CFB Recruiting 200: Top 12 Safeties
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report recruiting analysts Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and provided in-depth analysis. As national signing day draws near, Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Today, we present the Top Offensive Tackles.
Other Positions
Safety is a position that has become a valued commodity in the college game today.
Players at the spot have to be versatile enough to cover receivers and tight ends, and they have to be physical defenders in run support.
The 2015 group has a number of elite athletes, headlined by 5-star Florida State pledge Derwin James, who is the No. 6 player overall in the 2015 class.
The latest batch in Bleacher Report's CFB 200 series will focus on safeties, scoring them on their abilities in key metrics such as ball skills (20 points), tackling (30 points), run support (25 points) and pass coverage (25 points). The cumulative figures from those traits resulted in our overall grade of each prospect.
How does the 2015 group of safeties stack up?
*All analysis from Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani. All rankings courtesy of 247Sports Composite Rankings.
12. 4-Star Ronnie Harrison
1 of 12Height/Weight: 6'3", 205 lbs
High School: Florida State University School, Tallahassee, Fla.
247 Ranking: No. 12 S/No. 195 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Alabama on July 29, 2014
Ronnie Harrison has had one of the more interesting recruitments of the 2015 cycle. Despite playing in Florida State's backyard, he committed to fellow ACC school North Carolina in July 2013.
However, a flurry of interest from top schools earlier this spring resulted in him eventually flipping his commitment to Alabama.
He took a number of visits to FSU and one to Georgia, but he enrolled early at Tuscaloosa in January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Harrison is an athletic safety with tremendous size on the back end. He's got great range and sound instincts in pass coverage. He's also a big hitter who can be an intimidating presence when covering the middle of the field. With his size, it's not out of the question that he could grow into a linebacker at the next level.
11. 4-Star Tyree Kinnel
2 of 12Height/Weight: 6'0", 205 lbs
High School: Wayne High, Dayton, Ohio
247 Ranking: No. 11 S/No. 193 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Committed to Michigan on Aug. 24, 2013
Tyree Kinnel earned a Michigan offer in July 2013 before committing to the Wolverines one month later.
The turmoil surrounding the end of the Brady Hoke era led Kinnel to take an official visit to Notre Dame in early December.
However, as Tom Loy of Irish 247 (subscription required) pointed out, Kinnel is likely to remain solid with the Maize and Blue now that Jim Harbaugh has been hired by the Wolverines.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Kinnel is a versatile safety who can operate in the box as a blitzer or in run support or play deep responsibility in coverage. He's also a good tackler in the open field, and he has decent range. However, I would like to see him improve his technique in pass coverage.
10. 4-Star Jaquan Johnson
3 of 12Height/Weight: 5'10", 182 lbs
High School: Killian High, Miami
247 Ranking: No. 10 S/No. 170 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Miami on Aug. 19, 2014
Miami was the first school to offer local stud safety Jaquan Johnson in February 2013. He selected the Hurricanes over offers from Florida, Florida State and South Carolina, among others, in August.
He's set to enroll in January, when he will go through spring drills for Al Golden's squad.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Johnson plays bigger than his listed 182 pounds. He flashes great instincts in identifying running plays and flies to the football when he's in pursuit. He's sound in pass coverage, displaying a knack for finding the football.
9. 4-Star Jordan Colbert
4 of 12
Height/Weight: 6'2", 205 lbs
High School: Griffin High, Griffin, Ga.
247 Ranking: No. 9 S/No. 168 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Auburn on April 26, 2014
Jordan Colbert was the last of six players who committed to Gus Malzahn and the Tigers back in April.
He chose Auburn over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Florida State, among others.
As noted by Justin Hokanson of Auburn Undercover (subscription required), Colbert remains a solid commitment to Auburn, but he may consider taking a visit to Florida State in January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Colbert is a versatile defender who lined up at outside linebacker and safety during his prep career. He operates well in coverage and shows great anticipation skills when the ball is in the air. He's a perfect fit for defenses that use hybrid positions such as the "Star" spot in nickel and dime schemes.
8. 4-Star Will Sunderland
5 of 12
Height/Weight: 6'3", 195 lbs
High School: Midwest City High, Oklahoma City, Okla.
247 Ranking: No. 8 S/No. 164 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 86/100
Committed to Oklahoma on Sept. 13, 2014
Will Sunderland earned an offer from Oklahoma in September 2013 and committed to Bob Stoops and the Sooners one year later.
He's been solid in that pledge, but he did take a late-season trip to Ohio State to check out the Buckeyes.
While Urban Meyer can never be discounted as a threat, all signs point to Sunderland heading to Norman next fall.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Sunderland is a big-time hitter with decent range in pass coverage. He had six interceptions as a junior, but I'd like to see him have better ball skills in coverage. I could see him being a safety who operates mostly in the box early in his career.
7. 4-Star Larry Pryor
6 of 12Height/Weight: 6'0", 196 lbs
High School: Sulphur Springs High, Sulphur Springs, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 7 S/No. 156 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to Texas A&M on Jan. 30, 2014
Texas was the first school to offer Larry Pryor back in March 2013. However, after he earned an offer from Texas A&M late in January, he hopped on it and committed to the Aggies just a few days later.
