Chad Wilson
December 10, 2024
With camp season upon us, I want to take a moment to let my readers know what impresses coaches and can catch their attention as you hit the circuit. Part of my coaching experience involved attending many camps where I evaluated athletes for advancement or MVP opportunities. Here are five things I focus on when evaluating defensive backs.
Good eye discipline
This should come as no surprise, considering the name of my company is “All Eyes DB Camp,” but let’s dive into why it matters. I always say you couldn’t play this position blind, and even playing with an eye patch would be tough. However, you could play with an ankle sprain or a broken hand. That highlights how critical your eyes are. Most mistakes a defensive back makes result from having their eyes in the wrong place. When I introduce a drill to a group of athletes, I give clear instructions on where their eyes should be. If they struggle to follow that instruction, it’s a red flag. It’s not a deal breaker, but it does indicate a longer road to reaching their potential. Train your eyes by focusing on the correct spot in every drill—no exceptions. Discipline in this area builds consistency and prevents costly errors.
Quick feet
As they say, “Slow feet don’t eat.” While other positions might allow for slower footwork, defensive back is not one of them. Your contact with the ground must be constant, consistent, and rapid. Quick feet can cover mistakes, close gaps faster, and make offenses pay. A great way to evaluate foot quickness is with a simple backpedal drill. Slow backpedals rarely translate into quick feet during other movements, like crossovers, breaks, or hip flips. A DB with elite top-end speed but slow feet will struggle with consistent separation, often running out of time to make a play.
Solid change of direction
Quick feet don’t always guarantee the ability to change direction efficiently. I’ve seen athletes with exceptional backpedals who struggle to transition out of them. Similarly, some players excel running in one direction but falter when asked to reverse suddenly. Fortunately, this is one of the easier areas to improve, provided the athlete has basic strength and quickness. Proper body positioning is often the key to quick direction changes. I use W drills to evaluate this skill, which involves breaking out of a backpedal, shuffle, and crossover run. Athletes should work on these movements ahead of camp to shine during evaluations.
Quality ball skills
Being in position is great, but it’s meaningless if you can’t take the ball away. Defensive backs often celebrate pass breakups (PBUs), but a PBU is only half the job done—it’s half an opportunity denied and half another opportunity granted. The name of the game today is takeaways. A strong ability to track the ball, position yourself, and complete the catch is a superpower. It’s the skill that earns offers, awards, and contracts. I evaluate ball skills with a series of drills: catching passes while running toward me, away at an angle, or straight away. Blind ball drills, where the athlete must turn their head late to locate the ball in flight, are excellent for assessing this skill. If your ball skills are average or below, get busy sharpening them now. Dropping balls during drills will hurt your confidence and your evaluation.
Confidence and football IQ
I’ve combined these two because they’re often connected. Confidence comes from knowing what to do, and knowledgeable DBs are almost always confident. When you know all the answers to the test, the pressure of the moment feels manageable. Defensive backs operate in high-pressure situations: on the island, in open space, or as the last line of defense. Athletes who study the game thrive in these moments because they anticipate plays and react without hesitation. During camp, I evaluate confidence during 1-on-1 situations. A DB’s technique and demeanor matter more to me than the outcome of the rep. In 7-on-7 portions, I focus on their football IQ—how well they understand basic concepts and how quickly they adapt to new information. Being knowledgeable, curious, and a fast learner leads to long-term success at the position.
These are the five most critical traits I evaluate in defensive backs at camps. While they’re not the only factors, they allow me to make the most accurate forecasts of a player’s future.
Mastering these skills isn’t just about impressing at camps—it’s about elevating your game to the next level. In the All Eyes DB Camp member’s area, you’ll find exclusive drills, techniques, and strategies designed to refine your eye discipline, footwork, ball skills, and more. Join a community of like-minded athletes and coaches committed to being the best on the field. Click here to become a member today!
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
