Gateway High School defensive back Derrick Davis Jr. highlights
Watch the country's No. 2 safety prospect in action during his junior year.
Charles Woodson, Darrelle Revis, Ty Law, Antoine Winfield and Bob Sanders. The Great Lakes states have produced several notable defensive backs. Below is the latest batch. Too early to tell if there are any Hall of Famers or Heisman winners here, but the talent is undeniable.
Heading into the 2020 high school football season, these are 12 of the top defensive backs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. All player rankings referenced are according to 247sports.com.
Who is the best? You tell us. Vote in the poll below to support your DB. Voting closes at noon (EST) on June 6. You may vote as many times as you like.
We will release our final "Difference Makers" article on Tuesday. The pieces are a precursor to the Great Lakes Preseason Football Teams, which will be unveiled in June.
La Salle defensive back Jaylen Johnson has committed to Ohio State. He’s the state's No. 11 overall prospect and a Top 20 safety prospect nationally.
Photo by Tim Ashcraft
GREAT LAKES REGION DEFENSIVE BACKS 2020
Braelon Allen, Fond du Lac (Wis.), 6-2, 215, 2022Wisconsin’s No. 4 overall 2022 prospect and the nation’s No. 6 safety prospect. Holds offers from Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa.
Derrick Davis Jr., Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.), 6-1, 194, 2021The country’s No. 2 overall safety prospect and Pennsylvania’s No. 4 overall prospect. Holds 25 offers, including Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Alabama, USC, Wisconsin and Michigan. Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 5A All-State.
CJ Hicks, Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio), 6-4, 215, 2022Ohio’s No. 3 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s No. 15 athlete prospect. Ohio State commit looks to move to linebacker in college. Registered 48 tackles last season. Holds 28 offers, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa and Nebraska.
Jaylen Johnson, La Salle (Cincinnati, Ohio), 6-1, 200, 2021Ohio’s No. 11 overall prospect and a Top 20 safety prospect nationally. Ohio State commit. Had 61 tackles and 10 tackles-for-loss last year. Holds 15 offers, including Penn State, Pitt, Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana.
Tysheem Johnson, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 5-10, 190, 2021Pennsylvania’s No. 9 overall prospect and 15th ranked safety prospect nationally. Holds 23 offers, including Ohio state, Michigan, Penn state, Pitt, LSU, Florida, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Stanford. Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 3A All-State.
William Johnson, Grosse Pointe South (Mich.), 6-3, 190, 2022Top 20 prospect nationally in 2022 is the country’s No. 4 cornerback prospect and Michigan’s No. 1 overall. Holds 23 offers, including Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, USC and Notre Dame.
Muskego defensive back Hunter Wohler has committed to Wisconsin. He is the state's No. 2 overall prospect.
Photo by Robert George
Penn State commit is Pennsylvania’s No. 11 overall prospect. Holds 33 offers, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, West Virginia, Nebraska and Iowa.
Donovan McMillon, Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.), 6-2, 193, 2021Pennsylvania’s No. 8 overall prospect and the country’s No. 8 safety prospect. Holds a staggering 50 offers, including Penn State, Michigan, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Oregon and Oklahoma. Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 5A All-State.
Rod Moore, Northmont (Clayton, Ohio), 5-11, 180, 2021Ranked the 12th overall prospect in Ohio and a Top 25 safety prospect nationally. Had 66 tackles and four interceptions last season. Michigan commit owns 25 offers, including, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Pitt, Iowa, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.
Keenan Nelson Jr, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 6-1, 200, 2022Pennsylvania’s No. 2 overall 2022 prospect and a Top 20 cornerback prospect nationally. Holds 15 offers, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Michigan State and Nebraska.
Jaylon Reed, King (Detroit, Mich.), 6-0, 190, 2021Penn State commit is Michigan’s No. 8 overall prospect and the nation’s No. 11 safety prospect. Holds 33 offers. AP All-Michigan.
Hunter Wohler, Muskego (Wis.), 6-1, 190, 2021Wisconsin’s No. 2 overall prospect and the country’s No. 9 safety prospect. Committed to Wisconsin over Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Iowa, Northwestern and Minnesota among others.
