Top defensive back classes in the 2025 cycle

The 2025 cycle is loaded at cornerback and safety. Headlined by six five-stars and 14 additional top-100 prospects, there’s no shortage of top talent in the secondary in this class.

Many of the blue-chip prospects at each position have already come off the board heading into their senior seasons, including each of the On3 Industry Ranking’s top 10 corners and nine of the top 10 safeties. As a result, some schools have loaded up with ballhawks and top-notch athletes.

Below are four programs that have put together impressive hauls in the secondary midway through August.

Ohio State

Five-Star Plus+ CB Devin Sanchez (No. 5 NATL., No. 1 CB)
Five-Star Plus+ CB Na’eem Offord (No. 9 NATL., No. 3 CB)
4-star safety Faheem Delane (No. 46 NATL., No. 3 SAF)
4-star CB DeShawn Stewart (No. 286 NATL., No. 29 CB)
3-star safety Cody Haddad (No. 441 NATL., No. 39 SAF)

The Buckeyes’ No. 1 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings includes three top-10 overall prospects, two of which are set to line up at corner. Devin Sanchez provided an early jolt to OSU’s class by pledging on Jan. 6. Na’eem Offord followed suit less than a month later and both have proven to be freakish athletes who could immediately contribute at the next level.

DeShawn Stewart has continued to see his stock rise since pledging in March. Faheem Delane would be a headlining defensive addition for almost any other class this cycle, yet slots in behind Sanchez and Offord in this stacked DB haul. Delane committed in June, around two months after Cody Haddad — an intriguing in-state addition for Tim Walton, Matt Guerreri and Co.

Auburn

4-star safety Anquon Fegans (No. 57 NATL., No. 5 SAF)
4-star safety Eric Winters (No. 63 NATL., No. 7 SAF)
4-star CB Blake Woodby (No. 176 NATL., No. 20 CB)
4-star CB Devin Williams (No. 246 NATL., No. 28 CB)
4-star CB Donovan Starr (No. 329 NATL., No. 32 CB)
3-star CB Dante Core (No. 583 NATL., No. 55 CB)

Auburn’s Big Cat recruiting event at the end of July provided some major momentum on the recruiting trail, as the Tigers picked up commitments from Blake Woodby, a former Ohio State commit, and Anquon Fegans — among others — to round out the month. Eric Winters helped kick start the big summer run with his mid-June decision. The Tigers are the only team with multiple top-100 safeties committed this cycle.

Devin Williams was the first DB to join the class, doing so back in February. Donovan Starr and Dante Core have each seen their ranking rise ahead of the fall and round out a rock-solid quartet of corners in the mix for Wesley McGriff and the Tigers.

Georgia

4-star CB Shamari Earls (No. 64 NATL., No. 6 CB)
4-star CB Jontae Gilbert (No. 177 NATL., No. 21 CB)
4-star safety Jaylan Morgan (No. 254 NATL., No. 21 SAF)
4-star safety Rashad Johnson (No. 362 NATL., No. 32 SAF)

Jontae Gilbert became the latest in-state prospect to commit to the Bulldogs, bolstering the secondary in the process. Last month, UGA flipped Shamari Earls from South Carolina. The Virginia native is On3’s No. 19 overall recruit and No. 4 CB.

July also witnessed the additions of Jaylan Morgan and Rashad Johnson. Morgan is the No. 6 player in Tennessee. Of note, Georgia’s class also includes 4-star athlete Todd Robinson, a top-200 prospect who’s projected to play in the secondary as well.

Oregon

5-star safety Trey McNutt (No. 19 NATL., No. 2 SAF)
4-star CB Dorian Brew (No. 49 NATL., No. 5 CB)
4-star CB Brandon Finney (No. 89 NATL., No. 9 CB)

While the Ducks’ secondary haul may feature just three prospects as of now, all three check in as top-100 prospects and serve as a reminder to Dan Lanning and Co.’s ability to recruit across the country.

Ohio standout Trey McNutt finally joined the class at the beginning of August, becoming the third five-star to join the fold overall. Dorian Brew out of Texas made a surprise pledge at the end of June, while Maryland’s Brandon Finney chose Oregon over local Penn State. The Ducks are also in the mix for the nation’s No. 1 safety Jonah Williams, who is set to announce his decision later this month.