WENTZVILLE, Mo. — Six Star Football held its Camp & Combine showcase event on Sunday at Heartland Park outside of St. Louis, drawing several talented prospects from across the region.
Here, we look at several of the day’s most talented senior defensive back and safety prospects.
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Presley Cathcart, 5’9, 174, DB, 2021, Park Hill DB @cathcartpresley
Power Ball: 32, Broad Jump: 8’6, Shuttle: 4.44, 40-Yard Dash: 4.71
No doubt a tenacious competitor that is big time impressive and is a player that can take over and game and be a top notch shutdown defensive back to watch out for. Cathcart finished with a very impressive 80 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, and had five forced fumbles. Also added a fumble recovery, four sacks, 13 QB hurries, and had four passes defensed. Had a nice powerball of 32, sixth best mark among all DBs, and a broad jump of 8’6 at the 6Star Football Combine. No doubt a player with a major upside and a big time tackling machine to get on your next level list.
Jelani Collins, 5’10,170, DB, 2021, Fort Zumwalt East @_jelanicollins_
Power Ball: 37, Broad Jump: 9’1, 40-Yard Dash: 4.77
One of the most impressive well rounded athletes at the 6Star Football Combine, Collins had a big time mark and the best power ball distance among all DBs with a huge 37 in the power ball toss and a 9’1 mark in the broad jump (which tied for 3rd best among all DBs) as well. A player that showed out and was a big time performer no doubt. Jelani is a player that also has been a very good man to man cover guy that can run with almost any WR out there and is a blanket cover type of DB for Fort Zumwalt East. No doubt a senior that can turn some heads in the secondary unit.
Jhadyrz Fridge, 5’10, 145, DB, 2021, East St. Louis (Ill.) @6Thatkid
Power Ball: 27, Broad Jump: 8’2, Shuttle: 4.56
Fridge comes from the powerhouse East St. Louis Flyers program and is a good looking senior defensive back that could make some noise at the next level with his talents. Has an athletic frame and can play fast in the secondary. Fridge is a player that also can be an impact maker both as a DB or a WR, has good hands as a WR and is a player on either side of the football that has proven he can use some very impressive speed and athletic skills to be a big time tackler and a guy that really can close in on the football well from the secondary unit. Is also a major competitor that won’t give an inch and has good hands and natural football instincts.
Courtney Hughes, 5’11, 163, DB, 2021, SLUH @courtneyhii_
Power Ball: 30.3, Broad Jump: 7’5, Shuttle: 4.25, 40-Yard Dash:4.80
Hughes is one of the impressive senior standouts among the best of the best for the secondary unit at SLUH. Hughes had a 30.3 in the power ball and a good time of 4.25 in the shuttle. A player that has become a high stock riser and is a player we think should garner some next level offers with his skill set. Hughes is a player that can be a force on both sides of the ball and is considered a top tackler in the area. Hughes no doubt is a player that has proven his talent and is one of those guys that has a non stop motor on the field looking to make one big time play after another. A player that made the most of every play on the football field, Hughes racked up 21 total tackles, had 12 solo tackles, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one interception all in just four games of action in 2020. Hughes was named MCC 2nd Team All-Conference asa CB in Class 6A.
Keith Jackson, 6’0, 175, DB, 2021, Lutheran St. Charles @Keith_Jackson7
Power Ball: 29, Broad Jump: 7’6
Jackson is one of the seniors that is an impressive looking defensive back for Lutheran St. Charles and turned in a 29 power ball and a 7’6 in the broad jump at the 6Star Football Combine. Jackson is one of those defensive backs that can make some big time things happen. Jackson, who committed to Missouri S&T, is a play maker that should have a good frame for the next level for the Miners. A very athletic play maker that is a long 6-0 and can make huge plays on the ball while its in the air. Jackson also is a WR that can dominate and make some huge plays on the ball to haul in some fantastic grabs. No doubt Jackson is one impressive play making athlete.
