Five 2022 St. Louis DBs with National Attention
There may not be a better class of players in the country at the defensive back position than the 2022 Missouri class. This article will focus on the five most prominent NOW (who all happen to be in St. Louis)…
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Continue ReadingThere may not be a better class of players in the country at the defensive back position than the 2022 Missouri class. This article will focus on the five most prominent NOW (who all happen to be in St. Louis) but there is a group of eight-ten players statewide with breakout potential. The five defensive backs listed below could pick or choose their college on the offensive or defensive side of the football, but I project them to have the most success in the defensive backfield.
Torino Pride, Lutheran North (5’10, 170) The feature that jumps off tape when scouting Pride is his physicality. Not only will he get in the face of the wide receiver off the line of scrimmage, but he LOVES to hit. Coaches crave cornerbacks who are willing tacklers and Pride fits that bill. North has long arms for his size and plays the football in the air very well. Pride has multiple Power Five offers and the college team that signs him will get a player who will compete for snaps day one on campus.
Cameron Epps, Chaminade (6’2, 204) Epps is a long-limbed, smooth hipped athlete who carries himself with a confident swagger. He plays the football in the air like a wideout and has the speed to match after the interception. Epps is a freak of an athlete registering 40+ inches on the vertical jump. Epps’ talent level is still on the rise (much like his jumping ability). With offers from Kansas, Vanderbilt, and Boston College, look for more Power Five schools to take notice and offer soon. Epps is a 30-plus offer player.
Isaac Thompson Isaac Thompson 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB St. Louis University High | 2022 State MO , St. Louis University High (6’, 190) When your dad was a baller in his own right, a player must live in that shadow…until said player creates his own light. Isaac Thompson Isaac Thompson 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB St. Louis University High | 2022 State MO has done just that. The son of Michigan State star, Hicky Thompson, Isaac has taken a hold of his career path and created his own way. A natural-born leader, Thompson can play safety or cornerback with ease. The SLUH star always seems to take the proper angle to make a play and is a violent striker on contact. With multiple Power Five offers already, soon may people will be asking Hickey, ’Aren’t you Isaac Thompson Isaac Thompson 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB St. Louis University High | 2022 State MO ’s father?’
Caldra Williford Caldra Williford 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Lutheran North | 2022 State MO , Lutheran North (5’10, 160) Williford plays fast, has exceptional lateral speed, and has another gear once he is in open space. In off coverage, is savvy for his age to read the route and then arrive at the spot before the wide receiver. A natural ball-hawk, Williford always seems to be making a play on the football. He has soft hands and snatches the football out of the air with ease. Williford plays to his strengths very well and understands the nuances of the game. With added size, Williford could be a dominant cornerback on the next level.
Kaleb Purdy Kaleb Purdy 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB De Smet | 2022 State MO , DeSmet Jesuit (5’10, 170) On a team loaded with 2021 talent, Purdy made a name for himself by doing all the dirty work in the secondary for DeSmet Jesuit. Purdy plays heady, under control, and has high-end lateral quickness.
His transition from backpedal to flip and run is smooth and his short burst to close may be the best feature of his game. Holding offers from the likes of Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa State, Purdy has positioned himself well for the future.