanchez earned SBLive All-East Texas honors last year as a sophomore after he registered 36 tackles and four interceptions while helping North Shore make another trip to the state championship. Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas are considered some of the early favorites for the nation’s No. 2 cornerback in the Class of 2025.

Aaron Scott Jr., sr., Springfield (Ohio)

As a junior, Scott intercepted five passes, returning two of them for scores, and broke up seven passes. The No. 4 cornerback in the country for the Class of 2024 will commit July 30, choosing between a final three of Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon.

Bryce West, sr., Glenville (Ohio)

Glenville has a history of producing stars for Ohio State, and West could be next in line. The nation’s No. 5 cornerback in the Class of 2024 will join names such as Marshon Lattimore, Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and more who went on to represent the Scarlet and Gray after their days at Glenville.

Santana Wilson, sr., Desert Mountain (Arizona)

Wilson impressed as a junior, posted 49 tackles, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups, Texas is getting one of Arizona’s best, as the No. 2 senior in the state committed to the Longhorns in June.

Peyton Woodyard, sr., St. John Bosco (California)

Woodyard has been one of the best defensive backs in California for years, and he will enter his senior year as one of the best defensive backs in the country. The four-star Georgia commit helped St. John Bosco win a national championship in 2022 and will be back to lead a loaded defense for the Braves in 2023.

Mark Zackery, jr., Ben Davis (Indiana)

A dual-sport standout who also plays for the school’s nationally-ranked basketball team, Zackery didn’t put up crazy numbers as a sophomore in 2022, but his ability to lock down receivers is evident on tape. The top-ranked junior in the Hoosier State added offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and USC in recent months.

Malcolm Ziglar, sr., Fuquay-Varina (North Carolina)

As a junior, the 6-foot-2 safety Ziglar finished with six interceptions, including three pick-sixes. The speedy four-star will be committing on July 17, choosing from Clemson, Notre Dame, South Carolina and North Carolina, among others.