As we head towards a new football season, IdahoSports.com is once again getting fans ready by unveiling the Top 10 players at each position. These lists feature players from all corners of the state, and from all six classification levels. Each week, we'll publish a new list of Top 10 players. Here's the schedule:
July 6 (Offensive Linemen)
July 14 (Defensive Linemen)
July 17 (Special Teams)
July 24 (Running Backs)
July 30 (Linebackers)
August 7 (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends)
August 12 (Defensive Backs)
August 17 (Quarterbacks)
These selections are listed in alphabetical order by school. These opinions are my own, and I made these selections based on a number of factors, including: returning All-State or All-Conference pedigree, college recruiting hype, and the good old-fashioned eye test.
Disagree? Send me an email at brandon@idahosports.com.
Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Defensive Backs to watch out for in 2026.
Nik Ciovacco, 12, Bishop Kelly
Ciovacco thrived as Bishop Kelly’s starting free safety in 2025, intercepting four passes. Those four picks were the second-highest on the team (their leader in INTs is below). The 6-foot, 180-pound senior was named 1st Team All-Conference for his efforts.During the spring, Ciovacco also stars on the lacrosse pitch as a midfielder.
Jared Thiel, 11, Bishop Kelly
Bishop Kelly football is filled with depth, tradition and success, so if a sophomore is going to crack the starting lineup for the Knights, it has to be a foundational talent. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Thiel certainly qualifies. Last year, Thiel notched 65 tackles with ten interceptions, four sacks, three defensive touchdowns, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
Madden Perkes, 12, Carey
Don’t be fooled by Perkes’ 5-foot-7, 170-pound frame. He’s a brick wall that covers ground exceptionally well. Last season, Perkes registered 79 tackles, including two fora loss. He forced one fumble and notched 16 pass break-ups in the secondary.
Easton Lott, 12, Columbia
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Lott seamlessly glides from one spot to another, whether it’s on the football field or the basketball court. He can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time and notched 32 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2025.
Kade Kimball, 11, Grace
Kimball started every game as a sophomore for a Grace team that advanced all the way to the Class 2A semifinals. The 5-foot-8, 140-pound Kimball did a little bit of everything, as he racked up 53 tackles, broke up seven passes, snagged four interceptions and recovered four fumbles.
Cameron Clausse, 12, Hagerman
Clausse stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 160 pounds with a nose for the ball as evidenced by his five interceptions and two forced fumbles a year ago. We often hear about the defensive backs being the last line of defense if a ball carrier breaks loose, but that’s especially true in eight-man football, where there’s more open space to work with. Along those lines, Clausse’s 51 tackles in 2025 were just as valuable as his seven turnovers.
Greyson Denney, 12, Hansen
Denney is another eight-man standout that plucked seven interceptions out of the air last season. He also notched 15 tackles and quarterbacked the Huskies offense. Hansen was one of the biggest surprises last year, but everyone is ready in 2026. How will Denney adjust?
Elias Shoemaker, 12, Melba
Shoemaker is 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds and bringsa mean streak to the defensive side of the ball. In 2025, Shoemaker notched 47 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble on his way to 1st Team All-Conference honors. Like many other athletes on this list, Shoemaker also shines during track and field season.
Statton Butikofer, 12, Rigby
The 5-foot-10, 150-pound Butikofer is the anchor of a Rigby secondary that lost quite a bit to graduation. A season ago, Butikofer recorded 31 tackles, 20 pass-breakups and nabbed two interceptions as the Trojans claimed yet another Class 6A state championship.
Josh Peterson, 12, Sugar-Salem
Peterson earned 1st Team All-Conference honors last season, as the 6-foot, 160-pound senior notched 21 tackles and led the Diggers with four interceptions. Peterson shows great range and awareness from his free safety position and can cover a lot of ground quickly.