Iowa's best football players: Meet the state's top defensive backs

Some of the top defensive backs in Iowa prep football

This fall, we have been taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school football. The final list takes a look at the defensive backs. 

There are hundreds of standout football players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other defensive backs worthy of fans’ attention in 2023. 

Cael Benesh, 5-10, 160, Jr., North Linn

Benesh had seven interceptions – tied with several others for second in the state – and returned three for touchdowns. He finished with 35 tackles and one fumble recovery.

Nick Denning, 6-0, 150, Sr., AHSTW

Denning was a Class 1A first team all-state pick as a junior after amassing 112.5 tackles and adding 266 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Denning is shining once again in his senior season, with 70.5 tackles (66 solo), four interceptions, two for touchdowns, 18 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Nash Dykes, 5-9, 145, Jr., Central Decatur

Dykes led the state with nine interceptions as the Cardinals head into their second round Class A playoff game. He is also the team’s leading receiver with 29 catches for 324 yards and a score. Of his 24 tackles, 3.5 are for loss and Dykes has returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown. Central Decatur has 15 interceptions as a team and limited opponents to 15.88 points per game, 14th fewest in Class A.

Trevor Forey, 5-9, 155, Sr., Janesville

Forey is one of four players in the state to return three interceptions for touchdowns. He had six overall and 21 tackles for the Wildcats, who fell in the first round of the 8-player playoffs.

Owen Garside, 6-0, 160, Jr., Boyer Valley

Garside is also the Bulldogs’ quarterback and rushed for 767 yards and 17 touchdowns while passing for 339 yards and four scores. On defense, Garside picked off seven passes, had 56 tackles and recovered two fumbles.

Dayton Harrell, 5-9, 165, Sr., Sioux City North

Harrell wore many hats for the North Stars. He was the team’s leading receiver with 33 catches (322 yards, 1 touchdown) and second-leading rusher with 520 yards and eight touchdowns. On defense, Harrell had 26.5 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery he returned 56 yards for a score. Harrell averaged 41.3 yards on nine kickoff returns, bringing back two for touchdowns.

Mason Hoy, 5-10, 150, Soph., Springville

Hoy has a bright future with the Orioles, having rushed for 930 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. He threw 29 passes, completing 12 for four touchdowns. Along with seven interceptions, Hoy also recorded 41 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Jalen Johnson, 6-3, 195, Jr., Dubuque Senior

Johnson’s numbers don’t jump out at you, but he is listed as the No. 1 prospect at defensive back for the Class of 2025 by Prep Red Zone. Johnson charted 13.5 tackles and 6.5 went for losses. He recovered one fumble.

Lane Kenny, 6-0, 160, Sr., Ames

Kenny shared time at quarterback for the Little Cyclones, passing for 485 yards and five touchdowns and when he switched to receiver, he had eight catches for 207 yards and two scores. He returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown and finished the season with 14 tackles.

Cole Kindred, 6-0, 182, Sr., Sigourney-Keota

Kindred gave the Cobras a pair of all-state defensive backs last season when he landed on the 1A second team. Kindred has four interceptions this season and 18n tackles. He has hauled in five touchdown passes as a running back and rushed for 352 yards and four scores heading into the second round of the playoffs.

Nate Lampe, 5-11, 155, Sr., Newton

Lampe, who was a Class 4A second-team all-stater last season, had five interceptions heading into a first-round playoff game. He had 29 tackles, including 28 solo. Lampe is a three-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and soccer.

Drew Larson, 6-1, 175, Sr., Iowa City High

Larson was a returning second-team Class 5A all-state pick. He put up some impressive numbers as the Little Hawks’ quarterback as a sophomore and junior, combining to pass for 3.187 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. He suffered a broken thumb in the first game this season and was out several weeks, but still threw for 326 yards and a touchdown and had 9.5 tackles.

Harry Leinen, Sr., Waukee Northwest

Leinen was named to the Class 5A all-state second team as a junior. This season, he had 48 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and three interceptions heading into a first-round playoff game.

