Editors note: This is the seventh article in the eight-part “YPS Top 50” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 50 of the top returning football players for the 2025 season.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The YPS Top 50 is an eight-story series that highlights 50 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.

Over the past week the series has featured six position groups, beginning with offensive groups – quarterbacks, running backs, pass catchers and offensive line – before moving to the defensive line and linebackers.

Today the focus remains on defense with a look at some of the top returning defensive backs in the area.

The series will conclude with a look at the top returning special teams players in the area.

Here is a look at nine of the top returning defensive backs in the Your Prep Sports area.

Logan Laubenthal

Senior, Liberty High

Laubenthal emerged as a leader in the Liberty High secondary during an all-state junior season and will be expected to be a key leader of the entire Lightning defense this fall as Liberty seeks to build on the most successful season in program history.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Laubenthal was a first team all-district and Class 5A second team all-state selection following an impressive junior season in which he ranked sixth on the team in tackles and led the Lightning with four interceptions.

Laubenthal had 33.5 tackles, including 21 solo stops, and picked off four passes last season while helping Liberty High to a 10-2 record and the program’s first ever Class 5A semifinal appearance.

Excellent in coverage but also a physical tackler, Laubenthal will be a building block on a Liberty High defense that will look to pick up where it left off last season after playing its best over the second half of the season.

Ethan Headings

Senior, West High

A stalwart in the West High secondary for three seasons Headings established himself as one of the top defensive backs in the state with a huge junior season.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Headings earned first team all-district and all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors last season after ranking third on the team with 58 tackles.

A North Dakota commit, Headings had 32 solo stops and three tackles for loss among his 58 total tackles last season and also picked off a pass.

An excellent athlete with a quick burst, Headings is a sure tackler and has strong ball skills which he showed last season catching 10 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Headings has 81 career tackles and two interceptions in his first two seasons but is in line for a big-time senior season as the leader of a veteran West High secondary.

Iyon Harris

Senior, City High

Harris has all the attributes to be one of the best cornerbacks in the state.

The 6-foot, 162-pound Harris has the size, length, speed, quickness, instincts and toughness required to excel on an island in pass defense and showed last season he can tackle in the open field.

Harris was a first team all-Mississippi Valley Conference pick last season after making 19 tackles and intercepting a pass to help City High to a 6-5 record and a spot in the Class 5A playoffs.

Look for an even bigger season from Harris this fall after he showed his explosive ability on offense a year ago when he averaged better than 23 yards per catch on eighth receptions with three going for touchdowns.

Drew Greve

Senior, Regina

One of the top defensive backs in Class 1A Greve is coming off an all-state junior season in which he led Regina in interceptions while helping the Regals to a 9-2 record and a spot in the 1A quarterfinals.

Greve was a unanimous Class 1A, District 5 all-district pick and earned second team Class 1A all-state honors last season after making 24 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while leading Regina with four interceptions.

A three-year starter in the Regal secondary, Greve has four interceptions in each of the past two seasons and has 53.5 career tackles.

The 6-0, 150-pound Greve is a rangy cornerback with great ball skills and footwork that has the ability to lock down one side of the field.

Greve will also be an important part of the Regina receiving corps after catching 23 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Aren Schlemme

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

If you are looking for a player that could take their game to an entirely different level this season look no further than Schlemme who appears poised for a monster senior season.

Already a two-year starter, Schlemme has racked up 40.5 tackles and two interceptions over the past two seasons.

This fall look for Schlemme to be an even bigger playmaker from his free safety spot as Clear Creek Amana seeks to improve on its 6-5 record and Class 4A playoff appearance from last season.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Schlemme is an explosive and rangy athlete that is capable of being an eraser in the back end of the Clipper defense.

Schlemme had 20.5 tackles last season and has caught four passes for 138 yards, 34.5 yard average, over the past two seasons.

Keaton Gates

Junior, West Branch

Name a position on the defense and Gates could probably play that spot.

In fact, like his older brother who appeared on the running back list of the YPS Top 50, if you pick any spot on the football field Gates would probably fit in just fine.

A three-sport standout who also excels in wrestling and track and field Gates was at his versatile best last season earning first team all-district honors as a utility player.

From his spot in the secondary Gates ranked fourth on the team with 39.5 tackles including 31 solo stops and three tackles for loss and led West Branch with two interceptions.

Gates averaged 18.8 yards on 21 kickoff returns, caught six passes for 33 yards and rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown last season.

Look for Gates to line up all over the field on defense where he is perhaps at his best but he will also factor heavily into the Bears offensive game plan at running back where he brings big play potential to the field on every play.

Pryor Reiners

Junior, Liberty High

Another talented returning in the Lightning secondary Reiners made an immediate impact in his first varsity season last fall.

Reiners ranked eighth on the team with 31 tackles including a tackle for loss and had three interceptions on his way to earning second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference and second team all-district honors.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Reiners is physical and explosive and should be in for a huge season with a year of varsity experience under his belt.

Adrian DeWaard

Senior, West High

Another veteran in a talented West High secondary DeWaard is a three-year starter that has emerged as a big-time playmaker in the back end of the Trojan defense.

DeWaard has ranked in the top eight on the team in tackles each of the last two seasons racking up 54 career stops and has developed a knack for the big play.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound safety led West High with three interceptions as a sophomore in 2023 and last season returned his only interceptions 48 yards for a touchdown.

DeWaard had a career-high 33.5 tackles last season with 1.5 for loss on his way to earning 2^nd team all-Mississippi Valley Conference and honorable mention all-district honors.

A sound fundamental player, DeWaard pairs his knowledge and anticipation with speed to become one of the top defensive backs in Class 5A.

Aaron Honore

Senior, Regina

In his first season in the Regina secondary Honore emerged as playmaker from his safety spot ranking ninth on the team in tackles and second in interceptions as the Regals went 9-2 and reached the Class 1A quarterfinals.

Honore picked off three passes, recovered a fumble and made 31.5 tackles from his safety spot last fall.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Honore has explosive speed and covers a lot of ground in a hurry which makes him a potential big play defender in the back end of the Regina defense.

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