Kevin Sumlin and his staff beat out the likes of Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Notre Dame and Texas, among others, for Pryor.
He was a versatile athlete who played quarterback and receiver in addition to safety during his prep career.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Even though Pryor played mostly quarterback as a senior, his athleticism is something that jumps out when watching his film. As a safety, he shows great range and instincts in diagnosing plays. He had 118 tackles as a sophomore, which displays his ability to find the football and make plays. Projecting him to college, he can develop into a big-time safety when he gets to focus exclusively on that position.
6. 4-Star Justin Dunning
7 of 12Height/Weight: 6'4", 204 lbs
High School: Whitehouse High, Whitehouse, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 6 S/No. 135 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Texas A&M on Nov. 10, 2013
Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech were among the first schools to jump in with offers for Justin Dunning in the spring of 2013.
Dunning committed to Texas A&M later in the fall and has been a solid Aggies pledge since.
He was the third pledge of a group that has consistently rated among the nation's top 10 classes.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Dunning is a lengthy prospect who displayed great ball skills and agility in coverage during his prep career. The only question about him long-term is whether he will grow into a linebacker at the next level. Regardless of where he lands, he's an elite athlete who can operate against speedy receivers and backs in open space.
5. 4-Star Rashad Roundtree
8 of 12Height/Weight: 6'1", 195 lbs
High School: Lakeside High, Evans, Ga.
247 Ranking: No. 5 S/No. 132 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Georgia on Nov. 7, 2014
Rashad Roundtree's recruitment exploded at the start of the year when he picked up offers from heavyweights such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State. He eventually selected home-state power Georgia over Ohio State and Duke.
He's a solid pledge to the Bulldogs, and he has a chance to get on the field for defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt next fall.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Roundtree is a smooth athlete who shines as a ball hawk in pass coverage. He displays great range and a high football IQ in diagnosing plays. He's versatile enough to play in single-high or Cover 2 looks, and he can drop down and cover slot receivers. That type of skill set is what makes him an elite prospect.
4. 4-Star Marvell Tell
9 of 12Height/Weight: 6'2", 188 lbs
High School: Crespi High, Encino, Calif.
247 Ranking: No. 4 S/No. 60 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to USC on Jan. 3, 2015
Marvell Tell narrowed a lengthy list of choices to USC, Oregon and Texas A&M before selecting the Trojans during the U.S. Army All-American Game.
He appears to be a solid pledge, and his commitment may be the launching point for another strong class by Steve Sarkisian and his staff.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Tell's biggest strength appears to be his sure tackling in open space. He has a great ability to close on a play quickly once he diagnoses it. He's got the athleticism and instincts to be a big-time player. However, he's a little lean and will need to bulk up to play at a high level in college.
3. 4-Star Jamal Peters
10 of 12Height/Weight: 6'2", 206 lbs
High School: Bassfield High, Bassfield, Miss.
247 Ranking: No. 3 S/No. 58 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Mississippi State on July 18, 2014
Jamal Peters narrowed a lengthy list of suitors to 10 schools in the spring, with Mississippi State, Florida State and LSU taking the top three spots in his list, according to Chris Nee of Noles247.
He committed to Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs in July. However, the recent departure of defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to Florida has the Seminoles and the Tigers—and potentially the Gators—lurking and hoping to steal Peters on signing day.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Peters is a physical freak, and he's an intimidating defender when he has a ball-carrier or receiver lined up in his sights. At this stage, he's a little raw—especially in pass coverage. However, his physical gifts and athleticism make him one of the top safeties in the country.
2. 4-Star Deionte Thompson
11 of 12Height/Weight: 6'2", 181 lbs
High School: West Orange-Stark High, Orange, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 2 S/No. 44 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Committed to Alabama on Feb. 23, 2013
Deionte Thompson attended Alabama's Junior Day back in February 2013.
When he earned an offer on that trip, he immediately committed and became the first pledge of what is now the nation's top class.
He remained firm in that commitment and enrolled early in Tuscaloosa this January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Thompson is a flat-out playmaker, as evidenced by the fact that he had 11 interceptions over the course of his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also a standout receiver during his prep career, which illustrates his ability to attack the ball in the air when he's on defense. His range and athleticism should fit well in Nick Saban's secondary.
1. 5-Star Derwin James
12 of 12Height/Weight: 6'2", 201 lbs
High School: Haines City Senior High, Haines City, Fla..
247 Ranking: No. 1 S/No. 5 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Committed to Florida State on Feb. 25, 2012
Perhaps no member of the 2015 class committed to a school earlier than Derwin James, who pledged to Florida State nearly three years ago as a sophomore.
James has been one of the biggest recruiters for the 'Noles since then, and he's helped FSU build a class currently rated No. 2 in the country.
He enrolled early at FSU this January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
James is another freakish athlete who brings the wood as a hitter in run support. He closes on ball-carriers and receivers in a hurry and explodes through his tackles. In pass coverage, he shows great sideline-to-sideline speed and the instincts necessary to become an elite safety at the college level. Overall, he's one of the most gifted athletes in the 2015 cycle.
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