You have until noon on July 23 to cast your vote for the Guardian Foundation Repair top preseason defensive back for the 2026 TSSAA football season, and let me tell you, the competition is absolutely nuts. These guys are putting up numbers that are just ridiculous, and it’s gonna be tough to pick just one.
The Playmakers Making Everyone Notice
Look, we’ve got some serious talent here. Taren Claridy from Greeneville is straight up a “ballhawk,” earning PrepXtra second team honors last season with an insane 8 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and 2 defensive touchdowns on top of 40 tackles. Seriously, 8 picks? That’s just playing a different game. Kaine Ricker, also from Greeneville, isn’t far behind with 6 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, and another defensive touchdown. Then there’s John Keohane, who earned All-State and PrepXtra second team for Gatlinburg-Pittman last year before transferring to Sevier County, clocking 4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups. Bennett Jelks from CAK stuffed the stat sheet with 4 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown. Zach Banks from Sevier County also pulled down two interceptions and 8 pass breakups.
But it’s not just about picks; some of these dudes are tackling machines. Jarrell Chandler from Halls was a PrepXtra second team selection with a whopping 94 tackles, 8 pass breakups, 6 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. Kaden Webber from Grace Christian snagged PrepXtra third team with 70 tackles, an absurd 15.5 tackles for loss, plus a sack and a quarterback pressure. Becks Allen, an all-region guy from Hardin Valley, piled up 63 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. These guys are all over the field, disrupting everything.
The Future is Bright (and Committed)
Beyond the raw stats, we’re seeing some serious college interest already. Jarrell Chandler, that tackle monster from Halls, is a four-star safety recruit already committed to Clemson football. That’s huge! Braylen Gibbs from Catholic, a junior cornerback, is a four-star Alabama commit and is set to feature big in 2026 after getting an interception and a pass breakup last year. Skylan Johnson, another Catholic talent, has already picked up an offer from Tennessee. These guys are not just making plays; they’re getting national attention.
We’ve got emerging stars too, like Zayden Williams from Oak Ridge, who had 27 tackles and 6 pass breakups as a sophomore and is poised for a breakout. De’Mauri DuBose from Alcoa emerged as a top defensive back for them with 28 tackles and 9 pass breakups. You can bet your bottom dollar these guys are gonna light it up in 2026.
So, who’s your pick? You’ve got until noon on July 23 to get your vote in and crown the preseason defensive back champ. This is just the start, folks, imagine what these guys will do once the real games kick off!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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