Top 25 defensive backs in California high school football entering 2025

Lance Smith

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Top 25 defensive backs in California high school football entering 2025 image

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Not a year goes by that California isn't overflowing with high school football's top defensive backs.

In 2025 – like every other year – California has both elite talent at the top and also tremendous depth at cornerback and safety.

Read on to see who we think the top 25 of them are, followed by 30 more names who nearly made the cut. Even with 55 players mentioned below, there are still legitimate national recruits at defensive back in California who haven't done quite enough to earn a mention. That's how strong the rising junior and senior classes are at DB.

The primary criteria are individual production and team success relative to strength of schedule in prior seasons, individual awards from prior seasons, and recruiting accolades.

1. Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon – Sr.

With an incredible 10 interceptions against a national schedule, Riordan was named co-MVP of the vaunted Mission League and a MaxPreps All-American as a junior. The high 3-star USC commit starts his senior season with career totals of 16 interceptions, 29 pass break-ups, 127 tackles, and three forced fumbles. Riordan has been primarily featured at safety for the Trailblazers but is considered more of a cornerback prospect at the next level.

2. Isala Wily-Ava, St. John Bosco – Jr.

Wily-Ava took the Trinity League by storm as a sophomore with a program record of seven interceptions and team-high of 72 tackles. Unsurprisingly, his recruitment has absolutely exploded since December, as he's up to 4-status and 27 offers including Ohio State, Oregon, and USC. At 6-2, 195 with next-level athleticism, Wily-Ava already has all the tools a next-level safety could ask for.

3. Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian – Sr.

Davon Benjamin Oaks Christian

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Benjamin was already one of the state's top DBs as a junior with six picks (three for touchdowns), 45 tackles, five TFLs, and two forced fumbles, and he was also an impact player at receiver and return specialist. Greg Biggins of 247Sports described the 5-star safety as "the most versatile defensive back out West [who] could end up starting at corner, safety, or nickel" in college. The recent Oregon commit has upwards of 25 offers with Washington, Texas, Oregon, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and Miami considered to be his other top contenders.

4. Brandon "Dash" Arrington, Mount Miguel – Sr.

A 5-star Texas A&M commit, an Olympic-caliber sprinter, and the second-ranked high school senior in California, Arrington could prove to be the best three-phase player in the state this fall. As a junior he totaled 31 catches for 527 yards and five touchdowns, 52 yards and a TD on five carries, 309 KR yards, 26 tackles, and one interception. His best work, however, currently comes outside the stat sheet in coverage at corner.

5. Cory “CJ” Lavender Jr., Mater Dei – Sr.

A rare four-year starter for the No. 1 team in high school football, Lavender totaled 41 tackles, two interceptions, five pass break-ups, and two fumble recoveries as Mater Dei went 13-0. He committed to Washington earlier this year out of 28 offers that also include Georgia, Penn State, Miami, USC, and Tennessee. Lavender has the opportunity to finish his high school career having started for three consecutive national champions.

6. Brandon Lockhart, Loyola – Sr.

Lockhart is 4-star USC commit with outstanding length (6-foot-3) for a corner and productivity to show for it. He had five interceptions and 11 pass break-ups as a junior and also has career totals of 150 tackles, five forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries. Lockhart's other top offers include Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon, and BYU. 

7. Jeron Jones, Mission Viejo – Sr.

A lightning-quick cornerback with length and ball skills, Jones totaled nine interceptions, 129 tackles, 16 pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles between 2023 and 2024. He's a 4-star Washington commit whose other offers include Texas, Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and USC. 247Sports wrote, "He owns an athletic, 6-foot frame, runs well and displays excellent short-area quickness. He breaks well on the football and possesses excellent ball skills. Jones is a physical player, sound in run support and plays with a nice physical edge to his game. He's comfortable in press or off-man coverage and has the kind of all-around game that should allow him to see the field early at the next level."

8. Havon Finney, Sierra Canyon – Sr.

A standout cornerback since his first days at Sierra Canyon, Finney is now a rising senior after reclassifying to 2026. The 4-star LSU commit grabbed four interceptions last season and had two punt return touchdowns as well. His 26 other offers include Georgia, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Texas. 247Sports says, "From a traits standpoint, he has all the tools you’re looking for in a next level corner. He boasts a long, 6-2 frame with room to add good weight, is a plus athlete and can run... [Finney] has the long term upside to play for any school he wants and his ceiling is extremely high."

9. Devohn Moutra Jr., Serra (Gardena) – Sr.

One of California's top breakout stars last year, Moutra led one of the state's top defenses with 93 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and three interceptions in a rover role to earn Mission League co-DPOY honors. The 3-star Sacramento State commit also totaled 26 QB-hurries, two fumble recoveries, and two fumbles forced, plus 383 yards and five touchdowns rushing on 8.3 yards per carry. Moutra is a true ATH prospect and it'll be interesting to see if he lands at RB, S, or a different position.

