Top defensive backs in CIF San Diego Section high school football

California is loaded with high school football talent, and the San Diego Section features some of the best DBs in the state

Honor Fa'alave-Johnson carries the ball in last season's CIF State playoff game against St. Bonaventure | Photo: Justin Fine /

Football scrimmages will take place later this week as we move closer to opening week in the San Diego Section. Up next in the season preview is a look at the top defensive backs across the section.

• Top 25 San Diego Section regular season football games

• Top 20 San Diego Section out-of-section games

• Top quarterbacks in San Diego Section football

• Top running backs in San Diego Section football

• Top receivers in San Diego Section football

• Top defensive linemen in San Diego Section football

• Top linebackers in San Diego Section football

Top defensive backs in San Diego Section football

(Players are listed in alphabetical order)

Eli Alsop, Poway, Jr.

2023 stats: 29 tackles, INT

Kaden Barnett, Del Norte, Sr.

2023 stats: 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 PBU, forced fumble

Isaiah Bartolome, Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: 13 tackles, 3 INT, 2 PBU

Charlie Bowers, Del Norte, Sr.

2023 stats: 35 tackles, 2 INT

Preston Bowles, Mt. Carmel, Sr.

2023 stats: 79 tackles, 2 forced fumbles

Braylon Cardwell, Mount Miguel, Sr. (San Diego State)

2023 stats: 12 tackles, 2 INT, PBU

Romeo Carter, Point Loma, Jr.

2023 stats: 38 tackles, 5 INT, 4 PBU

Qayden Coleman, El Camino, Sr.

2023 stats: 33 tackles, 6 INT, 5 PBU, forced fumble

Isaiah Cook, Mater Dei Catholic, Sr.

2023 stats: 26 tackles, 2 INT, forced fumble

Kye Cooper, San Diego, Soph.

2023 stats: 90 tackles, INT, forced fumble

Rasharee Demery Jr., Eastlake, Jr.

2023 stats: 17 tackles, INT, 12 PBU

Carson Diehl, La Jolla, Jr.

2023 stats: 46 tackles, 8 INT, 3 forced fumbles

Honor Fa’alave Johnson, Cathedral Catholic, Soph.

2023 stats: 62 tackles, 14 PBU

Brady Fagan, Bishop’s, Jr.

2023 stats: 46 tackles, 2 INT

Josh Faraimo, Cathedral Catholic, Jr.

2023 stats: N/A

Amio Fox, Montgomery, Jr.

2023 stats: 45 tackles, 4 PBU

Sergio Garcia, Brawley, Sr.

2023 stats: N/A

Kai Ingold, La Costa Canyon, Sr.

2023 stats: N/A

Nico Jara, Steele Canyon, Jr.

2023 stats: 26 tackles, 3 INT, PBU

Tay Lockett, University City, Jr. (Arkansas)

2023 stats: 49 tackles, 5 INT, 3 PBU, forced fumble

Diego Lopez, Bonita Vista, Sr.

2023 stats: 23 tackles, 2 INT, 2 PBU

Keontae McClay, Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: 53 tackles, 4 INT, 2 PBU, sack, forced fumble

Raul Moreno, Montgomery, Sr.

2023 stats: 50 tackles, 6 INTs

Kellen Morton, Clairemont, Jr.

2023 stats: 33 tackles, 3 INT, 5 PBU

Kymani Nua, Oceanside, Jr.

2023 stats: 23 tackles, INT, 3 PBU, forced fumble

Marcos Peña, Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: 25 tackles, INT, PBU

Diego Pereyra, Clairemont, Sr.

2023 stats: 41 tackles, 5 INT, 2 sacks, 11 PBU

Cammeron Purnell, Lincoln, Jr.

2023 stats: 31 tackles, 3 INT, 3 PBU

Jace Rackleff, Mission Hills, Sr.

2023 stats: 53 tackles, INT, forced fumble

Jerzel Ramirez, Granite Hills, Sr.

2023 stats: 38 tackles, INT, 2 PBU

Zane Reed, Francis Parker, Sr. (Southern Utah)

2023 stats: 59 tackles, 2 INT, forced fumble

Caleb Reese, San Marcos, Sr.

2023 stats: 32 tackles, 3 INT, 3 PBU, forced fumble

Dakarrai Roberson, Bonita Vista, Sr.

2023 stats: N/A

Deshawn Robinson, Southwest San Diego, Sr.

2023 stats: 32 tackles, 5 INT, 4 PBU

Isaiah Rodriguez, Eastlake, Jr.

2023 stats: 43 tackles, 2 INT, 11 PBU

Kory Savage, El Capitan, Sr.

2023 stats: 41 tackles, 5 INT, 3 PBU

Landon Schrom, Army-Navy, Jr.

2023 stats: 27 tackles, 3 INT, 2 PBU

Abdulahi Sharif, Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: INT

Jack Siegel, Carlsbad, Sr.

2023 stats: 21 tackles, INT, 6 PBU

Trevor Smith, Granite Hills, Sr.

2023 stats: 32 tackles, INT, 7 PBU

Jhett Stehly, Valley Center, Sr.

2023 stats: 17 tackles, PBU

Anthony Taylor, Del Norte, Sr.

2023 stats: 15 tackles, PBU

GT Taylor, El Capitan, Sr.

2023 stats: 44 tackles, 3 INT, 2 sacks, 4 PBU, forced fumble

Alex Trejo, Central, Sr.

2023 stats: 30 tackles, 3 INT, 6 PBU

Isaac Turner, Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: 17 tackles, 2 INT, 3 PBU

Parker Vance, Granite Hills, Sr.

2023 stats: 63 tackles, 5 INT, 2 sacks, 8 PBU

Joel Valverde, Tri-City Christian, Sr.

2023 stats: 25 tackles, 6 INT, 5 PBU

Dameian Watkins Jr., Lincoln, Sr.

2023 stats: 47 tackles, 2 INT, PBU, sack