Photo by Brian McLean
Top 10 defensive backs in North Texas high school football
By Chuck Cox
(Featured photo of Denton Guyer's Ryan Yaites (21))
As we continue to take a look at the best players at each position for the 2022 football season, our group of defensive backs might be the strongest overall in the North Texas region.
Each of the picks on our list is committed to play for a Power 5 program next fall after wrapping up their senior seasons.
The goal for any high school team is to hoist a state championship trophy at the end of the season.
These 10 safeties and cornerbacks increase their teams' odds of making that dream a reality this year.
See if you agree with our choices.
Top high school football players in North Texas for 2022
QB | RB | WR | DL | LB | TE | OL
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Malik Muhammad, 6-0, 175, Sr., South Oak Cliff
Ranked as the No. 34 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 38 overall player by 247Sports.com, Muhammad is the complete package at cornerback.
On the way to winning a Class 5A Division II state championship last season, he and his defensive teammates allowed 28 or fewer points in each of their six postseason games, including a 23-15 win against Liberty Hill for the Class 5A Division II title.
Muhammad, a Texas commit, had three interceptions during his junior season. He is also not the only SOC cornerback - or future Longhorn - on our list.
Peyton Bowen, 6-0, 185, Sr., Denton Guyer
Bowen is a five-star recruit who ranks as the No. 36 overall player in the nation by 247Sports.com and the No. 46 overall player by Rivals.com.
As a junior last season, Bowen had six interceptions from his safety position to help the Wildcats finish 14-2 and advance to the Class 6A Division II state title game. His brother, Eli, is also back after snagging 10 interceptions last season, so the Guyer secondary is in good hands with the Bowens.
Peyton, who also returns kicks, will play for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He is also not the only Wildcat on our list.
Javien Toviano, 6-1, 190, Sr., Arlington Martin
Another elite cornerback with tremendous athleticism, Toviano is fresh off of a junior year that saw him make 26 tackles and break up three passes to help the Warriors finish 9-3 with a playoff victory against Irving Nimitz.
He was also a force on the other side of the ball, rushing for 415 yards and eight touchdowns, and catching one pass for 22 yards.
Toviano has not committed, but he has multiple offers from power programs like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma.
Jayvon Thomas, 5-11, 170, Sr., South Oak Cliff
The second Golden Bear on our list, Thomas is more than capable of holding his own with blazing speed at cornerback opposite Muhammad.
While helping South Oak Cliff win the first official state title for a Dallas Independent School District program since 1958 last season, Thomas turned plenty of scouts' heads, which led to a commitment to Texas A&M.
As he tries to help SOC repeat as state champions, Thomas will also line up at running back for the Golden Bears this season. The SOC secondary should be scary good again after a historical 2021.
Calvin Simpson-Hunt, 6-0, 190, Sr., Waxahachie
A four-star cornerback with good size and speed, Simpson-Hunt added 15 pounds during the offseason to make him even more formidable in pass coverage.
As a junior in 2021, he made 37 tackles and had an interception to help the Indians to a 6-5 record and a postseason berth. The secondary should be Waxahachie's strength this year in a killer District 11-6A with the likes of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville.
Simpson-Hunt committed to Texas Tech, but he then switched his pledge to Ohio State in late June.
Braxton Myers, 6-1, 195, Sr., Coppell
Myers, a four-star cornerback, came up big as a junior last season with 38 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and an interception, although the Cowboys struggled to a 4-6 record.
Coppell has a new head coach this season in Antonio Wiley, who led Wichita Falls Hirschi to a 12-3 record and a state semifinalist finish in 2021. Myers brings a wealth of experience to the table after breaking up 13 passes as a sophomore at Plano John Paul II.
He plans to play for head coach Lincoln Riley at USC. He is also the son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Michael Myers - not the Halloween bad guy.
Jamel Johnson, 6-1, 185, Sr., Arlington Seguin
The first player to commit to Texas in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Johnson is a big-time player who makes things happen at safety. During his 2021 junior season, the Cougars finished 4-5 overall and missed the playoffs.
Johnson, who was also recruited by LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, caught seven passes for 83 yards on offense in five games a season ago.
He hopes to close out his high school career in style by leading his team to the postseason before heading to Austin. His stock should rise even more this season.
Jaylon Braxton, 6-0, 170, Sr., Frisco Lone Star
A two-way starter for the Rangers, Braxton earned Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A second-team All-State honors as a cornerback after making three interceptions last season.
On offense, Braxton had 38 catches for 467 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help Lone Star finish 9-3 with a playoff win against Dallas Bryan Adams.
A four-star recruit, Braxton - an Arkansas commit - also had offers from Baylor, Michigan State, Penn State and Nebraska, among others.
Ryan Yaites, 6-0, 190, Sr., Denton Guyer
The second Guyer Wildcat on our list, Yaites is the real deal at safety. A first-team All-District 6-6A selection last season, he helped Guyer to its second state title game in the last three seasons.
With Yaites, Peyton and Eli Bowen, Guyer might have the best secondary in the state of Texas in 2022.
Yaites committed early to play for head coach Brian Kelly at LSU after receiving offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Cal and Michigan State.
Warren Roberson, 6-0, 180, Sr., Red Oak
Roberson is a force of nature on both sides of the ball for the Hawks. As a junior last season, he started at safety and had four interceptions and six pass break-ups.
On the other side of the ball at wide receiver, Roberson had 711 yards and 10 touchdowns despite the fact that Red Oak finished 2-8 overall.
Although he has not committed yet, he has narrowed down his top five college choices to Florida, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU and USC.