Jake Moore, 6-0, 170, Sr., Sigourney-Keota

The senior safety was a first team all-state pick last season, picking off three passes and returning one for a touchdown. This season, Moore has two interceptions and a fumble recovery, along with 40.5 tackles, five for loss and the Cobras have advanced to the second round of the 1A playoffs.

Marvin Neely IV, 5-11, 170, Jr., Davenport West

West didn’t make the playoffs, but finished 5-4, giving the school its first back-to-back winning seasons in over 20 years. Neely played a big part, finishing with 49.5 tackles, 42 solo and 4.5 for loss. He was the Falcons’ leading tackler as a sophomore. Neely also played offense, hauling in 20 receptions for 305 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another.

Aaron Olsen, 5-11, 160, Jr., Audubon

Olsen put up good numbers on both sides of the ball for the Wheelers, who fell in the second round of the 8-player playoffs. At quarterback, he carried 209 times for 1,203 yards and 16 touchdowns and passed for 537 yards and four scores. Defensively, Olsen had six interceptions and 50 tackles, 37 solo.

Tate Perrin, 5-10, 165, Jr., Dallas Center-Grimes

Perrin intercepted a school-record nine passes this season and is tied for the top spot in the state in that category. The three-sport athlete finished with 33 tackles, 20 solo, and handled return duties on kickoffs and punts.

Reed Pfaltzgraff, 6-4, 170, Sr., Bondurant-Farrar

Pfaltzgraff had four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, heading into a Class 4A first-round playoff game. A second team all-state pick at defensive back last season, he is the Bluejays’ leading receiver with 28 catches for 695 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a starter for the 3A boys state basketball champions last winter.

Evan Roden, 6-1, 170, Sr., Logan-Magnolia

Roden had racked up 1,212 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for the Panthers, who moved into the second round of the Class A playoffs. On defense, Roden was credited with 19.5 tackles and averaged 18.5 yards per kick return.

Jackson Ruggles, 6-0, 160, Soph., Mount Ayr

Ruggles was the starting quarterback as a sophomore for the Raiders, who made it to the Class A playoffs but fell in the first round. He had 736 passing yards (six touchdowns) and 489 rushing (five touchdowns). Ruggles was tied for second statewide with seven interceptions to go along with 30.5 tackles, four for loss.

Sam Schoening, 5-10, 145, Sr., Underwood

Schoening is second on the Eagles with 47.5 tackles heading into a second round Class 1A playoff tilt. Of those, 40 were solo stops and six for loss. Schoening also has four interceptions. Underwood’s defense had allowed only six points in its last six games.

Jack Terpstra, 6-0, 165, Sr., Akron-Westfield

Terpstra is a ball-hawk for the Westerners, having intercepted three passes heading into a second-round Class A playoff game. He was the team’s leading receiver with 29 catches, good for 429 yards and two touchdowns.

Sir Brandon Watts, 5-8, 160, Sr., Sioux City Bishop Heelan

Watts, a two-way performer, helped the Crusaders return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Watts, who had 19 tackles, an interception and fumble recovery on defense, had also caught six touchdown passes and rushed for one heading into Heelan’s opening-round playoff game.

Tatum Wilken, 5-9, 150, Jr., Akron-Westfield

Wilken is another talented defensive back for the Westerners, who were in a second-round Class A playoff game against Logan-Magnolia. Along with three interceptions, Wilken has 25 tackles, including 22 solos. He has contributed offensively with three rushing and three receiving touchdowns.

Curtis Witte, 6-1, 175, Sr., Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Witte made the Class 4A all-state first team as a junior. He had four interceptions and 28.5 tackles for the Titans during the regular season and was the team’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 549 yards and five touchdowns. Witte averaged 18.7 yards per punt return, taking one back for a score. He committed to Division II Wayne State College before his senior season.

Photo of Council Bluff Lewis Central's Curtis Witte by Mike Byrnes