College Football Recruiting 2011: Power Ranking the Top 25 Safeties

As we wrap up the 2010 high school football season, it's time to re-evaluate the talent of the 2011 recruiting class and hand out some new positional rankings. 

Based on performances throughout the summer in various camps around the country, there's been some noticeable shifts in opinion from every recruiting outlet you'll come across. 

That's the nature of the business; sports are a "show me now" game and when it comes to recruiting, there's no difference. 

We'll take a look at the top 25 of every position and keep you up to date with the biggest names to watch out for this year.

Here's the updated rankings for the top 25 safeties of the 2011 class.

25. Howard Matthews, Texas A&M

Commitment: Texas A&M

Mathews plays both wide receiver and safety at the high school level, but his instincts and play-making ability are perfect for the safety position and that's where scouts see him lining up in college.

He's got great speed, can cover a lot of ground very quickly and has excellent burst out of his breaks.

A leader in the secondary, Mathews is a student of the game who reads offenses very well and anticipates plays. 

24. Tyson Coleman, Oregon

Commitment: Oregon

At 6'2" and 205lbs, Coleman has excellent size for the position, but as far as his skill sent at safety goes, he's raw.

A great athlete who plays both running back and free safety in high school, Coleman plays with great intensity and toughness.

He knows how to deliver the big hit and he has the size and speed to be a special prospect at the position, but his fundamentals need to be re-worked. 

23. Terrell Chestnut, Pitt

Commitment: Pitt

Chestnut plays quarterback for his high school team, but scouts are projecting him to a wide range of positions from wide receiver to cornerback and safety. 

He's got great top end speed and moves extremely well in the secondary, but might be better suited for cornerback based on his size. At the very least, he's got the makings of a dangerous return man. 

22. Sheldon Royster

Commitment: Uncommitted

Royster is primarily a running back at the high school level, but doubles up as a safety as well and that's where scouts see his future brightest. 

He's a physical player who's shown a willingness to make contact and play with a tough-nosed style.

He doesn't quite have the speed or change of direction ability to play running back in college, but his skill set should translate well to the secondary. 

21. Pat Martin, Tennessee

Commitment: Tennessee

Martin has a compact, but strong build, and will remind fans more of a linebacker than a defensive back; especially when the ball is in the air and he's free to attack.

Martin craves contact, reads plays very quickly and is excellent in pursuit of the ball; should excel in kick coverage.

He needs to work on his coverage skills to really make an impact on the next level, but the basics are there. 

20. James Sample

Commitment: Uncommitted

Sample is a strong safety all the way. He's got great size and plays with the type of mean streak you love to see at the position. 

He does a great job of keeping the action in front of him and lining up the ball-carrier for a big hit; takes great pursuit angles and has excellent closing speed.

His coverage skills are lacking, though, and will need some work. 

19. Ronny Vandyke, Virginia Tech

Commitment: Virginia Tech

Vandyke missed his entire junior season with a serious shoulder injury suffered in training camp back in 2009 and ended up going nearly two years without playing.

Still, the first commitment of Virginia Tech's 2011 recruiting class might turn out to be a steal at the safety position.

Because of his injury, Vandyke came into his senior year under the radar and at 6'2" and 200lbs, he's got incredible size and athleticism and could be an elite talent at the next level. 

18. Kelvin Fisher, Arkansas

Commitment: Arkansas

Primarily being recruited as an athlete, Fisher is one of those rare prospects that projects as a high level recruit at four or five positions.

A very versatile player that's lined up at running back, wide receiver, cornerback and safety, Fisher is simply a ball hawk in the secondary who isn't afraid to make contact, and will get up in the air and make something happen when the ball is thrown. 

17. Dondi Kirby

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'3" and 190lbs, if Kirby can bulk up a little he has the size and athleticism to be an elite talent at the safety position.

He lines up at wide receiver and cornerback back in high school, with a few reps at safety as well. He's a smooth runner with great ball skills, but doesn't have the top-end speed you'd want from a receiver; the move full time to safety seems like the best bet. 

16. Cortez Davis, Clemson

Commitment: Clemson

At 6'3" and 200lbs, the first thing you notice about Davis is how smoothly he runs. A long strider with a a quick burst, Davis has the athleticism to take gambles without giving up the big play based on his ability to close out on his man in a hurry. 

There are some technique issues to be worked out, particularly when it comes to tackling; he has a tendency to tackle high that will get him into a lot of trouble at the next level. Don't be surprised if Davis ends up on the offensive side of the ball as a result. 

15. Frank Shannon, Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma 

Shannon has tremendous range for his size. At 6'3" and 205lbs, he can play center field or cover from sideline to sideline depending on the scheme; there might not be any safety in the class that can cover more distance in the secondary.

His tackling and pursuit skills are solid and he's displayed a good nose for the ball as well. Shannon is the type of player you can just let loose in the secondary. 