10. Joshua Holland, St. John Bosco – Sr.

Holland was one of the top breakout stars of 2024 on the field, although he was already a USC commit holding big-name offers before his junior year began. He totaled 45 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass break-ups for the perennial national championship contender, and has the upside to keep improving at a rapid rate. Cal-Hi Sports named him First Team All-State (Juniors).

11. Jasen Womack, Oak Ridge – Sr.

A 3-star ATH prospect with offers from UNLV and Colorado State, Womack did some of everything as a junior to help lead Oak Ridge to the CIF-SJS D1 finals. He totaled 75 tackles (six for loss) and seven interceptions, including 14 tackles and two picks against Folsom in the section finals, and that wasn't the whole story. Womack also returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns, ran for 13 touchdowns, caught for 375 yards and four touchdowns, and even threw two touchdown passes.

12. Aaryn Washington, Mater Dei – Jr.

Speaking of breakout stars, Washington emerged as a star for the national champion in 2024 with three interceptions. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 19 player in his class regardless of position and wrote, "Washington is a hyper competitive, twitchy corner with really good short area quickness and change of direction. He flashes good ball skills, elite instincts and has a great feel for covering and playing the ball without committing needles penalties... Smart, high IQ football player who can jump routes and shows off a nice combination of quickness and fluidity." The 4-star recruit is up to 20 offers, mostly from college football's biggest names.

13. Gavin Williams, Damien – Jr.

Just halfway through his high school career, the 4-star ATH commit already has nine interceptions, 85 tackles, and five tackles for loss to his name for a couple tremendously successful Damien teams.  He also had three forced fumbles, a blocked field goal, and 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns as a junior. Based on what he's already shown at safety, it's hard to imagine Williams not going in that direction at the next level, but he's also a Power-4 prospect at receiver and will presumably get more opportunities there this year and next. He's already up to 36 offers including Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Texas.

14. Juju Johnson, Long Beach Poly – Jr.

By 247Sports' Composite Rankings, Johnson is a 5-star recruit and the top Class of 2027 prospect in California at any position. His size doesn't wow you at 5-10.5, 170, but his 6-foot-5 wingspan is off the charts and he's one of the most explosive athletes in the country. As a sophomore, he made 42 tackles, one interception, and a team-high three forced fumbles splitting time between corner and safety. Johnson's offers include Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, and Penn State.  

15. Duvay Williams, Serra (Gardena) – Jr.

California's top-ranked player in the Class of 2027 per 247Sports own rankings, Williams has 42 offers with Georgia, Texas A&M, and USC listed as the favorites to land his services. He's a long cornerback a 6-2 and an explosive athlete who might not be close to done growing in both length and strength. As a sophomore on one of California's stronger defenses, he totaled 45 tackles and 16 pass break-ups. Don't be surprised if Williams makes a strong case this season for status as the state's top DB.

16. Khalil Terry, Tustin – Jr.

After recording 65 tackles out of the gate, Terry had career-highs of five tackles for loss and four interceptions as a sophomore. Greg Biggins of 247Sports wrote, "He’s a high football IQ player and looks to be 2-3 steps ahead of everyone else on the field. Was timed at 20.3 MPH on the Catapult GPS in a game last season and plays with pace and suddenness... He anticipates routes, can bait a quarterback and shows good cover skills for a safety. He’s one of the more complete safeties in the region and has all the tools to be an early impact player at the next level." Terry is a 4-star recruit who's already up to 32 offers, such as Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon.

17. Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, Cathedral Catholic – Jr.

The big question for Fa'alave-Johnson is what position(s) he'll play not only in college but in any given week of high school football, with running back, receiver, and anywhere in the defensive backfield in play. Last season he missed five games due to transfer eligibility but in five regular season games recorded 18 tackles, two interceptions, 12 carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and five catches for 41 yards. Fa'alave-Johnson is a 5-star recruit with 32 offers such as Georgia, Florida State, Penn State, and Texas, and if he zeroes in on DB this season he'll probably be one of the 10 best in California.

18. Oshea Webb, Clovis East – Sr.

One of California's most underrated DBs by the casual fan coming out of the Central Section, Webb had a huge 2024 to help lead Clovis East to a 12-1 record, sweep of the TRAC, and section finals appearance. The 3-star Utah State commit snagged five interceptions and returned them a total of 327 yards and three touchdowns. Webb also registered 59 tackles and team-highs of 13 passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He has at least 14 offers to play corner at the next level.

19. Donovan Dunmore, Buchanan (Clovis) – Sr.

Like Webb, Dunmore had an outstanding junior campaign that went a bit under the radar as a result of playing in the loaded TRAC. The high 3-star Oregon State commit managed 58 tackles and a team-high 30 solo tackles playing corner, and he also grabbed five interceptions, including a pick-six against Central East. Dunmore is a blur with a 10.57-second 100m despite a bulkier build at 6-0, 190.

