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C&C previously took a look at the top 2029 defensive back class several months back with the full article here, but here is the full breakdown.
The early contributors group featured Amari Valentine (South Charleston), Devin Lazo (South Charleston), Zavion Beckett (Cabell Midland), Jahkobi Warren (Musselman), Davon Brockman (George Washington), KJ Viars (Independence), Andrew Lemley (Wirt County), and Ashton Byrd (Ritchie County), all showing early production and impact ability.
The SLEEPERS group included Darius Thomas (Capital), Neil Powell (Washington), Jacob Maynard (Mingo Central), Colby Atkins (Sherman), and Ryder Wright (Webster County), each showing developmental traits and early flashes of upside.
The WATCH OUT FOR tier featured Alex Cox (Princeton), Brady Thorn (Parkersburg), and Dominik Crawford (Keyser), all expected to rise with expanded roles.
The top rankings were led by Maddox Twigg (Morgantown) at No. 1, followed by Colton Roberson (Pendleton County), Kolby Walker (Martinsburg), Shannon Mitchell (Herbert Hoover), and Jaleel Jones (Bluefield), each recognized for their athleticism, instincts, and two-way impact potential.
Updates
There was not a significant amount of transfer movement within the underclassmen defensive back group, but recruiting activity has continued to accelerate across the state.
South Charleston standouts Amari Valentine and Devin Lazo both collected offers from West Virginia Wesleyan, continuing to establish themselves among the top young defensive backs in the state. Meanwhile, Shannon Mitchell (Herbert Hoover) saw his recruitment take off, adding opportunities from programs such as Fairmont State, Glenville State, and Charleston.
Another major recruiting development came for Turay Rush (Herbert Hoover), who picked up an FBS offer from Kent State while also drawing significant Division II interest. Maddox Twigg (Morgantown), though primarily evaluated as a quarterback prospect, continues to attract increasing FBS-level attention due to his overall athletic profile and upside.
Additional offers were earned by Jaleel Jones (Bluefield), who received an offer from Bluefield State, and Brady Thorn (Parkersburg), who added an offer from West Virginia State.
Several players also significantly elevated their stock through offseason camps and showcase performances. Kolby Walker (Martinsburg) continued to impress evaluators with his athleticism and playmaking ability, while Dominick Crawford (Keyser) backed up his football performance with elite track credentials, including a state championship in the long jump. Darius Thomas (Capital) was another prospect who helped himself considerably through strong camp performances and testing results.
New Names
Several additional underclassmen have begun generating attention over the past few months.
Gage Spears (Shady Spring) picked up an offer from Concord, while Colton Lawless (University) earned an offer from Bethany as colleges continue to take notice of his athletic upside.
Matthew Conley (Roane County) was one of the more pleasant surprises at the showcase, turning in a strong overall performance that placed him firmly on recruiting radars moving forward.
Transfer movement also brought a pair of notable additions to the group. Deion Cooper (Bluefield, 2029) transferred in from Graham, Virginia, giving Bluefield another young athlete with considerable upside in its skill-position pipeline.
Another name to watch is Carson Christian (Cabell Midland, 2028), who returns to West Virginia after spending time at Northwest (Ohio). At 6-foot-3 and approximately 200 pounds, Christian brings excellent size and versatility. While he may ultimately project closer to the box as he develops, he possesses the athleticism to line up in multiple roles for the Knights and should be a name to monitor closely over the coming years.