The poll is officially open to crown the Upstate Ingles 2026 Preseason Top Defensive Backs, and honestly, the talent on this list from the Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson areas is absolutely stacked. Seriously, we are talking about some future studs who are already putting up insane numbers. If you love seeing young players make game-changing plays, you’ve gotta check out these guys and get your votes in!
Next-Level Talent Already Making Noise
Some of these defensive backs are already committed to major college programs and have top-tier rankings for a reason. Take Christian Chancellor Jr. from Daniel, for example. The guy is committed to Clemson and is ranked as the No. 16 player in the 2027 class. Then there’s Zion Dawkins from Gaffney, who is literally the state’s No. 1 defensive back in the 2028 class, according to 247Sports Composite. Dawkins hauled in four interceptions and racked up 58 solo tackles just last year. And you can’t forget Aidyn Wiggins from Byrnes, who’s committed to Auburn and holds the No. 7 overall prospect spot for the Class of 2027 in the state. These guys aren’t just good, they’re elite.
Unreal Stats You Won’t Believe
But it’s not just the big-name commits showing out. The raw stats from some of these defensive backs are absolutely wild. How about Ja’bez Thomas from Dorman? This dude had EIGHT interceptions in 2025, and even returned one for a touchdown! That’s just incredible production. Then there’s Tyvion Hall from Boiling Springs, who grabbed four interceptions himself, including one he took to the house. Jaylon Watson from T.L. Hanna also had four picks, with two of those coming in the first three games. Talk about starting strong!
And we’ve got more playmakers: John Campbell from St. Joseph’s missed all of 2025 due to injury, but as a sophomore, he put up 115 tackles and three interceptions. What a comeback story potential! Aaron Gilliam from Southside Christian was an all-region player with 78 tackles, two interceptions, and even two blocked kicks. Gavin Sullivan from Hillcrest delivered 84 tackles, with 57 solo stops, and an interception, snagging an offer from East Tennessee State. And don’t sleep on Tajeh Watson-Martin from Westside, who’s committed to Virginia as a wide receiver but is still a standout defender and the state’s No. 17 prospect overall. That kind of two-way talent is rare.
This poll is open until noon on July 30, and you can cast multiple votes, so go show some love for these incredible defensive backs. Let’s make sure the best gets the recognition they’ve earned. Who do you think should be crowned the top DB? Go vote!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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