20. Cammeron Purnell, Lincoln (San Diego) – Sr.

Speaking of 3-star Oregon State commits, Purnell enters his senior year with career totals of nine interceptions, two section titles, and three state titles, including career-highs of 84 tackles (60 solo) and four interceptions as Lincoln went 12-2 last season. His other offers include Fresno State, UNLV, Utah, and Washington.

21. Rahsjon Duncan, McClymonds – Sr.

Duncan got it done on both ends as a junior, totaling 38 catches for 794 yards and seven touchdowns, 28 tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles for the Oakland Section juggernaut. 247Sports compared the high 3-star Washington commit to Marcus Peters – All-Pro CB and son of McClymonds head coach Michael Peters – and wrote "Duncan is on the short list when talking about the most physical defensive backs out West... Shows excellent cover instincts and hits like a truck in run support... Not only is he capable of playing anywhere in the secondary, he’s skilled enough at receiver to play at the Power 4 level on offense as well. An explosive athlete who shows both initial quickness and the top end speed to sprint past a secondary."

22. Isaiah Lucero, Northview – Sr.

A dark horse section/state Player of the Year candidate if Lucero and the Vikings can collectively improve on their 2024 successes. A 3-star Fresno State commit at CB, Lucero made 60 catches for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns, recorded 332 yards and two touchdowns returning kickoffs, and registered 31 tackles and five interceptions. For all his production, his ability to simply ruin an opposing receiver's night in coverage might be his most impressive attribute. Lucero received another dozen or more offers including BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State.

23. Derrick Johnson II, Murrieta Valley – Sr.

Johnson has been a fixture on two of the Nighthawks' better defenses in recent memory after a strong freshman year at Norco, and he's now a 3-star Oklahoma commit with 18 total offers. He enters his senior season career totals of 144 tackles (109 solo), six interceptions, 20 pass break-ups, and three forced fumbles. Johnson also had career-highs of seven tackles and two sacks last year. Lastly, Johnson is a D-1 prospect at wideout too and has 56 catches for 886 yards and 10 touchdowns in limited reps over the last two seasons.

24. Paisios Polamalu, St. Augustine – Jr.

While Polamalu isn't yet ranked or accredited with any D-1 offers by 247Sports, the son of arguably the greatest safety ever proved himself as an outstanding safety in his own right as a sophomore. He helped lead the Saints to a San Diego Section D3 crown with 140 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, and five forced fumbles. Polamalu also happens to be a standout guard on the hardwood despite standing 5-10, a testament to his athleticism.

25. Jayden Crowder, Santa Margarita – Sr.

A quick-footed straitjacket in coverage, special teams threat, and reigning First Team All-Trinity League selection. Crowder recorded 45 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two blocked field goals, and a blocked punt. Crowder is a 3-star Cal commit with 18 more offers including North Carolina, Boise State, Arizona State, Miami, Penn State, and Tennessee. He forms one of the premier corner/safety tandems in California with Logan Hirou. 

ALSO IN CONSIDERATION:

Sefanaia Alatini, Saint Francis (Mountain View) – Sr. (BYU)

Myles Baker, Sierra Canyon – Jr.

Savion Bandy, Grant Union – Sr.

Truly Bell, Pittsburg – Sr. (Oregon State)

Dillon Davis, St. John Bosco – Jr.

Carson Floyd, Whitney (Rocklin) – Sr.

Dorian Franklin, St. John Bosco – Jr.

Jaxson Gates, Damien – Sr. (BYU)

Ty Hicks, St. Ignatius – Sr. (Idaho State)

Logan Hirou, Santa Margarita – Sr.

Camren Hughes, Palos Verdes – Sr.

Deon Jackson, Long Beach Poly – Sr. (Cal)

Darius Johnson, Murrieta Valley – Jr.

Jeffery Johnson III, Oak Hills – Sr. (Sacramento State)

Brycen Landry, Salesian (Richmond) – Sr.

Danny Lang, Mater Dei – Jr.

Evan Mack, Wilson (Long Beach) – Jr.

Faruq Muhammad, Sierra Canyon – Jr.

Javari Nash, Crean Lutheran – Sr. (San Diego State)

Jayden Nicholas, De La Salle – Sr.

Ernest Nunley, Western – Sr. (Cal)

Marcellous Ryan, Serra (Gardena) – Sr. (North Carolina)

Landon Schrom, Army-Navy – Sr. (Idaho)

Brandon Smith, Central East – Sr. (Arizona)

Malakai Taufoou, Serra (San Mateo) – Jr.

Darnell Turner Jr., Granite Bay – Sr.

Dahriyon Vaughn, Baldwin Park – Sr. (Sacramento State)

Drew Ward, La Salle – Sr.

Therman "Boogie" Williams, Corona Centennial – Sr. (Sacramento State)

Donte Wright, Long Beach Poly – Jr. (Georgia)

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Lance Smith

Lance has covered high school basketball, football and softball since 2019. A graduate of The USC Marshall School of Business, Smith dabbles in linear algebra and football and basketball computer rankings.