Rating faculty soccer’s finest secondaries for 2026

Faculty soccer is loaded with top-end defensive backs in 2026, with names like Leonard Moore, KJ Bolden and Bray Hubbard returning to high school.

Whereas having a lockdown cornerback is a luxurious not many groups have, having depth within the secondary is much more uncommon — particularly within the present period of roster constructing with NIL and the switch portal.

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Trusting a defensive again to be on an island in man-to-man protection with an opposing receiver opens up a world of potentialities for a protection, particularly in faculty soccer.

Every of those 5 groups have top-tier expertise and depth that units them other than the remainder of the game. Here is a take a look at USA TODAY Sports activities’ finest secondaries heading into the 2026 season:

1. Alabama

Alabama not solely has one of the vital proficient secondaries in faculty soccer, but in addition one of the vital skilled.

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The Crimson Tide returns 5 starters from final season in its secondary, led by Hubbard and cornerback Zabien Brown, each of whom had been full-time starters in 2025. They’re joined by security Keon Sabb, cornerback Dijon Lee and projected nickelback Purple Morgan, all of whom began video games final season.

A preseason All-American by quite a few retailers, Hubbard is likely one of the finest playmaking defenders in faculty soccer. The previous highschool quarterback earned first-team All-SEC honors final season after ending with 74 complete tackles, three compelled fumbles and 4 interceptions.

Brown was a gamechanger, too, with a pick-six final season in opposition to Tennessee and Oklahoma, the latter within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Altogether, Alabama returns 81 mixed begins from its 5 projected starters this season.

2. Notre Dame

Moore features a great deal of consideration for being the consensus finest cornerback in America and one of many high prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, however the Preventing Irish collectively make up among the best defensive again items in faculty soccer because of loads of NFL expertise.

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Tae Johnson emerged as among the best safeties in faculty soccer in his first 12 months as a full-time starter in 2025, with 48 complete tackles and 4 interceptions. Colorado switch DJ McKinney will line up reverse him after registering 95 complete tackles with 4 interceptions in two seasons with the Buffaloes, whereas Johnson shall be joined by Adon Shuler, a workforce captain with two interceptions and two fumbles in 2025.

Notre Dame’s protection shall be very a number of this season, because of its secondary’s capability in protection.

3. Georgia

Bolden leads a Georgia secondary that has a great deal of expertise. A preseason All-American, Bolden has elite velocity at security for the Bulldogs, and is considered the highest security prospect within the 2027 NFL Draft after tallying 76 complete tackles with two interceptions and 7 passes deflected.

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He’ll be joined by high cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, a former five-star recruit who completed 2025 with 4 interceptions. Demello Jones additionally returns at cornerback together with Oklahoma switch Gentry Williams, an uber-talented defender who has battled a slew of accidents in his profession.

Georgia additionally introduced in East Carolina switch Ja’Marley Riddle, a projected starter at security after recording 133 complete tackles with six interceptions in two seasons with the Pirates. Athens native Khalil Barnes can also be anticipated to play a big function within the secondary after transferring in from Clemson, the place he had seven interceptions in three seasons.

4. Oregon

Oregon returns lockdown cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. from final 12 months’s workforce, but in addition made a splash within the switch portal with security Koi Perich, an All-Large Ten performer at Minnesota who’s changing first-round decide Dillon Thieneman.

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Perich’s play-making capability is notable, with six interceptions and two compelled fumbles in his first two seasons with the Golden Gophers. He is additionally a standout returner, and was even used sparingly in particular offensive packages at Minnesota.

Finney is anticipated to take an excellent greater leap in 2026, particularly after incomes All-Large Ten second-team honors final season as a real freshman. The previous five-star recruit began all 15 video games for the Geese, and is on all types of preseason All-American groups heading into his sophomore 12 months.

Oregon’s secondary is rounded out with cornerback Ify Obidegwu, security Aaron Flowers and nickelback Carl Williams IV, a first-year switch from Baylor. Flowers was considered one of Oregon’s finest downhill gap-fillers final season, ending the 12 months with 69 tackles and two compelled fumbles.

5. Miami

Miami’s secondary is led by returning starter Romanas “OJ” Frederique Jr., who may find yourself as one of many high cornerback prospects of the 2027 NFL Draft. He is joined by returning starters Xavier Lucas and Ethan O’Connor, who each transferred in from Wisconsin and Washington State, respectively, final season.

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Safeties Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser additionally return as starters, with Fitzgerald incomes extra accountability after being a freshman All-American in 2025. Not many groups have two gamers as strong as O’Connor and Lucas sharing cornerback duties subsequent to Frederique, however that is why the Hurricanes are anticipated to be nationwide championship contenders once more this season.

Make sure to try USA TODAY Sports activities’ new Faculty Soccer Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports activities columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You possibly can stream on YouTube or obtain through Apple podcasts and Spotify.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Rating faculty soccer’s finest secondaries for 2026