1. Arizona State Sun Devils

The Sun Devils are loaded in the back third of the defense.

This is an elite secondary: ASU was 23rd in the nation with 4.93 passes defended per game, and this year the unit will be even better.

Keith Abney can be a lock down corner and Javan Robinson will make it difficult for offenses to push everything to his side. Xavion Alford is one of the best safeties in the nation, and Myles Rowser gives them a formidable duo at the position.

Throw Nyland Green and Adrian Wilson into the mix with Kyndrich Breedlove plating the Nickel and this unit is extremely deep and talented.

2. Oregon Ducks

The top player in my individual DB rankings was Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. The Purdue transfer will anchor the back half of the Duck defense.

This unit lost a lot from last season but is loaded with playmakers. Ify Obidegwu is a star in the making at cornerback.

The other corners on the outside—Theran Johnson, Jahlil Florence, and Daylen Austin—can all make plays.

Kingston Lopa joins Thieneman at safety to give the Ducks a dynamic one-two punch in the last line of defense.

3. Washington Huskies

I am a big fan of Ephesians Prysock at corner; he has the size and speed to cover anyone, and his length is unmatched.  And he is only the second-best corner for the Huskies.

Tacario Davis will line up opposite and can shut down anyone. CJ Christian and Makell Esteen will man the safety spots along with Alex McLaughlin, three big hitters that can make plays.

UW averaged 4.5 passes defended per outing in 2024 and the passing defense was second in the nation.

The secondary will not be easy to throw against in 2025.

4. Utah Utes

Tao Johnson is really good at the back of the defense, and this secondary will be anchored by the junior.

Don Saunders could provide an instant impact coming in from Texas A&M, while Smith Snowden is a ball hawk at corner and can match up in the slot.

Nate Ritchie can also make plays and Jackson Bennee could become the next great Utah DB after seeing action mostly on special teams as a freshman.

The Utes always have good secondaries and 2025 should be no different.

5. USC Trojans

The Trojans have the pieces to produce a top-notch defensive backfield in 2025.

Bishop Fitzgerald is a hard-hitting safety who can make plays. Pair him with Kamari Ramsey and Kennedy Urlacher, and the Trojans are loaded at safety.

DJ Harvey is a playmaker on the outside and can disrupt things in the run game as well. Braylon Conoley, Prophet Brown, and DeCarlos Nicholson can match up and cover.

The Trojans passing defense should be much-improved in 2025.

6. BYU Cougars

The Cougars led the nation last season in interceptions per game with 1.69 and were 15th in the nation with 5.15 passes defended per game. Now, the LBs certainly helped in that interception total, but this BYU secondary is stout.

For the Cougars it certainly is a case of the sum of its parts outweighing any individual. No individual player showed up on my list of the Top 12 DBs in the West, but the unit can get things done. Raider Damuni could be a star at safety and Tanner Wall and Faletau Satuala will be a good fit opposite.

Evan Johnson, Mory Bamba and Jonathan Kabeya may not jump out at you when thinking about dominant players at the corner position, but they also won’t get beat very often. The Cougar pass defense should be very opportunistic once again in 2025.

7. Boise State Broncos

Jeremiah Earby is a star at cornerback and Ty Benefield is the best safety in the Mountain West.

Add in another potential First-Team All-Mountain West pick at the other corner in A’Marion McCoy, along with Zion Washington as SS, and the Broncos have quite the starting four at the tail end of their defense.

This was a unit that struggled at times in 2024 but should be much improved this fall.

8. Fresno State Bulldogs

It seems like the Bulldogs are always producing good defensive backs.

This season, that unit will be spearheaded by Al’zillion Hamilton at CB and Camryn Bracha at safety. As a unit last season, Fresno state was 62nd in the nation against the pass and ranked 18th with 1.2 interceptions per game.

There is depth at CB with Jakari Embry, Simeon Harris, and Jomarion Briggs, all in line to play opposite Hamilton.

Ethan Tierney and Jayen Davis will offer a solid second option at safety.

9. UCLA Bruins

UCLA had some issues defending the pass in 2024, but those issues were addressed in the portal.

Key Lawrence will be a difference-maker for this defense at safety. He is a versatile player who can do a lot of things for the Bruins. Kanye Clark and Andre Jordan should be solid cornerbacks.

The Bruins are a lot deeper at that position this year with Scooter Jackson, Cole Martin, and Robert Stafford all able to cover receivers on the outside.

10. Oregon State Beavers

The Beavers are loaded with upperclassmen in the secondary and those juniors and seniors will step up for OSU.

Kobe Singleton, Mason White, and Exodus Ayers give the Beavs options at CB. The safeties should be solid, with Skyler Thomas and Jaheim Patterson seeing most of the action.

Oregon State was good against the pass in 2024, giving up just 214.1 yards per game and should be stellar once again this fall.

11. San Jose State Spartans

The Spartans lost both starting CBs from a defense that was second in the nation in interceptions per game last season.

The lone returnee from that rotation is Jalen Bainer, and he has the chance to be very good.

The Spartans have a chance to be better this season with more depth in the defensive backfield, with Caleb Pressley and Isiah Revis both looking like All-Conference type performers.

JT Taylor, Caleb Womack, Runye Norton, and Kejuan Bullard will all help make the SJSU defensive backs one of the deepest units in the Mountain West.

12. Colorado Buffaloes

The Buffs obviously lost a lot in the back of the defense with Travis Hunter now suiting up for the Jags.

What they return at the position is DJ McKinney, and he was a workhorse for Colorado in 2024. Look for him to be the shutdown guy this season with RJ Johnson, Makari Vickers, or Ivan Yates on the other side.

The middle of the secondary will be manned by a pair of big hitters in Carter Stoutmire and Tawfig Byrd.

Byrd hits like a LB, can cover like a DB, and has a nose for the ball.

[Read our other Position Unit Rankings Here]