This is more of a mid-season list than a watch list, but this DB class is so loaded it took me two months to list everybody. This class has safeties in all shapes and sizes. Some of these guys may end up at corner, some may end up at LB, but they all can play.
*= Verified numbers
Josh Jobe- 6’0, 178, 4.57* (Columbus)- Versatile DB who can play the Minkah Fitzpatrick role. Jobe has the cover skills to man up receivers but still brings an explosive, physical presence at safety. Overaged and ready to contribute immediately. Brother is Johnnie Holton, a receiver with the Raiders. Miami commit.
[HUDL]video/3/4024608/58864cea3df53a0864c9d0a5[/HUDL]
Gurvan Hall- 5'11, 173* (Palm Beach Lakes)- Possibly the best pure safety prospect in the country. Has ball skills, range and the ability to deliver knockout shots. Also contributes as WR and returner. Explosive track athlete who competes in the hurdles and the long jump. Miami commit with offers from everybody.
All American - Gurvan Hall highlights - Hudl
Nadab Joseph- 6’2, 180, 4.54* (Norland)- Physical phenom who has bounced around schools. Getting recruited by former UM coach Joe Pannunzio to Alabama. Has the highest SPARQ score in South Florida. Enough athleticism to play either corner or safety.
Gilbert Frierson- 6’1, 185 (Coral Gables)- One of the most physically impressive players in the class. Dynamic athlete who has returned multiple punts for TDs. Also contributes at WR. Still searching for best position on defense. Plays safety in high school but some coaches project him at corner. Coconut Grove product and cousin of Frank Gore. Miami commit.
Junior Year Highlight - Gilbert Frierson highlights - Hudl
Randy Russell- 5’11, 175, 4.75* (Carol City)- Tone setter for the state champion Chiefs. Reminds me a little of Brandon Meriweather in terms of size and fearlessness in the box. Good feet to navigate traffic. Not a spectacular athlete but has some speed (22.72 200M as a sophomore).
Junior Season Highlights - Randy Russell highlights - Hudl
Rachad Wildgoose, Jr.- 6’ 190 (Northwestern)- UGA commit and another guy that looks like an NFL player stepping off the bus. One of the better tacklers in the class. Plays corner in high school but projects as a safety at the SEC level. Coral Gables transfer.
Comeup season - Rachad Wildgoose JR highlights - Hudl
Davonta Wilson- 6’, 175 (Central)- This is one of my favorite under-the-radar kids in the class. He transferred from Flanagan and immediately became the alpha of the Central defense. Plays fast and hits with no regard for his body. Very good athlete who is the starting punt returner for the Rockets. May project at corner for some teams. Committed to his first offer, Colorado State, but the word is starting to get out.
Miami Central DB Davonta Wilson - Davonta Wilson highlights - Hudl
Trannell Troutman- 5’10, 188* (St. Thomas)- Grown man in the secondary. Looks like a 5’10 Charles Oakley. Very tough and confident. He repeatedly challenged Jerry Jeudy at the 2016 Rivals Camp. Not an elite athlete but a coordinated, physical presence over the middle. Louisville commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27h2DR
Cameron Jonas- 6’, 195, 4.75* (Dwyer)- Rangy S/LB hybrid who reminds me of Ramon Buchanon. Smooth athlete. Productive as a WR on offense and even returns punts. Slender without a lot of thump as a tackler. Syracuse commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27gZx6
CJ Smith- 6’2, 193, 4.63* (Oxbridge)- Big safety prospect with very good physical tools. Mainly a WR at the high school level. Developmental prospect on defense but has the requisite size and speed. SEC offers.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27d7zY
Maxwell Worship- 6’1, 185* (Cardinal Gibbons)- Excellent size for a safety. Good flexibility and bend as a tackler. Runs pretty well. Not a “wow” hitter but gets guys down. Vanderbilt commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27fr0N
Malik Occiur- 6’, 189, 4.89* (Northeast)- An underrated player who may develop into a LB. Heavy striker with form. Has some speed to chase down ballcarriers. Very strong, can wrestle guys down. Western Kentucky is taking another good one from South Florida.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27QtQ6
Arthur Brathwhaite- 6’, 190 (Central)- One of the many defensive players who transferred from Flanagan this off-season. Physical striker who has played mostly LB since arriving at Central. Very similar to Malik Occiur and is also committed to Western Kentucky to play LB. Active and aware player in the box.
http://www.hudl.com/v/288Jhf
Adetutu Daranijo- 5’10, 186, 4.64* (St. Thomas)- Aggressive hitter who plays like a missile. Should excel on special teams. A little straight linish but has good speed. Box safety.
http://www.hudl.com/v/284iCL
Hunter Goetz- 6’0, 175 (Central)- If you’re a white kid starting at CB for Central, you have legit talent. Solid feet and ball skills. Excellent awareness honed by years on the 7on7 circuit. Lacks elite athletic traits but good enough to hang with South Florida WR talent. Yet another Flanagan transfer.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27nDT2
*= Verified numbers
Josh Jobe- 6’0, 178, 4.57* (Columbus)- Versatile DB who can play the Minkah Fitzpatrick role. Jobe has the cover skills to man up receivers but still brings an explosive, physical presence at safety. Overaged and ready to contribute immediately. Brother is Johnnie Holton, a receiver with the Raiders. Miami commit.
