The Lockdown Artists: The Top 5 Cornerbacks and Safeties for the 2025 Season

In a county with an abundance of offensive talent, the importance of a strong secondary cannot be overstated. The 2025 season in Pinellas County promises to feature a handful of elite defensive backs who have the skills to shut down the best receivers and make game-changing plays. From classic lockdown corners to hard-hitting safeties, here are our top defensive backs to watch.

1. Kentrail McRae, Clearwater High School

The top spot on our list belongs to Kentrail McRae, a long and rangy cornerback out of Clearwater High School. At 6'2" and 168 pounds, McRae has emerged as one of the county's premier recruits, earning a commitment to the University of Pittsburgh after a slew of offers. His stats may not jump off the page, but on film, he is a true lockdown corner who runs stride-for-stride with the county's best receivers. McRae is the classic cornerback who can play bump-and-run coverage, is a solid tackler, and consistently challenges every pass thrown his way.

2024 Stats: 35 tkls, 1 int

2. Malique Harrell, Lakewood High School

Photo: Firefly Event Photography
 

Coming in at #2 is Lakewood Spartan Malique Harrell. Similar to our top-ranked player, Harrell is an excellent cover cornerback who doesn't have flashy stats but is a nightmare for opposing receivers on film. At 6"1 and 167 pounds, he is a lockdown corner who had 27 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 9 pass deflections last season. With offers from Georgia State, Toledo, Stetson, Howard University, and FIU, along with interest from other major programs, Harrell's game speaks for itself. He is a key component of a stout Spartan defense and will go stride for stride with your #1 reciever

3. Darin Townsend, Largo High School

Darin Townsend of Largo High School is another consistent presence on our top defensive back list. A 6'0", 160-pound ballhawk, Townsend has the range to protect the secondary and the versatility to move around on defense. Last season, he recorded 63 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 pass deflections. With the emergence of teammate Jayden Burgess, we expect the Largo defense to be air-tight and hard-hitting. Townsend holds offers from Southeastern and Hampden-Sydney College, along with Howard University and Louisiana Christian University.

4. (Tie) Hard Hitters and Ballhawks
 

The talent at the defensive back position is so strong that we had to include a tie for the #4 spot, showcasing two players who are set to have a major impact this season.

4a. Anthony Roman, Pinellas Park High School

Anthony Roman is a hard-hitting safety out of Pinellas Park High School. At 5'10" and 195 pounds, Roman brings the boom from the safety position and is a player who can also play cornerback if needed. His film shows a hard hitter who makes good tackles and stops ball carriers at the point of attack. Last season, he tallied 97 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass deflections. Roman should be a leader for one of the county's most solid defenses, playing alongside top linebacker Gabe Dilworth and safety Nate Vega. He has offers from UNC Pembroke, Millsaps College, and Louisiana Christian University.

4b. Tavauren Wilson, Clearwater Central Catholic

Also at #4 is Tavauren Wilson of Clearwater Central Catholic, a senior and a member of last year's state runner-up team. Wilson has offers from Southeastern and the University of Rhode Island. At 5'9" and 180 pounds, he is a solid tackler who is good in space and well-disciplined. He had 55 tackles and 3 interceptions last season, and as a senior, we expect him to contribute even more on both sides of the ball. Given the CCC brand, we anticipate Wilson will creep up in the rankings and see a few more offers as well.

5. Once again the talent at the defensive back position is so strong that we had to include a tie for the #5 spot, showcasing two players who are set to have a major impact this season.

5a. Christopher Tank, St. Petersburg High School Christopher Tank is a rangy 6'3", 180-pound safety out of St. Petersburg High. With offers from Warner and UNC Pembroke, Tank is a playmaker with a knack for making plays on the ball when it's in the air. Last season, he had 50 tackles to go along with 6 interceptions. As a leader in the backfield alongside rising defensive back Phillip Cuahingberry, Tank is a dynamic player who will make a difference in every game.

5b. Cam Smith, Calvary Christian Rounding out our list is Cam Smith of Calvary Christian. A 6'1", 190-pound defensive back, Smith has been on our radar since his time at East Lake two seasons ago. He possesses good size and strong coverage fundamentals that project well for him as a safety or cornerback at the next level. Smith is also a solid tackler who is willing to contribute on special teams. Last season, he had 17 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 tackle for loss.

With this wealth of talent in the secondary, Pinellas County is set to have an exciting season of defensive battles.