CFB Future 100: Top 14 Defensive Backs in Class of 2016
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Defensive Backs.
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Three years ago, Vernon Hargreaves III was a rising high school junior, highly touted as one of the best cornerbacks in his class. Now, he's an all-SEC cornerback with NFL dreams.
Members of the 2016 class could be in that same situation three years from now, and there are several defensive backs who could be just as good in 2018 as Hargreaves is now. The 2016 group features a number of elite athletes, but the defensive back class is headlined by 5-star Florida cornerback Saivion Smith, who is the No. 7 player overall in the class.
Bleacher Report's CFB Future 100 series focuses on defensive backs, scoring them on their abilities in four key metrics—coverage (40 points), speed (20), ball skills (20) and run support (20). The cumulative figures from these traits resulted in our overall grade of each prospect.
14. 4-Star CB Jared Mayden
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Height/Weight: 6'0", 190 lbs
High School: Sachse, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 8 CB/No. 96 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
With the spring season around the corner, Mayden is inching closer to 30 offers. Ohio State and Oregon have offered, as well as in-state schools Texas, TCU, Texas A&M and Baylor. Mayden recently trimmed his list to three—TCU, Oregon and Ohio State—but he told Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com on Tuesday that the top three was scrapped, and he was "pretty open right now."
Look for Mayden to base his decision off the relationship with the coaches, overall comfort level and academic advantages. Mayden has mentioned on several occasions that if he's invited to compete at The Opening in Oregon, he'll make his announcement there.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Mayden is a cornerback with a safety's size, and he is savvy enough to effectively play both positions at the next level. He's an athletic player who covers well (36/40) but also is instinctive enough to make plays in running situations. Mayden likes to be physical with receivers off the snap, and he wins lots of one-on-one battles with his tenacious play.
13. 4-Star CB John Broussard
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Height/Weight: 6'0", 164 lbs
High School: Central, Phenix City, Alabama
247 Ranking: No. 7 CB/No. 87 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
John Broussard is a hot topic in the SEC, as LSU, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Georgia all have offered. The race for Broussard, however, may come down to the two in-state schools, Alabama and Auburn. Per 247Sports, Auburn has a slight edge over LSU in the Crystal Ball predictions, but there's plenty of time for Broussard to make a decision.
While Auburn is trending in the Crystal Ball, Alabama would be considered the favorite if you're focusing on unofficial visits. Per 247Sports, Broussard has visited Alabama three times since September, but his latest trip was to Auburn for an unofficial visit last weekend
Bleacher Report Analysis
Broussard is one of those cornerbacks who can mirror the wide receiver lining up against him. That's a great trait to have as a defensive back. Broussard isn't the biggest cornerback, but he's got length, and he uses it to his advantage with pass breakups (36/40). Don't be fooled by his size; he likes to get physical with receivers as well.
12. 4-Star CB Khalil Ladler
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Height/Weight: 5'10", 168 lbs
High School: Stephenson, Stone Mountain, Georgia
247 Ranking: No. 6 CB/No. 85 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
With Khalil Ladler hailing from Georgia, the Bulldogs are hoping to keep the 4-star talent in the state. Ladler is nearing 20 offers, and he had a number on the table from SEC teams, including Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Tennessee.
Ladler's recruiting process could be coming to an end soon. According to 247Sports, Ladler said he will be making a decision "very soon," and LSU, Georgia, Florida State and Tennessee are the schools in front.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Ladler is one of those players who is quick off the ball (18/20) and faster than expected when he has to show makeup speed against wide receivers. He makes it a priority to be the best cover corner on the field. What college coaches may like the most is that he has a high ceiling.
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11. 4-Star S Nigel Warrior
4 of 14
Height/Weight: 6'0", 175 lbs
High School: Westlake, Atlanta
247 Ranking: No. 6 S/No. 77 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Nigel Warrior is nearing 20 offers, but Georgia is the in-state team to keep an eye on. Tennessee also is a school to watch, as the Volunteers are showing heavy interest in the nation's No. 6 safety. Ohio State and Michigan State are in the race as well.
Warrior last picked up an offer from LSU on Feb. 15. Florida State offered days before. Per 247Sports, he took an unofficial visit to Ohio State and also camped at Tennessee over the summer.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Warrior is one of those defenders with a lean frame but a muscular build. He is a tackler-first defensive back, but he does a solid job of defending receivers and tight ends in passing situations. He is becoming more of a mentally sound defender, someone who makes plays instinctively without thought.