[HUDL]video/3/4024608/58864cea3df53a0864c9d0a5[/HUDL]
Gurvan Hall- 5'11, 173* (Palm Beach Lakes)- Possibly the best pure safety prospect in the country. Has ball skills, range and the ability to deliver knockout shots. Also contributes as WR and returner. Explosive track athlete who competes in the hurdles and the long jump. Miami commit with offers from everybody.
All American - Gurvan Hall highlights - Hudl
Nadab Joseph- 6’2, 180, 4.54* (Norland)- Physical phenom who has bounced around schools. Getting recruited by former UM coach Joe Pannunzio to Alabama. Has the highest SPARQ score in South Florida. Enough athleticism to play either corner or safety.
Gilbert Frierson- 6’1, 185 (Coral Gables)- One of the most physically impressive players in the class. Dynamic athlete who has returned multiple punts for TDs. Also contributes at WR. Still searching for best position on defense. Plays safety in high school but some coaches project him at corner. Coconut Grove product and cousin of Frank Gore. Miami commit.
Junior Year Highlight - Gilbert Frierson highlights - Hudl
Randy Russell- 5’11, 175, 4.75* (Carol City)- Tone setter for the state champion Chiefs. Reminds me a little of Brandon Meriweather in terms of size and fearlessness in the box. Good feet to navigate traffic. Not a spectacular athlete but has some speed (22.72 200M as a sophomore).
Junior Season Highlights - Randy Russell highlights - Hudl
Rachad Wildgoose, Jr.- 6’ 190 (Northwestern)- UGA commit and another guy that looks like an NFL player stepping off the bus. One of the better tacklers in the class. Plays corner in high school but projects as a safety at the SEC level. Coral Gables transfer.
Comeup season - Rachad Wildgoose JR highlights - Hudl
Davonta Wilson- 6’, 175 (Central)- This is one of my favorite under-the-radar kids in the class. He transferred from Flanagan and immediately became the alpha of the Central defense. Plays fast and hits with no regard for his body. Very good athlete who is the starting punt returner for the Rockets. May project at corner for some teams. Committed to his first offer, Colorado State, but the word is starting to get out.
Miami Central DB Davonta Wilson - Davonta Wilson highlights - Hudl
Trannell Troutman- 5’10, 188* (St. Thomas)- Grown man in the secondary. Looks like a 5’10 Charles Oakley. Very tough and confident. He repeatedly challenged Jerry Jeudy at the 2016 Rivals Camp. Not an elite athlete but a coordinated, physical presence over the middle. Louisville commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27h2DR
Cameron Jonas- 6’, 195, 4.75* (Dwyer)- Rangy S/LB hybrid who reminds me of Ramon Buchanon. Smooth athlete. Productive as a WR on offense and even returns punts. Slender without a lot of thump as a tackler. Syracuse commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27gZx6
CJ Smith- 6’2, 193, 4.63* (Oxbridge)- Big safety prospect with very good physical tools. Mainly a WR at the high school level. Developmental prospect on defense but has the requisite size and speed. SEC offers.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27d7zY
Maxwell Worship- 6’1, 185* (Cardinal Gibbons)- Excellent size for a safety. Good flexibility and bend as a tackler. Runs pretty well. Not a “wow” hitter but gets guys down. Vanderbilt commit.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27fr0N
Malik Occiur- 6’, 189, 4.89* (Northeast)- An underrated player who may develop into a LB. Heavy striker with form. Has some speed to chase down ballcarriers. Very strong, can wrestle guys down. Western Kentucky is taking another good one from South Florida.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27QtQ6
Arthur Brathwhaite- 6’, 190 (Central)- One of the many defensive players who transferred from Flanagan this off-season. Physical striker who has played mostly LB since arriving at Central. Very similar to Malik Occiur and is also committed to Western Kentucky to play LB. Active and aware player in the box.
http://www.hudl.com/v/288Jhf
Adetutu Daranijo- 5’10, 186, 4.64* (St. Thomas)- Aggressive hitter who plays like a missile. Should excel on special teams. A little straight linish but has good speed. Box safety.
http://www.hudl.com/v/284iCL
Hunter Goetz- 6’0, 175 (Central)- If you’re a white kid starting at CB for Central, you have legit talent. Solid feet and ball skills. Excellent awareness honed by years on the 7on7 circuit. Lacks elite athletic traits but good enough to hang with South Florida WR talent. Yet another Flanagan transfer.
http://www.hudl.com/v/27nDT2
