The Guardian Foundation Repair top preseason defensive back for the 2026 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) football season is currently being decided by public vote, and Knox News will remove any participants linked to suspected voting irregularities.
Key Contenders
Among the names on the ballot, several players stood out during the 2025 campaign. Becks Allen from Hardin Valley earned all‑region honors with 63 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception, while Zach Banks of Sevier County logged 66 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Jarrell Chandler from Halls, a PrepXtra second‑team selection, posted 94 tackles, eight pass breakups, six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception, and has committed to Clemson University as a four‑star safety recruit.
Taren Claridy of Greeneville was recognized as one of the area’s top ballhawks, recording 40 tackles, 10 pass breakups, eight interceptions, four tackles for loss and two defensive touchdowns, earning PrepXtra second‑team honors.
Other notable performers include De’Mauri DuBose from Alcoa, who tallied 28 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions; Braylen Gibbs, a junior cornerback and four‑star Alabama commit, who added a pass breakup and an interception while behind Notre Dame signee Chaston Smith; and Ethan Fortner from West, who contributed 14 pass breakups to his 58 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Bennett Jelks of CAK filled the stat sheet with 43 tackles, four interceptions, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown, while Skylan Johnson from Catholic recorded 29 tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup before receiving an offer from the University of Tennessee.
Brooks Johnston, another Catholic veteran, returns with 52 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions, and Kaden Webber from Grace Christian, a PrepXtra third‑team member, posted 70 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, an interception, a sack and a quarterback pressure.
The poll also features standouts such as Zayden Williams of Oak Ridge, who as a sophomore logged 27 tackles, six pass breakups, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble, and Cooper Wheeler from Powell, who tallied 57 tackles, 11 pass breakups, three tackles for loss and two interceptions last season.
With commitments to powerhouse programs like Clemson, Alabama and Tennessee, and a deep pool of talent across the state, the race for the Guardian Foundation Repair defensive back honor promises to be one of the most exciting preseason selections in recent memory.