The seven best 2026 center backs in Texas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer state player rankings for Texas were released on Thursday. The first ranking for this class includes a number of talented center backs from the freshman class. A couple of the players listed below are versatile options and could be considered outside backs or defensive midfielders as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/texas/rankings/girls/2026-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the full class rankings here</a>. Learn more about <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/10/behind-the-scenes-prepsoccers-national-rankings/">the PrepSoccer ranking process here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27199"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Solar SC ECNL 08 center back is the top defender in Texas in the class of 2026. She plays as the right center back in the traditional Solar 4-3-3 system. Her strengths are in distribution and game management. She is excellent at organizing her team and keeping her composure during the game - never getting too high or low. Her passing is among the best in the country for the position. She can ping a ball on the diagonal in the air with accuracy. She also has moments when she steps up a level and intercepts a pass and then takes on players with the ball at her feet. She hit a shot off the crossbar from 35 yards out in a game earlier this season. It took a lot of game film to catch a weakness in Mahon's game. She is a pretty complete center back in the modern game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["27192"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Liner is the left center back (right-footed) for the Sting Black 08 ECNL side. She is very tall - perhaps the tallest player in this position in this class. It's a disservice to only highlight her height though. Liner really stood out for how she approached defending. She did well in making contact with her body, but keeping her balance so she could withstand the initial contact and keep a strong base. She often came away cleanly with the ball with she entered into 50/50 duels, which ended up normally 75/25 in her favor. The confidence in her tackling carries over into how she approaches defending in general. She's aggressive - and fun to watch. Liner has a tendency to do too much. She loves to get into challenges and win tackles, which can leave the other center back exposed at times. However, she is so dominant on the field that it's difficult to actually call that a fault. Sting Dallas Black has six shutouts in 13 games. Liner is a major reason why they've been this successful during the 2022/2023 ECNL campaign.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dafe0305a1b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JtcBsBLg_E","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JtcBsBLg_E </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["89586"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Dedmon is probably the best center back in the state when she is matched up 1v1 against a forward. She is excellent at controlling where the player can go. With center forwards, she makes them play backward and does not give them the space to turn. With wingers, she forces them onto their weak foot and guides them into another defender. It's impressive instincts from an emerging talent at the left center back position - and a reason she is a top player to watch in the Spring.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["27282"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Barnard is listed as a forward on the team roster, but I saw her playing as a center back so that's where she is put into the rankings. I've also seen her in a defensive midfield role, but going to write the scouting report on her game as a left center back. Barnard has a lot of qualities that coaches want from a center back, especially one that can man-mark. She is quick, tough in the tackle, and smart in possession. She has the versatility (as previously mentioned) to play a number of spots on the field, which makes her a unique prospect as she can take on tall center forwards just as well as she take on small, speedy wingers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["26466"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Mayer is another center back from that talented Sting Dallas Black team. She is the right center back on the side. She is a smart soccer player. She reads the game really well and seems to always be in the right spot. She tends to drift back and let the game play out in front of her. She does step when needed but her approach is more of a last resort defending or rather a visionary that orchestrating those around to handle the danger early on. She is a weapon on set pieces and has at least one goal this season off a header from a free kick.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["26513"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnThe FC Dallas left center back (actually left footed but pretty strong with either foot) has been a bright spot for the Texas side this season. She is a consistent presence in the back four for the team. She is pretty athletic and quick. She has a good slide tackle technique and uses it well. An area for improvement for Garvin would be in reading the game and anticipating the next pass. There are times (against the better teams in the conference) when she loses out on a challenge because she is a half second late to react. She has the tools to dominate the game in those instances, and it just takes training at a quicker pace to get her the repetitions to see that she can solve those problems earlier. That said, there she is a class of her own as a left-footed prospect from the center back position and her set piece delivery is exceptional.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["87942"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hodgson is the player on this list most likely to jump up to the top of the rankings in the next update. The reason to believe Hodgson is the best center back in the state is that she is Uber-competitive and will do anything to help her team win. She is a defender who will make the goal-line save or the last second block. The knock on her is that she can over-pursue the mark or the ball and get sucked out of position. It's a aspect that most coaches will live with because she has the speed to recover and usually does. She's a perfect level of controlled aggression for the center back spot.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dafe0305c47"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->