10. 4-Star S Brandon Burton
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 195 lbs
High School: Junipero Serra, Gardena, Calif.
247 Ranking: No. 5 S/No. 75 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Serra High School produces elite talent each year, and Brandon Burton may be the next man up as a defensive back. Burton has offers from USC, UCLA, Stanford, Notre Dame, Florida State and several other programs.
USC is trending for Burton, according to 247Sports' Crystal Ball, and he has made unofficial visits to the USC campus in March and April. The spring season will be huge for other schools to make a move on the 4-star safety.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Burton has measurables that are attractive to every college coach. He has good size, strength and quickness, and he is a solid coverage defender. Burton's versatility may allow him to see time on both sides of the ball. Physically, Burton has the tools to be an immediate impact player in a college secondary.
9. 4-Star S Shurod Thompson
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Height/Weight: 6'1", 185 lbs
High School: Pittsburg Senior/Pittsburg, California
247 Ranking: No. 4 S/No. 64 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Being a high-profile West Coast recruit means you're a potential target for the Pac-12, and Shurod Thompson has his share of Pac-12 offers. USC, UCLA, Arizona State and California have all offered, and Oregon is showing interest. He also has Arizona, Oregon State and Washington State offers.
Thompson took in the USC junior day on Jan. 31. He has made unofficial trips to Cal and Arizona State as well. Oregon could be a major player; Thompson told 247Sports he plans on visiting Eugene in March.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Thompson has the look and the mentality of the prototypical strong safety. He's big, strong and physical, and he plays with a mean streak. Thompson loves to make the big hit, but he also has good vision and reads quarterbacks well. His aggression coupled with his athleticism makes him a problem for opposing teams.
8. 4-Star CB Trayvon Mullen
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 175 lbs
High School: Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, Florida
247 Ranking: No. 5 CB/No. 46 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Trayvon Mullen has more than 30 offers, and his recruiting process is wide open. In-state schools Miami, Florida and Florida State may be the teams in the hunt early, but Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Ohio State and a host of other programs are very much alive.
Ole Miss is the latest school to offer Mullen, according to 247Sports. Since October, he has visited Miami twice (once on a junior day), Florida State once and LSU once.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Mullen is one of those players who can go from great to elite at any given time. He has sprinter's speed (20/20), which allows him to shine as a cover cornerback. If a coach is looking to play a more athletic secondary, Mullen could line up at safety effectively. His quickness and overall length make him an intriguing prospect.
7. 4-Star CB Kristian Fulton
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Height/Weight: 6'0", 165 lbs
High School: Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, Louisiana
247 Ranking: No. 4 CB/No. 40 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Kristian Fulton has more than a dozen offers, but LSU appears to be the early front-runner as the team to beat. With Fulton being a Louisiana athlete, unofficial visits to LSU have been easy. However, he also has made unofficial visits to Texas A&M, Florida State, Central Florida and—most recently—Mississippi State since the end of May.
LSU has to like the position it's in regarding the race for Fulton. Per 247Sports, he was in Baton Rouge the weekend of Feb. 7.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Fulton has good instincts, which allows him to jump routes and make game-changing plays. He's not the biggest cornerback, but he plays larger than his size. He has good feet and does a solid job in one-on-one coverage. Fulton may be more quick than fast (18/20), but it works for him, particularly in zone coverage (36/40).
6. 5-Star CB Shyheim Carter
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Height/Weight: 6'0", 185 lbs
High School: Kentwood HS, Kentwood, Louisiana
247 Ranking: No. 3 CB/No. 32 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Alabama
Alabama has been a magnet for 5-star talent, and the Crimson Tide added to the resume in landing Shyheim Carter. Although Carter is an Alabama commit, he is keeping his recruiting ajar, and a school such as LSU should be one to watch.
Per 247Sports, he has been on four Alabama unofficial visits since July, but he's also made two trips to LSU and a third for a summer camp.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Carter's strongest assets on the football field are his versatility and athleticism, which makes him effective on both sides of the ball. He can score touchdowns as a receiver or running back, but it's his ball-hawking skills (19/20) that make him a prime candidate to be an SEC cornerback.
