We continue our countdown to high school football kickoff with a lot at top defensive backs in Central Indiana. Here are 28 defensive backs to watch this season:
Chancelor Adams, Brownsburg, Sr.
The 6-3, 180-pound Adams is one of the most talented, experienced safeties in the state. Adams, who committed to Bowling Green in June, was second on the team last year with 81 tackles for the Class 6A state champions. He also had three interceptions and two caused fumbles.
Peyton Buis, Southport, Sr.
The 5-10 Buis was one of the bright spots for the Cardinals last year in a tough 2-9 season. He finished with 33 tackles (21 solo) and five interceptions, along with one fumble recovery. Buis has also pitched in for the Cardinals’ offense at times during his high school career.
Alec Burress, Indian Creek, Sr.
The 6-2, 190-pound Burress is one of Indian Creek’s defensive leaders, finishing last season with 83 tackles (28 solo), 3 ½ TFLs, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He has 207 tackles overall for his high school career. Burress also caught 11 passes for 221 yards and one TD last season.
Drake Coellner, Carmel, Jr.
The 6-foot, 190-pound safety is one of the top recruits in the state in the 2028 class with more than two dozen Division I offers. Coellner was fourth on the team last year with 72 tackles (46 solo) and led the Greyhounds with four interceptions. Impressive list of offers includes Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and others.
Andrew Davis, New Palestine, Jr.
The 6-foot, 185-pound free safety had three interceptions in the Dragons’ 20-15 sectional title win over Cathedral last season, a key victory on the way to a Class 5A state title. Davis had 47 tackles as a sophomore, including 30 solo stops. He also had one TFL and one caused fumble.
Reid Dikos, Westfield, Sr.
The 6-2, 185-pound Dikos was one of Westfield’s leaders last year with 31 solo tackles (44 total stops), two interceptions and one caused fumble for the Class 6A state runners-up. Dikos is also a pitcher for the Shamrocks’ baseball team.
Kaleb Elkins, Warren Central, Sr.
The 6-3, 185-pound Purdue recruit is eager to produce a big senior season after coming back last year off a knee injury. He finished last season with 27 solo tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. As a sophomore, Elkins had 28 solo tackles and six interceptions.
Lucas Farmer, Cascade, Sr.
The versatile 5-10, 175-pound Farmer was second on the team last year with 68 solo tackles (78 total) to help Cascade win the Class 3A state championship. He also had five interceptions, one caused fumble and one sack. Farmer has 239 total tackles, 13 TFLs, seven interceptions and three caused fumbles.
Jaylen Griffin, Pike, Sr.
Griffin had 25 solo tackles and one interception last year as a junior. Over two seasons, he has 51 solo tackles (60 total) and two interceptions. He has six touchdowns, four as a receiver, catching 10 passes for 118 yards and four TDs as a varsity player.
Jacari Griggs, Avon, Sr.
The 5-10, 165-pound Griggs finished last season with 22 solo tackles (26 total), three TFLs and one interception in 10 games. The return of Griggs, along with junior Chris Livington Waldon, should make the secondary a strong position group for the Orioles.
Jax Guidry, Bishop Chatard, Sr.
The 5-8, 165-pound free safety was named All-City and All-Circle City Conference as a junior as he finished with 79 tackles (43 solo), five TFLs, two interceptions and 1 ½ sacks as a junior. He is also a threat on special teams as a returner and as a punt blocker, making four blocks last season.
Quade Hall, Lapel, Sr.
Hall was second on the team last season with 101 tackles (50 solo), along with a team-leading four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 2 ½ TFLs.
Hunter Harvey, Decatur Central, Sr.
The 5-11, 180-pound Harvey is a leader at safety for the Hawks, coming off a season that saw him make 49 tackles (27 solo) with one interception and one fumble recovery. Harvey is also a contributor on offense with 527 rushing yards and five TDs and 14 catches for 138 yards and one TD in his career.
Will Hegwood, Roncalli, Sr.
The 6-1, 190-pound junior had 93 tackles (41 solo) as a junior for a Roncalli team that was the state runner-up in Class 4A. Hegwood also had 4 ½ TFLs, three interceptions and one caused fumble. In two seasons, he has 174 tackles, seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two caused fumbles.
Ty Holmes, Noblesville, Sr.
The 6-3, 185-pound safety played in just two games as a junior due to injury, making 19 tackles (two for loss) and he caused one fumble. In a full season as a sophomore, he had 50 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He has offers from Butler, UIndy and Marian.
