Who are the best defensive backs in Cincinnati high school football ahead of 2025?

With the start of another high school football season around the corner, The Enquirer is ranking the best players in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

This week is dedicated to one skill position on defense and one on offense.

A number of the top players in the city will be patrolling the secondary this fall, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks and receivers.

There is also a poll at the bottom of this story to vote on the top defensive back in Greater Cincinnati.

You can also read about the top offensive lineman and top defensive lineman.

Ace Alston, Anderson

The Anderson Raptors are known for winning games with their aerial attack, but have recently become one of the best teams in the city at neutralizing their opponents' passing game. Alston logged three of Anderson's 15 interceptions last season. He also made 46 tackles and forced two fumbles. One of the top players in the city, he already has 37 Division I offers heading into his junior year.

Chris Bradley, Lakota West

The incoming junior was one of two Moeller players with three interceptions before he transferred to play for Tom Bolden. He started on varsity as a sophomore, recording 33 tackles. With two years left in his career, he can become the next great Lakota West defensive back, joining Taebron Bennie-Powell, Josh Fussell, Malik Hartford, Ben Minich and Drew Minich.

Ryker Campbell, Cooper

He led all of Northern Kentucky with eight interceptions in 2024. He recorded multiple picks in wins over Ryle and Great Crossing, then had an interception in four of the Jaguars' five playoff games. He simply has an eye for the ball as he also led Cooper with 102 tackles.

Laaren Cornwall, Middletown

He was one of six Greater Miami Conference players to record four interceptions last season. Three of those interceptions came in the Middies' last three games of the season. He also recorded 27 tackles in 2024, and committed to Central Michigan on June 14.

Hezikiah Kelley, Northwest

The junior, who recently committed to Cincinnati, had two interceptions, eight pass deflections and 48 tackles for the Knights in 2024. Northwest went 2-8 and allowed 28 points per game last season. Under Kelley's leadership, those numbers should go down and the Knights should be a contender in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

Rihyael Kelley, Winton Woods

He is the second Warrior in as many seasons to commit to Alabama after Justin Hill did so last summer. If things shake out, Kelley could join Hill and 2023 Winton Woods graduate Cam Calhoun in Tuscaloosa. Last fall, he had two interceptions, 23 tackles, and returned a fumble for a touchdown in a win over Walnut Hills.

Dylan Lee, Ryle

The Colgate commit had six interceptions and eight pass breakups last season. Five of his picks came during a six-game stretch in the second half of the season. He'll feature a little more at receiver this season (he had 608 receiving yards last season), but at 6-foot-1, Lee can be a two-way nightmare every Friday night.

Jojo Pouncy, Taft

The incoming junior saw his career take off after transferring from Cooper. Last fall, he recorded three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and 17 pass deflections. At 6-foot-3, he is a pure athlete and already had 16 DI offers.

Ke'Maury Tye, Anderson

Tye strikes just as much fear in opposing quarterbacks as his teammate Alston does. He had two interceptions, 45 tackles, and led the Eastern Cincinnati Conference with 17 pass deflections. Basically, don't throw it in his direction. He has five Division I offers so far, all from Mid-American Conference schools.

Derek Uran, Elder

The senior and Virginia commit can fly all over the field whether he's on offense or defense. That speed comes from his state championship-level hurdling pedigree. In 2024, he recorded two interceptions, including one for a 31-yard touchdown return against St. Edward, led the Greater Catholic League-South with 9.5 sacks, and was fifth in the league with 75 tackles.

Additional defensive backs and safeties to watch in the 2025 season

Declan Brown, Badin; Kendall Buck-Barber, Newport; Nicholas Cozzi, Bishop Brossart; Aiden Daniel, Williamsburg; Nate Dawson, Winton Woods; Braylon Dennis, Walnut Hills; Nishawn Golsby, Dixie Heights; Leon Hall Jr., Cincinnati Country Day; Trent Hogan, Kings; Thomas Huckleby, Cincinnati Country Day; Parker Jackson, Ross; Hudson Kreke, Fenwick; Josiah Leonard, Fairfield; Ben Markarian, Harrison; Nathan Pabst, Beechwood; Mac Reed, Turpin; Logan Sanning, Covington Catholic; Eli Stewart, Wilmington; Andrew Wells, Princeton

Vote: Who is the top defensive back/ safety in Greater Cincinnati in 2025?

Readers can vote once per hour per device. This poll will close at 4 p.m. on July 24.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: High school football: Cincinnati's best defensive backs in 2025