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Defensive backs need to be versatile, seven area players who combine finesse with power
They are the last line of defense. Defensive backs must keep receivers covered while keeping an eye out for ball carriers who try to sneak through and break off a big run. They must possess the hands of a receiver and be physical, like a linebacker.
Dre Bernard, Kaston Lewis, Landon Mitchell, Landon Joyce, Humphrey Ned, Gerald Watson and Justin Weston fit the bill in 2024 and will reprise their roles this season. The group intercepted 23 passes and broke up 53, while averaging more than 50 tackles each.
Landon Mitchell
Freshmen aren't meant to make an impact, but Mitchell did.
The free safety led the area with eight interceptions and finished with 42 tackles to earn first-team all-district honors. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way player caught 18 passes for 520 yards and two touchdowns as the Gators reached the postseason for the first time since 2019. Head coach Idaibi Ogbanga said he expects the sophomore to continue making a significant impact.
'He is a phenomenal kid,' Ogbanga said of Mitchell. 'He has been working hard.
'What he did as a freshman was amazing. I think this year we have a good group of seniors, and he will still play both sides of the ball. The pressure is not on him, so he can just go out there and play. I think he is going to be phenomenal. He will be our X factor on defense. He is a ball-hawk type of kid.'
Dre Bernard
The 5-9, 173-pound senior had a 35-yard pick-six in his first game of Washington-Marion last season to help seal a 20-7 win over Abbeville in Week 1. He went on to earn 3-4A first-team all-district and American Press All-Southwest Louisiana honors as a cornerback with 54 tackles, three forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 12 pass breakups.
He said he's received interest from multiple Division I schools, including Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State, Lamar, Southern University and Grambling State.
With a strong knowledge of defensive and offensive schemes, he will play on both sides of the ball.
'He's the guy who leads team prayer,' W-M head coach Dio Bernard said of his son. 'He's that coach on the field. I would say since he was the age of three, he was just bred to be a football player.'
Kaston Lewis
With Iowa's do-everything all-around athlete Cohen Charles at McNeese, head coach Tommy Johns said he expects Lewis, a 6-1, 180-pound junior, to move into that role.
Lewis, who says he has an offer from McNeese, made two interceptions in 2024 for the semifinalist Yellow Jackets, broke up five passes and made more than 30 tackles to make the 3-4A all-district second team. Johns said he will also spend time at running back.
'He's going to take on the role of Cohen Charles for us,' Johns said. 'He's actually bigger than Cohen is, but their skill sets are very similar.
'He's only going to be a junior, so he's still learning what's going on. But he's truly come along in the last year, and he's starting to understand.'
Landon Joyce
Joyce used his speed last season to cut through passing lanes and break up 11 passes.
He picked off one pass and made 60 tackles, earned first-team all-district honors and helped lead DeQuincy to a 9-2 season. The 6-0, 140-pound junior will be part of a strong secondary that includes three returning starters and will play wide receiver.
'He's probably our best athlete,' DeQuincy head coach Tate Woodard said. 'He can absolutely fly. We're going to double him at receiver this year.'
Humphrey Ned, Gerald Watson
Jennings will have one of the most potent defensive backfields with a pair of senior returning first-team all-district players in Ned and Watson.
Ned (5-10, 185) was the 3-3A defensive MVP and made the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana team. He had 106 tackles playing strong safety and played a major part in the Bulldogs' run defense with 22 tackles for a loss. Ned intercepted two passes and broke up four. He doubled as a receiver, catching 17 passes for 414 yards and six touchdowns and scored on a punt and fumble return.
From the weak-side safety position, Watson (5-10, 150) broke up 10 passes and intercepted three for a defense that held opponents to 16.2 points a game.
Justin Weston
The ball-hawking junior two-sport athlete busted up 11 passes last season as the Warriors went 9-2, won the District 4-1A championship and their first playoff game since 2015.
Weston earned second-team all-district honors last season and averaged 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Warriors Select Division IV state champion basketball team. The Warriors return all four defensive secondary starters.