5. 5-Star S Deontay Anderson
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Height/Weight: 6'1", 192 lbs
High School: Manvel HS, Manvel, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 3 S/No. 31 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Deontay Anderson has more than 30 offers, the latest coming from Oklahoma. Anderson is wanted from coast to coast, but according to 247Sports, LSU and Texas A&M are the two schools catching his eye early. Alabama, Texas and USC are three other schools in the hunt for Anderson.
Anderson was in attendance for Texas A&M's junior day on Jan. 25. He also has made unofficial visits to Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss and Florida, per 247Sports.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Anderson is a player who appears to go all-out every play. He is athletic in passing situations and physical during run plays. He's a big-bodied safety who frustrates receivers with his ability to cover a receiver no matter how big or small he is (37/40). Anderson loves to deliver the big hit, but look for him to improve as a more well-rounded defensive back, particularly with one-on-one coverage skills.
4. 5-Star S Eric Monroe
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Height/Weight: 6'0", 180 lbs
High School: North Shore, Houston
247 Ranking: No. 2 S/No. 23 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Texas A&M and LSU are trending early for Eric Monroe, who has more than a dozen offers heading into the spring season. Monroe made unofficial visits to Texas A&M in August and September, and he attended the Aggies' junior day the weekend of Jan. 25.
Monroe additionally has offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, South Carolina and UCLA. Missouri was his latest offer, per 247Sports.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Monroe fits most systems as either a safety or a nickelback, as he has good size and speed (18/20), and he loves to make a big hit on an offensive player. Monroe's athleticism is arguably his strongest asset, but his ability to make the play in running situations makes him an attractive get. He has a nose for the football and plays like an outside linebacker.
3. 5-Star S Brandon Jones
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Height/Weight: 5'11", 183 lbs
High School: Nacogdoches HS, Nacogdoches, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 1 S/No. 20 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Brandon Jones has more than 30 offers and could be one of those athletes who reaches the 50-offer mark by the time he is deep into his senior year. Jones is expected to be the centerpiece of another exciting in-state recruiting battle between Texas and Texas A&M, but there are plenty of other schools that will be fighting for him as well. LSU could be a major contender.
Per 247Sports, Jones on Dec. 1 named a top 10 of Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. It should be noted that he has taken several unofficial trips to Texas A&M.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Jones is the hybrid defensive back college coaches are looking for. He tackles well as a safety, but he also covers as well as a cornerback. Jones shows his awareness and instincts well, particularly in zone coverages. He doesn't make many mistakes, but when he does guess wrong, he has solid makeup speed that bails him out of trouble (18/20).
2. 5-Star CB Levonta Taylor
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Height/Weight: 5'10", 170 lbs
High School: Ocean Leakes, Virginia Beach, Virginia
247 Ranking: No. 2 CB/No. 16 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Levonta Taylor has more than 30 offers, the latest coming from Florida State and Florida, according to 247Sports. Early predictions for the 5-star cornerback say he will stay in-state and play at Virginia, but his process is still very early.
Taylor has made unofficial visits to Tennessee and Florida State, in addition to Virginia. He has offers from all three schools, as well as Georgia, LSU, Michigan, UCLA, USC, Notre Dame and a host of other programs.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Taylor is a cornerback with quality speed (19/20) and solid change of direction. His makeup speed is a major asset, as he can bait a quarterback, assuming he has a receiver open. He has good hips, which are needed to cover complicated receiver routes. Taylor is a true cover corner who's only going to get better in one-on-one and zone coverages.
1. 5-Star CB Saivion Smith
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Height/Weight: 6'1", 175 lbs
High School: IMG Academy, St. Petersburg, Florida
247 Ranking: No. 1 CB/No. 6 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Per 247Sports, Pitt is the latest school to offer Saivion Smith, but the elite defensive back has offers from all over the country. Smith has SEC offers from LSU, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. He also has offers from Florida State, UCLA, Notre Dame and defending national champion Ohio State.
He most recently went to Clemson's junior day, per 247Sports. Smith's recruiting process is wide open, as roughly 20 schools will battle to land the nation's top-ranked cornerback.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Smith is one of those do-it-all athletes who happens to do everything well. He shines as a cornerback because of his athleticism and ability to react in coverage (37/40), but he also is as talented on the offensive side of the ball, using his size and speed to win battles against his competitors. As an athlete in general, Smith is a playmaker when the ball is in his hands (20/20).
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