BEST DEFENSIVE BACKS ON THE BLITZ 2026 NFL Draft

2026 BEST DEFENSIVE BACKS ON THE BLITZ

Blitzing from the secondary requires a specialized set of skills and impeccable timing, a craft perfected by standout college players like Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) and Jabrill Peppers (Michigan) in their collegiate tenures. Their aptitude to disguise blitzes, coupled with an innate ability to navigate through offensive line gaps, redefined how defensive backs could impact the quarterback pressure metric.

Immerse yourself in the ensuing data, focusing on the contemporary defensive backs sculpting their reputation as blitz specialists in college football. Engage with blitz success rate, quarterback pressures, and sacks to delve into the ways these defensive backs are orchestrating chaos in opposition backfields, and fortifying their team’s pass rush from unexpected quarters.

2026 Defensive Backs ranked by PASS RUSH

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING RUN DEFENSE ZONE MAN/PRESS Rating
1

Jyaire
Hill

CB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
76 70 79 80
90.0
2

Javien
Toviano

CB
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
90 67 61 62
82.6
3

Dante
Lovett

CB
Virginia Tech   Mascot
Virginia Tech Mascot
35 47 58 63
56.1
4

TJ
Metcalf

S
Arkansas   Mascot
Arkansas Mascot
66 79 64 62
81.0
5

Christian
Gray

CB
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
61 67 63 70
73.0
6

Emmanuel
Karnley

CB
Arizona   Mascot
Arizona Mascot
43 31 41 43
25.9
7

Kayin
Lee

CB
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
71 70 74 84
81.5
8

Joenel
Aguero

S
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
62 69 67 60
84.2
9

Malik
Hartford

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
62 71 77 73
83.1
10

Ethan
O'Connor

CB
Washington State   Mascot
Washington State Mascot
58 80 72 69
82.6
11

D'Angelo
Ponds

CB
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
89 91 94 84
80.8
12

Jaylon
Braxton

CB
Arkansas   Mascot
Arkansas Mascot
68 65 78 73
80.2
13

Caleb
Downs

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
82 88 92 94
90.6
14

Peyton
Bowen

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
75 74 57 67
83.7
15

Elliot
Washington I...

CB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
85 89 75 69
86.8
16

Smith
Snowden

CB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
62 77 77 71
87.8
17

Jermaine
Mathews Jr.

CB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
57 66 82 84
88.8
18

King
Mack

S
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
59 59 61 53
85.9
19

Randon
Fontenette

S
Vanderbilt   Mascot
Vanderbilt Mascot
78 91 81 63
84.6
20

Dijon
Johnson

CB
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
58 75 80 78
85.6