Ryan King, 6’1, 183, S/OLB, 2021, Chaminade @ryanking001
King is one of the many big time looking senior play makers for the Chaminade team and a guy that has had a big upside to his game. 6-1, 183, King has some good next level size and a good frame as well. Ryan is a player that can play LB and is more of a hybrid LB and DB for Chaminade. King earned 1st Team All Conference Linebacker honors for the 2020 season as well. Holds offers from Pitt. State, Quincy, Northeastern State, and has visited with schools like Austin Peay. No doubt very impressive next level play maker that should be a hot recruit to grab for the program that is a good fit.
LeJuan Miller, 5’10, 202, DB, 2021, Lee’s Summit @lejuanmiller
Power Ball: 31, Broad Jump: 8’1, Shuttle: 4.50, 40-Yard Dash: 5.05
Miller is a impressive senior standout for Lee’s Summit and a player that turned in a 31 power ball mark and an 8’1 mark in the broad jump at the 6Star Football Combine in St. Louis. Miller is an All-State linebacker, and 1st Team All-District and All-Conference selection, that also can play defensive back and be a very heavy hitter with 202 pounds of muscle, power, and size that is very impressive. A big time play maker against the run, racks up sacks and big time plays in the backfield with regularity. One big time impressive play maker that should be a huge get for the next level.
Gerold Nave, 5’10, 155, DB, 2021, Marquette Catholic (Ill.) @GeroldNave
Nave is a very good looking athlete and a nice looking competitor that we were grateful to have compete at the 6Star Football Combine. A very lean and athletic looking defensive back for Marquette Catholic (Ill.), Nave is a player that can really close the gap on plays with some great acceleration and is one of the better open field tacklers that you will find. A player with speed, good instincts and that is a good tackler should be a player colleges should be taking a look at for their next DB spot. Nave has a load of potential and has been a key play maker for the Marquette Catholic secondary unit.
Kevin Roberson II, 5’10, 180, DB, 2021, Blue Springs @Kev_inRoberson
Power Ball: 30, Broad Jump: 8’4, Shuttle: 4.53, 40-Yard Dash: 4.73
Taking a look at one of the better senior defensive backs to attend the 6Star Football Combine in St. Louis from the Kansas City area, Roberson looks to be a fine play maker out of the Blue Springs program. The 5’10, 180 play maker is a player that can be a hard and knock out hitter along with being a guy that can drop back in coverage and make some excellent plays on the football while its in the air. A very good open field tackler also that brings explosive hitting power and drives through ball carriers. Holds an offer from Peru State and also holds interest from Central Missouri.
Chris Robinson, 5’8, 152, DB, 2021, McCluer @Christo23934462
Power Ball: 25, Broad Jump: 8’5, Shuttle: 4.28, 40-Yard Dash: 4.68
Robinson has a load of next level talent and is a player that has the speed and ability to be a very impressive play maker, one of those guys colleges need to check out that can really be a shut down type DB with his athletic play making and one on one coverage skills. You can’t leave a ball up on Robinson or he will pick it off and be heading the other way with it. Can make some big time plays on the ball while its in the air and is a battler for the football and a hard nosed competitor as well. A very fast player that moves well and is one of the best cover a lot of space type of DBs out will find in the St. Louis area. Robinson is a player that colleges should pay some major attention to. Ran a 4.28 in the shuttle and had a time of 4.68 in the 40 yard dash at the 6Star Football Combine in St. Louis. Finished off a great career by being named a First team All Conference pick and had an amazing 13 interceptions.
