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Cover, tackle, intercept: Meet the top defensive backs in Delaware high school football

brad myers, delaware news journal
·2 min read

High school defensive backs used to support against the run, then back up on third-and-long and cover against the predictable long pass attempt.

Not anymore.

Delaware’s high school offensive coordinators call more pass plays every year. Short, medium and long, on any down and distance, throwing the ball is always an option.

So defenses need versatile players in the secondary.

Middletown's Ronnell Davis (2), shown here chasing Salesianum QB Ryan Stoehr, ranks among Delaware's top high school defensive backs.
Middletown's Ronnell Davis (2), shown here chasing Salesianum QB Ryan Stoehr, ranks among Delaware's top high school defensive backs.

They have to come up and make a tackle in open space so that quick, 2-yard throw doesn’t turn into a big play. They have to be physical on the outside or close quickly across the middle to make a play on the intermediate routes. And they need the speed to stay with the opponent’s fastest receiver on the long ball.

Oh, they still have to be pretty good against the run, too.

The First State’s best defensive backs display most of those skills. They can tackle, cover, make a move on the ball and take it back the other way for a game-breaking play.

Many of these players also thrive on offense, but in this positional ranking they are only being rated on their defensive performance. Their all-around skills will be factored in when our overall Top 75 preseason player rankings are revealed later in the preseason.

For now, click through the photo gallery and see our preseason Top 19 defensive backs in Delaware high school football.

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Preseason Top 19 Delaware high school football defensive backs to watch in 2023

19. Logan Klein, sr., Saint Mark’s, 6-4, 210

Saint Mark's wide receiver Logan Klein (15) is hauled down by the Howard defense.
Saint Mark's wide receiver Logan Klein (15) is hauled down by the Howard defense.

18. Traci Johnson, jr., Woodbridge, 5-6, 160

Laurel's Brady Lee (left) tries to bring down Woodbridge's Traci Johnson in the second half of Laurel's 42-0 win at Woodbridge High School, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
Laurel's Brady Lee (left) tries to bring down Woodbridge's Traci Johnson in the second half of Laurel's 42-0 win at Woodbridge High School, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

17. Rahshan LaMons, sr., Tatnall, 5-7, 165

Archmere's (from left) Brendan McGuire, Brendan Burke, Dom Anerino and Miles Kempski move in on Tatnall's Rahshan LaMons in the Auks' 42-0 home win, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022.
Archmere's (from left) Brendan McGuire, Brendan Burke, Dom Anerino and Miles Kempski move in on Tatnall's Rahshan LaMons in the Auks' 42-0 home win, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022.

16. Maurki James, sr., Cape Henlopen, 6-1, 190

Cape Henlopen's Maurki James (7) looks to get past William Penn's Franklin Morris in the first quarter at William Penn High School, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Cape Henlopen's Maurki James (7) looks to get past William Penn's Franklin Morris in the first quarter at William Penn High School, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

15. Jakwon Kilby, sr., Dover, 6-1, 185

Dover running back Jakwon Kilby (21) break free en route to the end zone to score his first touchdown of the night during a game between Dover and William Penn
Dover running back Jakwon Kilby (21) break free en route to the end zone to score his first touchdown of the night during a game between Dover and William Penn

14. Makeevis Rogers, sr., Newark, 6-0, 170

Newark's Makeevis Rogers (2), transfer from McKean
Newark's Makeevis Rogers (2), transfer from McKean

13. Massimo Paoli, sr., Saint Mark’s, 6-0, 180

St. Mark's Luke Watson and (1) Massimo Paoli team up for a sack in Archmere's upset victory at St. Mark's, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
St. Mark's Luke Watson and (1) Massimo Paoli team up for a sack in Archmere's upset victory at St. Mark's, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

12. Brysheem Davis, jr., Hodgson, 5-8, 150

Salesianum's Trevor Way (left) stops Hodgson's Brysheem Davis in the third quarter of Salesianum's 21-0 win at Abessinio Stadium, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Salesianum's Trevor Way (left) stops Hodgson's Brysheem Davis in the third quarter of Salesianum's 21-0 win at Abessinio Stadium, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

11. Mark Moore, so., William Penn, 5-8, 140

10. Maki Beach, sr., Hodgson, 5-7, 165

9. Jerah Wright, sr., Concord, 5-7, 168

Concord junior Jerah Wright returns a kick during the Caravel’s 44-6 win over the Raiders at Bob Peoples Stadium, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Concord junior Jerah Wright returns a kick during the Caravel’s 44-6 win over the Raiders at Bob Peoples Stadium, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

8. Cole Fenice, sr., Archmere, 5-10, 185

Archmere junior Cole Fenice (22) attempts to take down DMA senior Dha-Feir Watts-Henry (3) during the football game at Achmere, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Archmere won 29-8.
Archmere junior Cole Fenice (22) attempts to take down DMA senior Dha-Feir Watts-Henry (3) during the football game at Achmere, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Archmere won 29-8.

7. Corey Williams, sr., Smyrna, 6-1, 180

Smyrna defensive back Corey Williams knocks away a long pass intended for Hunter Balint of Salesianum.
Smyrna defensive back Corey Williams knocks away a long pass intended for Hunter Balint of Salesianum.

6. Ja’Khai Tilghman, sr., Dover, 5-9, 152

Dover defensive backs Ja'Khai Tilghman (15) and Tamir Darden Jefferson close in to stop Smyrna's Andre Ashley from a two-point conversion after the Eagles scored a touchdown in the first quarter.
Dover defensive backs Ja'Khai Tilghman (15) and Tamir Darden Jefferson close in to stop Smyrna's Andre Ashley from a two-point conversion after the Eagles scored a touchdown in the first quarter.

5. Jacob Ziegler, sr., Salesianum, 5-11, 185

Salesianum's (22) Jacob Ziegler breaks up the pass to Reginald Lea in Salesianum's 16-14 win at St. Georges, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
Salesianum's (22) Jacob Ziegler breaks up the pass to Reginald Lea in Salesianum's 16-14 win at St. Georges, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

4. William Harmon, so., Sussex Central, 5-11, 210

Middletown's Jacobi Rodgers (19) with a tackle on Sussex Central's William Harmon (20) in their 42-16 win.
Middletown's Jacobi Rodgers (19) with a tackle on Sussex Central's William Harmon (20) in their 42-16 win.

3. Vandrick Hamlin III, sr., Caravel, 5-11, 150

Caravel’s Vandrick Hamlin III runs after a catch during Caravel’s 35-0 win on Thursday.
Caravel’s Vandrick Hamlin III runs after a catch during Caravel’s 35-0 win on Thursday.

2. Ronnell Davis, sr., Middletown, 6-2, 185

Middletown's Ronnell Davis (right) moves for Smyrna's Markell Holman in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 21-14 win at Cavalier Stadium, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.
Middletown's Ronnell Davis (right) moves for Smyrna's Markell Holman in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 21-14 win at Cavalier Stadium, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.

1. Dillon Griffith, jr., Appoquinimink, 5-11, 180

Appoquinimink's Dillon Griffith comes up with an interception in front of St. Georges' Jamie Righter-Hartman in the second quarter at Appoquinimink High School, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
Appoquinimink's Dillon Griffith comes up with an interception in front of St. Georges' Jamie Righter-Hartman in the second quarter at Appoquinimink High School, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware high school football: Preseason Top 19 defensive backs