14. Ron Tanner, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

Tanner has great tackling ability and coverage skills that make him a prime candidate for the strong safety position. 

He plays off his instincts and does a great job of lining himself up for the big hit. As far as his coverage skills go, Tanner's back-peddling and change of direction ability need work or he could get into trouble. 

13. Avery Walls

Commitment: Uncommitted

Walls is one of the hardest hitters in the 2011 class, but often times will play too aggressively and over pursue, leaving him susceptible to big plays.

He's a smart player who reads the offense in a hurry and does an excellent job of lining up the secondary.

An undersized player that needs to bulk up, look for Walls to make a very quick impact on special teams. 

12. Eilar Hardy, Notre Dame

Commitment: Notre Dame

Hardy is a great all-around safety who excels against both the pass and the run. He's not a big hitter, but isn't afraid to come up to the line and lay out the ball-carrier when the opportunity presents itself. 

His tackling form needs work though and a red-shirt year to bulk up and work on his technique probably isn't a bad idea. 

11. Corey Moore, Georgia

Commitment: Georgia 

Moore is a raw prospect, but he's got all the intangibles to be a superstar at the next level and it will only take time and repetitions for him to realize it. 

His speed, toughness, ball skills, movement and instincts are incredible, but he struggles to understand coverage schemes and gets caught thinking too much at times. 

 

10. Glen Faulkner, Kentucky

Commitment: Kentucky

Faulkner plays both defensive back and quarterback in high school, but scouts project him as a safety at the next level based on his size and athletic ability.

He needs to work on his coverage skills and learn to tackle with better form, but the intangibles are there and Faulkner has the potential to be one of the best safeties of the 2011 class. 

9. Darion Arrington, Mississippi State

Commitment: Mississippi State

Arrington is a hard-working, hustle guy who plays all out and leads by example on the field. He is a natural at safety and should quickly adjust to the college game.

He's got great size, is a great tackler and a very athletic and physical player who knows how to throw his weight around.

Arrington's ball skills aren't great though and he needs to improve his hands to make a bigger impact on the next level.

 

8. Gerrod Holliman, Ole Miss

Commitment: Ole Miss

Gerrod Holliman is one of the top players from the state of Florida and arguably the best defensive player from Miami, a historic hotspot of defensive talent.

His natural ability and instincts could turn him into an NFL star one day. He's a competitor through and through, but his coverage skills are a bit raw and need work. 

7. Marqise Lee

Commitment: Uncommitted

Lee projects as a wide receiver, safety or cornerback and while we see him as a safety, it wouldn't be surprising to see him turn into a dangerous receiver. 

If you get the ball in his hands in the open field he's a threat to take it to the house, but his instincts and ball skills make him a potential difference-maker at the next level. 

6. Wayne Lyons

Commitment: Uncommitted

Lyons will need to work on his backpedal and man-to-man coverage skills but the tools are there for him to develop into an outstanding play-maker. He's got a great pair of hands and is a very smart football player.

He is a true quarterback of the secondary and will get his troops lined up quickly, calling out adjustments like someone born to play this position.

 

5. Enrique Florence

Commitment: Uncommitted

A top five safety in the 2011 class, Florence is a very instinctual player who can really put a licking on a ball-carrier. He's got solid form when tackling and often angles himself for the big hit; which is probably the most noticeable part of his game.

Florence always finds himself around the ball and when it's in the air near him, he's trying to make a play on it every time.

4. Sheroid Evans, Texas

Commitment: Texas

Evans is one of the top track stars in the country and has incredible speed on the football field. He tackles well and has the length and speed to play either corner or safety. Evans isn't afraid of contact, but his frame won't hold up to his playing style unless he gets bigger.

Still, there aren't many prospects out there with his level of natural ability when it comes to coverage skills and lateral movement.

3. Albert Louis-Jean, Miami

Commitment: Miami

Louis-Jean is best known for his ability to land a big hit and he's the type of player that's just waiting to put an opponent to rest. 

His coverage skills are as good as anyone's, and his speed is truly elite. He has the potential to be a star at either cornerback or safety, but based on his tackling ability, he seems best suited for the safety position. 

2. Karlos Williams, Florida State

Commitment: Florida State

Karlos Williams isn't your average safety. He's built like a linebacker and could easily end up there based on his tackling ability and size. He's also got a great pair of hands and enough speed that it makes you wonder if this 6'2", 210lbs prospect could be a dominant receiver.

Williams plays the game with passion and when he's roaming in the secondary, he's looking to put a licking on the ball-carrier every single play. 

1. HaSean Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Commitment: Alabama

Clinton-Dix is an elite prospect who really has an ideal skill set for a safety. There's almost nothing about his game not to like, except for some minor footwork issues.

He is the type of player that craves contact, and really could succeed as either a strong safety or free safety. Based on his size, 6'2" and 190lbs, if he can define his man-to-man coverage skills a bit, he could develop into a once in a lifetime-type cover corner