With the sounds and smells of spring training camps wafting through the air, we’re counting down to college football season by delving into the instant impact makers arriving from high school this fall. Who are the impact true freshmen defensive backs to watch out for in the 2023 college football season?
College Football Top Impact True Freshmen Defensive Backs for 2023
Caleb Downs, Alabama
With the departure of Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, and DeMarcco Hellams from the Alabama secondary, Caleb Downs should be a Day 1 starter for the Crimson Tide. The Hoschton, GA native is the second-ranked prospect in the CFN Fusion recruiting rankings, and his combination of ability and opportunity makes him one of the top impact true freshmen defensive backs for this season.
“I just think he’s the right kind of person,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said of Downs to BamaOnLine. “He’s got leadership qualities that are hard to come by, and the guy’s really got a lot of talent physically to be able to develop into something special. And we’re really looking forward to working with him.”
Cormani McClain, Colorado
In Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain, Colorado might have the most high-profile cornerback duo in college football this year. Given that neither of them have played a snap at the FBS level, there is a certain amount of hype, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see our fourth-ranked prospect emerge as one of the top impact true freshmen DBs.
MORE: Colorado’s Dylan Edwards Among Top True Freshmen RBs
McClain has that alluring combination of size, speed, and length at the cornerback position. He comes into Colorado at 6’2″ and 165 pounds, with long levers that have proved insanely productive during his time at Lakeland, FL. A former WR, McClain understands route concepts and has the burst to position himself to make a play — that should help him earn early playing time.
Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
If it wasn’t for a paperwork miscommunication, Peyton Bowen would be suiting up for Oregon in 2023. However, the former Notre Dame commit eventually signed with the Oklahoma Sooners, bringing to an end one of the wilder recruiting stories of the 2023 class. Safely in Norman, Bowen is primed to be one of the top impact true freshmen DBs.
Having played in one of the most competitive environments in high school football, it shouldn’t take too much adjustment for Bowen to adapt to the college game. He’s a versatile defensive back who’s seen time at multiple spots, utilizing top-tier ball skills and football instincts to be a menace in coverage. Bowen’s athletic profile also gives him sideline-to-sideline range.
Jermaine Mathews Jr., Ohio State
Whether by circumstance or design, Ohio State has turned to true freshmen in the secondary in recent seasons, and with Jermaine Mathews Jr., there’s every chance they’ll do so again in the 2023 CFB campaign.
The 144th overall prospect, with a 95.24 CFN Fusion grade, has the opportunity to be one of the top impact true freshmen defensive backs in the nation.
The ability to play from multiple alignments helps bolster Mathews’ claim to becoming an immediate impact. His combination of speed, fluidity, agility, and ball skills make him a dangerous opponent — especially when you factor in the confidence that the young Buckeyes cornerback exudes.
“I’m super confident. I think like my technique and just my athletic ability, I think it ranks up there with a lot of people,” Mathews was quoted as saying by Eleven Warriors. “I think I got a really good chance of making an early impact next year.”
DaKaari Nelson, Penn State
Penn State has become a top-tier developer of DB talent, and in the 2023 recruiting class, they get their hands on multiple defensive backs to mold. While he might not be the highest-ranked of those newcomers to University Park, DaKaari Nelson already looks like a college player.
What do we mean by “looks like a college player?” Well, Nelson comes out of Selma, Alabama, measuring in at 6’3″, 203 pounds, with impressive length to match his physical stature. He plays the game with aggression befitting his build but is also equipped with alluring speed and the ball skills to be disruptive.
Is there anything he can’t do? According to Nelson himself, probably not.
“I’m a very versatile player,” the new Penn State safety told 247Sports earlier this month. “I can cover, I can come down in the box, I can do anything defensively.”
Jordan Sanford, Texas Tech
The Big 12 has a negative reputation for defense, but the conference could play host to another of the top impact true freshman defensive backs in 2023. Texas Tech landed several secondary standouts in this class, but versatile playmaker, Jordan Sanford out of Mansfield Timberview High School, should be an early feature for the Red Raiders.
MORE: College Football Impact True Freshmen Wide Receivers
While listed as a safety in the CFN recruiting rankings, Sanford is the true definition of a defensive back. He’s 5’11”, 185 pounds, and can play anywhere in the defensive backfield with his game-changing speed, fluidity, and explosive short-area ability. His length allows him to play bigger than his listed size, while his pure speed immediately gives him special-teams value.
CJ Blocker, Utah
As they’ve developed into a dominant force in the Pac-12, Utah has been home to a slew of high-level DB playmakers. The departure of their most recent one — Clark Phillips III — leaves a substantial hole to fill. While there are potential replacements already in the building, don’t rule out CJ Blocker asserting himself sooner rather than later.
Like several players on this list of impact true freshmen defensive backs, Blocker offers immediate value as a returner due to his track-level speed. He tallied three kick-return touchdowns in 2022 for New Caney HS. With good size, coverage fluidity, and body control at the catch point, Blocker is more than just a special-teams contributor for the 2023 season.
Damari Brown, Miami (FL)
It’s a rare set of circumstances when you get two brothers land with a program at the same time, but UCF transfer Davonte Brown is joined at Miami by younger brother Damari Brown. Hurricanes fans will be familiar with the family name; Selwyn Brown was a national championship-winning DB with Miami in 1987.
It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in terms of talent production. While Davonte heads into spring as a de facto starter, don’t rule out Damari emerging as a true impact player his freshman year. The younger Brown is already a high-level technician with good football IQ and the footwork and fluidity to battle with the very best that he’s faced in Florida.
Taylor Starling, North Texas
With leading producer DeShawn Gaddie heading to Ole Miss as one of the top defensive back transfers in the 2023 portal window, Taylor Starling arrives in Denton with the potential to make an immediate impact as a true freshman alongside the returning Ridge Texada.
Starling was a Colorado commit before the change of coaching staff forced a change of scenery for the Dallas native. While he isn’t the biggest cornerback at 5’10” and 170 pounds, the new North Texas DB has shown he can elevate himself at the catch point to make a play on the ball while demonstrating the ability to read the game at a high level.
MarJayvious Moss, Memphis
With a CFN Fusion grade of 87.513, MarJayvious Moss gives Memphis their highest-rated high school recruit since 2017, and one of the program’s best ever. While ratings and rankings aren’t indicative of potential immediate impact, it would be a surprise to see Moss not be a factor for the Tigers early on, given the loss of Quindell Johnson as an on-field leader.
Memphis beat out a number of Power Five programs to land Moss, a productive playmaker with eight interceptions in 2021 and a reliable force as a tackler — logging 61 tackles with three tackles for loss and a sack in 2022. Moss has an impressive physicality to his game, while showcasing the ball-tracking skills consistent with receiver experience at the high school level.
Who Is the Top Impact True Freshman DB in 2023?
Although Alabama hasn’t always been the place for immediate impact true freshmen defensive backs to shine — or any position for that matter — it’s difficult to look past Downs as being in position to have the biggest impact of any player on this list as we count down to the college football season.
It would be a major surprise if Down’s not on the field for the first game of the campaign against Middle Tennessee State. His versatile skill set allows him to be as effective coming downhill and smacking an RB in the mouth as he is reacting and disrupting in the passing game.