Chris Starks, 6’2, 180, DB, 2021, SM Northwest (Kan.) @_iamchrisstarks
Power Ball: 33, Broad Jump: 8’6, Shuttle: 4.41, 40-Yard Dash: 4.56
Ran a big time 4.56 in the 40-Yard dash and had a 8’6 broad and a 33 powerball, the third best mark among all DBs at the event as well to impress at the 6Star Football Combine in St. Louis. No doubt a prospect that really has a lot going for him with good size and skills, Starks is a player that has been a big impact maker for the Shawnee Mission NW club and has landed two recent offers from New Mexico Military Institute and Coffeyville CC. A big and impressive 6,2 180 pound frame as well makes him a very tough one on one matchup for WRs to handle and make plays against. Preferred style of play is to be a very aggressive on the line press into coverage type of DB. Also can really get up when he needs to with a vertical of 32 inches. One of the hot senior defensive backs that should be on colleges must see radar.
Sam Sweeney, 5’9, 147, DB/S, 2021, Park Hill @Sam_Sweeney16
Power Ball: 29, Broad Jump: 8’6, Shuttle: 4’31, 40-Yard Dash: 4.63
Sweeney is a very impressive senior play making DB for Park Hill and a guy that posted a mark of 8’6 in the broad jump and ran a 4.31 in the shuttle at the 6Star Football Combine in St. Louis. Sweeney is a player that can really be an offense’s worst nightmares. Sweeney had a huge 2020 season with 166 total tackles, 20 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 13 PDs, 1 FR. Sam also set two school records, those being most tackles in a game (21), and most tackles in a season (166). Sweeney earned All-Conference and All-District as a junior in 2019. Sweeney has earned a reputation as a tackling machine and is drawing college interest this offseason, earning his first offer from Mid-America Nazarene.
Kevin Ward, 6’0, 189, DB, 2021, Kickapoo @kevinward_15
Power Ball: 32.5, Broad Jump: 9’9, Shuttle: 4.18, 40-Yard Dash: 4.53
One of the most impressive performances by any DB had to be Kickapoo’s big time athletic play maker Kevin Ward. Had a big time 9’9 broad jump (best among all DBs) and a good mark in the power ball of 32.5, good for fifth best mark among all DBs. Ward had a great shuttle mark of 4.18 (fourth best among all DBs) and a 4.53 in the 40 yard dash (fourth best time among all DBs) that showed off his major speed. One of the hardest hitting strong safeties in the state, Ward can really come up and rock the ball carriers world. A tough nosed player, good closing speed and explodes through his tackles. Also a fine running back that has the power to break away with his good speed and vision out of the backfield. No doubt a huge speed guy and a big time hitter that has been impressive in a huge way. Ward earned 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Back, as well as 2nd Team All-District for 6A and All-Area Team honors.
Gavin Williams, 5’11, 185, DB, 2021, DeSoto (Kan.) @Gavintank2021
Power Ball: 30’5, Broad Jump: 8’10, Shuttle: 4.35, 40-Yard Dash: 4.71
Although a true Linebacker, Williams of DeSoto competed with the defensive backs at the 6Star Football Combine and no doubt proved just how impressive of a senior sensation that he was. Williams had a very impressive performance with a 30’5 in the power ball and an excellent 8’10 mark in the broad jump. Williams posted a very impressive 99 tackles from his linebacker spot this season for DeSoto and was a major impact maker for a top team in the state of Kansas. Williams also racked up 1st Team All Conference OLB honors. Williams also had one interception, eight tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three sacks all coming in nine games.
DJ Witt, 5’7, 140, DB, 2021, Carthage @DjWitt37
Power Ball: 24, Broad Jump: 8’0, Shuttle: 4.56, 40-Yard Dash: 5.03
Witt has been a very good play maker in the Carthage secondary unit throughout his career and is one of the Defensive Backs on the must see list for SW Missouri’s key DBs to know. Might not be the biggest Defensive Back but certainly is one of the most impactful ones. Racked up a load of impressive and well deserved honors as one of the elite play making DBs in the SW part of Missouri, Witt was named a 1st team All-District, 1st team All- Conference (COC), 1st team All -Area, and was a 2nd team All-State selection as a well for a senior season to remember. He has drawn an offer from Wartburg College and Culver-Stockton.
