Mississippi high school football has a ton of talent in the defensive backfield. Four-star recruit PJ Woodland and Ole Miss commitment Patrick Broomfield are the two standouts among the defensive backs.
Here are the top defensive backs to watch during the 2023 season.
Note: The player’s class is what grade they will be in during the season. All stats were submitted by coaches or found on MaxPreps. All rankings are based off the 247Sports Composite.
Willie Breland
Stone | Senior
Why chosen: Breland had 43 tackles, one for loss, 12 passes defended, a forced fumble and an interception in 12 games. He helped lead the Tomcats to a 9-3 record.
Patrick Broomfield
Clarksdale | Senior
Why chosen: The Ole Miss commitment had 67 tackles, 11 passes defended, three interceptions and a defensive touchdown in 11 games. Broomfield helped lead Clarksdale to a 10-2 record.
Prince Cottonham
Gulfport | Junior
Why chosen: Cottonham had 49 tackles, 12 passes defended and eight interceptions in 12 games. He helped lead the Admiral to a 9-3 record and to the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
Shamaar Darden
Tupelo | Senior
Why chosen: Darden had 73 tackles, three for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked punt in 12 games. He’s received offers from Ole Miss, Southern Miss and UTSA among others.
Victor Davis
Mendenhall | Senior
Why chosen: Davis finished with 43 tackles and had a team-high six interceptions in 14 games. He helped lead Mendenhall (13-2) to the MHSAA Class 4A title game.
Tre Gunn
Biggersville | Senior
Why chosen: Gunn had 52 tackles, 10 interceptions and two defensive TDs in 13 games. Mayes helped lead the Lions to a 12-1 record.
RJ Hall
Copiah Academy | Senior
Why chosen: Hall led Copiah Academy with seven interceptions along with six passes defended and a fumble recovery in 12 games. He helped the Colonels to a 10-2 record.
Jathan Hatch
Biggersville | Senior
Why chosen: Hatch had 24 tackles, four interceptions and two defensive TDs in 13 games. The safety has received offers from Ole Miss, Kentucky, Louisville and Cincinnati among others.
Kenneth Hill
Louisville | Senior
Why chosen: Hill finished with 98 tackles, two for loss, five interceptions and a fumble recovery in 14 games. He helped lead the Wildcats (14-1) to the MHSAA Class 4A championship.
Jarcoby Hopson Jr.
Lake Cormorant | Junior
Why chosen: The four-star recruit is the No. 5 prospect in the state for the Class of 2025. Hopson has received offers from Texas A&M, LSU, Florida and South Carolina among others.
Damion Miller
Port Gibson | Senior
Why chosen: The Southern Miss commitment had 22 tackles, eight passes defended and an interception in 10 games.
Destin Nelson
Bay Springs | Senior
Why chosen: Nelson had 28 tackles, two for loss, five passes defended and three interceptions in 12 games. He helped Bay Springs (14-1) win its second consecutive MHSAA Class 1A championship.
Matthew Perkins
Madison-Ridgeland Academy | Junior
Why chosen: Perkins had 84 tackles, a sack and a team-high five interceptions in 14-games. He helped lead the Patriots to a 10-4 record.
Deondre Riley
Charleston | Senior
Why chosen: Riley had 50 tackles and seven interceptions in 15 games. He helped lead the Tigers to a 12-4 record and to the MHSAA Class 2A title game.
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Micah Stallworth
Jackson Prep | Senior
Why chosen: Stallworth had 38 tackles, one for loss, a blocked field goal and three interceptions in 11 games. He helped lead Jackson Prep (12-1) to the MAIS Class 6A championship.
Cortez Thomas
Holmes County Central | Junior
Why chosen: Thomas had 23 tackles and three passes defended in 10 games. The four-star recruit has received offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Ole Miss among others.
Cooper Waddle
Itawamba AHS | Junior
Why chosen: Waddle finished with 31 tackles, 11 passes defended and six interceptions in 13 games. He helped lead Itawamba AHS to a 12-1 record.
D.J. Watkins
Jackson Academy | Junior
Why chosen: Watkins had 53 tackles, three for loss, 12 passes defended and five interceptions in 13 games. He helped the Raiders to a 9-4 record.
Elijah Wofford
Eupora | Junior
Why chosen: Wofford finished with 113 tackles, six for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 15 games. He helped lead Eupora to a 12-3 record.
P.J. Woodland
Oak Grove | Senior
Why chosen: The four-star prospect had 38 tackles, four passes defended and seven interceptions in 12 games for the Warriors. Woodland — the No. 14 prospect in the state — included LSU and Mississippi State in his top two schools in June.