High school football: Every state's greatest defensive back

Ronnie Lott's greatness in the NFL is evident by his residence in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his 10 Pro Bowl appearances and his 63 career interceptions. But he is one of the few NFL players who can lay claim to being the greatest player at his position in two states.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lott is easily the greatest NFL player ever born in the Land of Enchantment. However his father, who was in the military, moved to Rialto, Calif. and there Lott became a high school All-American at Eisenhower.

Lott also tops the list of greatest defensive backs from the Golden State and he highlights MaxPreps list of the greatest defensive backs from each state.

Players are chosen based on Pro Bowls and interceptions. Vermont is the only state without a representative on this list.
Every state's greatest defensive back

Alabama
Hanford Dixon, Theodore
Pro Bowls: 3
Interceptions: 26



Alaska
Zackary Bowman, Bartlett (Anchorage)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 13

Arizona
Darren Woodson, Maryvale (Phoenix)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 23

Arkansas
Cliff Harris, Hot Springs
Pro Bowls: 6
Interceptions: 29

California
Ronnie Lott, Eisenhower (Rialto)
Pro Bowls: 10
Interceptions: 63

Colorado
Jack Christiansen, Odd Fellows Orphanage (Canon City)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 46

Connecticut
Eugene Robinson, Weaver (Hartford)
Pro Bowls: 3
Interceptions: 57



Delaware
Duron Harmon, Caesar Rodney (Camden)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 19

Florida
Deion Sanders, North Fort Myers
Pro Bowls: 8
Interceptions: 53

Georgia
Champ Bailey, Charlton County (Folkston)
Pro Bowls: 12
Interceptions: 52

Hawaii
Hal Stringert, St. Louis (Honolulu)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 8

Idaho
Larry Wilson, Rigby
Pro Bowls: 8
Interceptions: 52

Illinois
Rodney Harrison, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights)
Pro Bowls: 2
Interceptions: 34



Indiana
Rod Woodson, Fort Wayne Snider
Pro Bowls: 11
Interceptions: 71

Iowa
Charles Lamson, Ames
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 18

Kansas
Nolan Cromwell, Western Plains (Ransom)
Pro Bowls: 4
Interceptions: 37

Kentucky
Frank Minnifield, Henry Clay (Lexington)
Pro Bowls: 4
Interceptions: 20

Louisiana
Ed Reed, Destrehan
Pro Bowls: 9
Interceptions: 64

Maine
Dave Cloutier, Gardiner
Games Played: 13
Interceptions: 0



Maryland
Jake Scott, Bullis (Potomac)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 49

Massachusetts
Bruce Laird, Scituate
Pro Bowls: 1
Interceptions: 19

Michigan
Paul Krause, Bendle (Burton)
Pro Bowls: 8
Interceptions: 81

Minnesota
Bruce Smith, Faribault
Games Played: 31
Interceptions: 0

Mississippi
Willie Brown, Yazoo Training
Pro Bowls: 9
Interceptions: 54

Missouri
Steve Atwater, Lutheran North (St. Louis)
Pro Bowls: 8
Interceptions: 24



Montana
Tim Hauck, Sweet Grass County (Big Timber)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 1

Nebraska
Pat Fischer, Omaha Westside (Omaha)
Pro Bowls: 3
Interceptions: 56

Nevada
Chris Carr, McQueen (Reno)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 7

New Hampshire
Ed Kissell, Nashua
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 6

New Jersey
Deron Cherry, Palmyra
Pro Bowls: 6
Interceptions: 50

New Mexico
Tom Brookshier, Roswell
Pro Bowls: 2
Interceptions: 20

New York
Butch Byrd, La Salle Institute (Troy)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 40



North Carolina
Adrian Wilson, Andrews
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 27

North Dakota
Doug Beaudoin, Jamestown
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 4

Ohio
Charles Woodson, Ross (Fremont)
Pro Bowls: 9
Interceptions: 65

Oklahoma
Chris Harris, Bixby
Pro Bowls: 4
Interceptions: 21

Oregon
Mel Renfro, Jefferson (Portland)
Pro Bowls: 10
Interceptions: 52

Pennsylvania
Emlen Tunnell, Radnor
Pro Bowls: 9
Interceptions: 79



Rhode Island
Will Blackmon, Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 4

South Carolina
Donnie Shell, Whitmire
Nathan Gerry, Washington (Sioux Falls)
Pro Bowls: 0
Interceptions: 3

Tennessee
Harrison Smith, Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 28

Texas
Ken Houston, Dunbar (Lufkin)
Pro Bowls: 12
Interceptions: 49

Utah
Dick Felt, Lehi
Pro Bowls: 2
Interceptions: 18

Virginia
Darren Sharper, Hermitage (Richmond)
Pro Bowls: 5
Interceptions: 63



Washington
Don Paul, Fife
Pro Bowls: 4
Interceptions: 34

West Virginia
Carl Lee, South Charleston
Pro Bowls: 3
Interceptions: 31

Wisconsin
Karl Kassulke, West Milwaukee
Pro Bowls: 1
Interceptions: 19

Wyoming
John Wendling, Rock Springs
Games Played: 110
Interceptions: 1