College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 10 Defensive Backs

With the new era of the spread offense being the dominant offensive attack in college and high school football, defensive backs are becoming more and more in demand.

Versatility is now a key trait for defensive backs, since safeties are being asked to cover receivers man on man more, and corners are being asked to excel in both press and zone coverage.

The 2012 crop looks to be a bit stronger at safety right now than at corner, but each position has some top notch talent. As we gather more and more information, get more film and see this guys in the one on one portions of camps and combines, this list will fluctuate as the year moves on.

But here are the top 10 defensive backs for 2012 right now.

10. Kiante Griffin, DB/ATH

Some say Griffin will play receiver in college, others say he will be a safety. Seeing his film, I like at safety for now. 6'0", 200 pounds, he has a chance to be able to man both safety spots, free or strong and can also play some corner in a pinch.

Griffin has the size to factor around the box in the running game, feel and instincts to track runners and vision to work his way around traffic. Yet has the speed of a receiver to carry anyone deep and can use his receiving skills to pick off interceptions.

He's hearing from Oklahoma, Texas, Houston, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

9. Nelson Agholor, ATH/DB

6'2", 180 pounds, Agholor has a highlight tape that is a must see. I really think he can become an elite level safety and maybe even a big corner. He has tremendous athleticism, fluid hips and flashes an ability to close in a hurry.

He's so athletic that some schools like him as a receiver, others running back, and others defensive back. I just think that his athleticism brings versatility and you can play him like the Packers do Charles Woodson. Sometimes at corner, sometimes at safety and even throw him in the slot to press quick receivers or blitz.

Florida, Florida State, USC, LSU, Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame, TCU and South Carolina are among some of his offers.

8. Tracey Howard, CB

6'0", 170 pounds, Howard is similar to Marcus Roberson. He is extremely physical in his press and bump at the line, but has the deep speed to carry receivers all the way down the field. Howard has solid hips to slide, mirror and adjust and can plant and drive well.

He's rarely sticky in his transition and tries to high point balls before receivers do. He's pretty advanced for high school corner in his route recognition and has great coverage instincts.

Florida, Alabama, Florida, State, South Carolina and Miami have offered.

7. Amos Legett, CB

Leggett is another 6'0", corner with length to press at the line. He's most comfortable and confident in press man coverage and uses his long arms to re-route very well. Leggett has solid mirror ability and can close well.

He also has the versatility and instincts on the back-end to factor as a free safety, showing good range. Leggett is a defensive back that teams like to have because he can make your back coverage schemes more exotic because of his skill set.

He committed to Miami last week over Florida State.

6. Tony Wright, CB

Wright is a bit under the radar right now, but he really will be a player in the recruiting cycle as time goes on. He is a very solid athlete, quick on his feet and can play both press man and off man coverage.

He has good speed to stay stride for stride with receivers and has quickness out of his breaks. He comes out of his backpedal in a hurry and is a solid tackler on the perimeter.

He is hearing from South Carolina, Clemson, LSU, North Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina State.

5. Geno Smith, CB

Smith is a cornerback that is on Malcolm Mitchell's, 2011 Georgia signee, level. He's 6'0", 170 pounds and has very, very fluid hips. He is always in perfect balance and transitions out his backpedal very clean and quick.

In fact, his transition is likely the quickest in the country as he rarely takes false steps nor appear sticky with his footwork. He's thin and needs bulk and strength, but his cover skills and athletic ablity are among the elite.

Smith has Georgia, USC, both Florida schools, LSU, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama and Clemson among a host of others after him.

4. Deion Bonner, CB

Bonner is a 6'0", 185 pounder with 4.4 speed to hold his own on the island on the defensive perimeter. He has great speed and quickness to stay with his man deep, can play will in space in off man coverages and breaks on the ball very sharply.

Bonner really has a quick plant and drive and he can also man the nickel spot in the slot for a defense. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in one on ones this spring and summer.

He has offers form almost all of the SEC, but Georgia and Alabama remain the two favorites. 

3. Eddie Williams, ATH/DB

Williams has a skill set and size similar to Will Hill coming out of high school. 6'4", 200 pounds, he has the range, speed and instincts to become a top flight free safety.

There also some whispers that Williams could play receiver or outside linebacker. He's a phenomenal athlete with a natural feel for the game wherever he's lining up at. He can high point throws on the back end for picks and can match up against big receivers in the redzone.

Williams committed to Alabama before his junior year.

2. Shaq Thompson, S

Thompson is a 6'1", 180 pound safety prospect that can also play corner. He excels on the back end with good instincts, smarts, speed and nasty hitting ability. Thompson can factor as a free or strong safety in the deep middle.

He has the speed to get of the hashes, range to cover the deep third and athleticism to man a receiver to help out the corners. If he can play corner, the system likely would have to be an off man style or heavy zone system as he is not as his best when asked to press at the line.

Thompson has offers from USC, UCLA and California among others.

1. Travis Blanks, CB

Blanks is listed as an ATH right now but has the potential to be a great defensive back, either at corner or safety. He's 6'1", 190 pounds with 4.4 speed. Blanks is so active on defense he had over 100 tackles as a junior from his defensive back spots.

He has dazzled in the camps and combines circuit the past two years, especially in the one on ones, shutting down receiver after receiver. He has the size and strength to match up with a big receiver, and the speed to stay with a speedy, RAC type. Blanks has great athleticism and instincts in route recognition, transitions very well and rarely circles to close.

Offers include everyone in the SEC, ACC, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.