Elijah Hughes, Lawrence North, Jr.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Hughes, a safety, finished his sophomore season third on the team with 72 tackles (42 solo), including six TFLs and two sacks to earn All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference honors. Hughes already has an offer from Miami of Ohio.
Mazeed Ishola, Speedway, Sr.
The 6-1, 185-pound Ishola was second on the team last year for Speedway with 74 tackles and led the Sparkplugs with 41 solo stops from his strong safety spot. He also had five TFLs, two interceptions and two caused fumbles. Ishola also plays receiver (14 catches, 137 yards, two TDs) and averaged 22.3 yards on kickoff returns.
Nate Johnson, Brebeuf Jesuit, Sr.
The senior safety is coming off a season that saw him make 47 tackles (31 solo) and two interceptions. Johnson has offers from Wabash, Dayton, Wittenberg and Thomas More. He also had 10 catches for 195 yards and two TDs.
Errol Kerns III, Lawrence Central, Sr.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Kerns saw his recruitment take off in the spring, then committed to Texas A&M over Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana and others. The all-state safety led the Bears last season with 90 tackles (52 solo) and added three interceptions, three forced fumbles and four TFLs. He also averaged 28.5 yards on kickoff returns and 18 yards on punt returns.
Kaiden Lee, Whiteland, Sr.
Lee, a free safety, is the lone returning starter on the defense for the Warriors. He made 64 tackles last season (31 solo), three interceptions and one forced fumble.
D.J. Mitchell, Franklin Central, Sr.
The 5-11, 165-pound cornerback committed to Miami of Ohio in March after a junior season that saw him make 31 tackles and three interceptions. Mitchell has 55 tackles (40 solo) total. He averaged 27 yards on kickoff return last season. He picked up offers from Michigan and Purdue in the spring.
Caden Nelson, Cathedral, Sr.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Nelson can play free safety or outside linebacker and was a team leader last year with 57 tackles (12 TFLs), five sacks, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. Nelson has offers from DePauw and Wabash.
Jaxson Pierson, Brownsburg, Sr.
The 5-10, 170-pound senior finished last season with 50 tackles (44 solo), one interception and one blocked field goal. Pierson, also part of Brownsburg’s state record-setting 4×100-meter relay team, committed to Austin Peay over Central Michigan.
Keontay Toomer, Ben Davis, Sr.
The 6-2, 180-pound Toomer, a Louisville commit, led the Giants in tackles last year with 95, including 52 solo stops. He also had two TFLs, one fumble recovery and one caused fumbles. Toomer also caught five passes for 72 yards and one TD as a junior.
Gabriel Vinatieri, Zionsville, Jr.
The junior safety and son of NFL Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri was one of Zionsville’s defensive leaders last season with 58 tackles (34 solo), one interception and one caused fumble. He is receiving Power Four interest.
Cam Walters, Brebeuf Jesuit, Sr.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Walters, who can play outside linebacker or strong safety, made 34 tackles (22 solo) as a junior, including six TFLs, three interceptions, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery in eight games. Walters committed to Butler at the end of July.
Ty White, Plainfield, Jr.
The 5-10, 180-pound White has been a leader in the Plainfield secondary for two years. He had 56 tackles (27 solo) and three interceptions as a sophomore and has 114 tackles (57 solo) with eight interceptions already as a varsity player.
Nathan Yoder, Center Grove, Sr.
The 5-11, 185-pound Yoder made 46 tackles as a junior strong safety, including 28 solo stops. He also had two interceptions and one sack for the Trojans.
Others to watch
Marquis Ballard, Warren Central, Sr.
Jayden Bogan, Fishers, Soph.
Wyatt Elijah, Pendleton Heights, Sr.
Grantland Fitzgerald, Shelbyville, Sr.
Cris Frietas, Lebanon, Jr.
Jordan Fultz, Danville, Sr.
Jason Johnson, Purdue Poly, Sr.
Jaxson Lawson, Roncalli, Sr.
Cooper Marlin, Triton Central, Sr.
Colby Schmaltz, Monrovia, Jr.
Jordan Smith, Brownsburg, Sr.
Coen Vanderbush, Plainfield, Jr.
Naalyn Vaughn, Cardinal Ritter, Jr.
Aviare Walker, North Central, Sr.
Blake Whittington, Eastern Hancock, Jr.
Tenauri Woods, Beech Grove, Sr.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 28 Central Indiana defensive backs to watch in 2026 high school football season
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
