Editors note: This is the seventh in the eight-part “YPS Top 40” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 40 of the top returning football players for the 2024 season.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The YPS Top 40 is an eight-story series highlight 40 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.

Over the past several days Your Prep Sports has examined the top returning players at six different position groups.

Up next in the series is the defensive backs with a look at some of the top returning secondary players in the area.

The series will conclude tomorrow as Your Prep Sports highlights the top returning specialists.

Here is a look at six of the top defensive backs in the area.

Dom Salibi

Senior, City High

As a sophomore Salibi seemed poised to be a future offensive star when he rushed for 420 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Last season the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Salibi found himself starring on the defensive side of the ball.

An impressive all-around athlete Salibi blossomed into one of the top defensive backs in the state last season earning first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference and all-district honors after leading the Little Hawks in interceptions.

Salibi was a lock down corner back last season picking off four passes and returning one for a touchdown to go with 11 tackles.

This season Salibi will move to safety where he can play closer to the line of scrimmage to utilize his physicality and strong tackling skills.

Will Aitchison

Senior, Regina

Aitchison could have gone into the linebacker list of this series that was released yesterday or the running back list that was published last week.

It doesn’t matter which list Aitchison lands on or where he lines up on the field the senior just finds a way to make plays.

A hybrid safety/linebacker in the Regina system Aitchison has made 45.5 tackles over the past two seasons and last year led Regina in rushing yards (567) and rushing touchdowns (9) while accounting for 706 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns.

His position flexibility makes Aitchison extremely valuable to Regina but he may be best on defense where he earned first-team all-district honors last season.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Aitchison will play plenty in the box this season where he is strong in run support but he has the skill set to be disruptive in pass coverage as well.

Ethan Headings

Junior, West High

Part of a young West High secondary last season Headings had an impressive debut season ranking seventh on the team with 22.5 tackles as a sophomore.

Headings showed a strong combination of tackling and coverage skills last season on his way to earning all-Mississippi Valley Conference and all-district honors in his first varsity season.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Headings made 22.5 tackles and picked off a past last season and is one of several Trojans that should take a big step up this season.

Look for Headings to be a leader in a West High secondary that has gone from question mark to strength since the start of last season.

Drew Greve

Junior, Regina 

It was an impressive debut season for Greve last season who ranked seventh on the team in tackles and second in interceptions in his first season as a starter.
The 6-foot, 155-pound Greve showed strong coverage and ball skills last season picking off four passes on his way to earning first-team all-district honors as a sophomore.

Greve also had 29.5 tackles and in his debut season and will be an important leader in the Regina secondary this season as the Regals replace several starters in the back end of its defense.

Another two-way standout, Greve will be a key for the Regals on both sides of the ball as Regina attempts to replicate the success of last season when it went 9-2 and advanced to the 1A quarterfinals.

Trace Robertson

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

A three-year starter Robertson is coming off an outstanding junior season in which he ranked third on the team in tackles and was fourth in tackles for loss while earning first-team all-district honors.

Another hybrid defensive player with the ability to play in the box or in space in the secondary Robertson has made 68.5 career tackles and picked off a pass each of the past two seasons.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Robertson can line up all over the field on defense and has a knack for finding the football as evidence by his 42.5 tackles last season that included five tackles for loss.

With five of its top seven tacklers returning this season Clear Creek Amana should be improved on defense and the flexibility of Robertson will be a huge asset for the Clippers.

Adrian DeWaard

Junior, West High

Another returning member of the West High secondary that got better with every game last season DeWaard returns after earning all-Mississippi Valley Conference honorable mention honors a year ago.

DeWaard ranked ninth on the team with 20.5 tackles last season and picked off a team-high three passes in a stellar debut season last fall.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound DeWaard is a versatile secondary defender that is able to play multiple position and should be in for a big season this fall.

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