12/9/2015 football Edit

Defense: Four-stars outside new Rivals250

Woody Wommack

Analyst

With senior seasons in the books and after a fall that saw the Rivals.com national analyst team hit the road on a weekly basis to evaluate talent, the new Rivals100 and Rivals250 rankings are set. But that doesn't mean some other players weren't rewarded with a bump up in the rankings for their showings. Here's a look at some defensive players who earned their fourth star, but fell just short of making the Rivals250.

MORE: New Rivals250 | Rivals250 Risers/Siders | Rivals100 Risers/Sliders

The ideal safety prospect has the athleticism and speed to provide range in coverage while also possessing the size and physicality to come up and support the run game. That describes the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Lyke perfectly. A Michigan State commit, Lyke showed throughout the off-season that he can handle Division I caliber wide receivers and tight ends in coverage, and senior film showed he can run the alleys and stuff ball carriers. - Helmholdt

ILB

DeMarco Boyd

Gilmer, Texas

Boyd plays on both sides of the football at Gilmer and has played several different positions. At linebacker he has a terrific nose for the football. He quickly diagnosis plays and sifts through traffic to get to the ball carrier. Once he arrives at his target, he is also an explosive and sure tackler. Boyd is committed to Texas. - Jason Howell

OLB

Kaezon Pugh

Aliquippa, Penn.

Pugh is an animal. In almost every game he played this year he was the most dominant player on the field. Pugh starred at running back but will make an excellent linebacker at Pitt. He has all the measurables of a dominant defensive player. Pugh should be a terror coming off the edge for the Panthers. - Adam Friedman

Jalen Elliott

Chesterfield (Va.) Lloyd C Bird

Elliott is a big-time playmaker that can fly around the secondary and be an effective run defender. The Notre Dame commit quickly reacts to the play and takes good angles to the ball. Elliott has a knack for making big plays in big moments on offense, defense or special teams. - Friedman

Myles Dorn

Charlotte (N.C.) Vance

Dorn is a soft-spoken leader that his teammates can count on to make big plays. The recent North Carolina commit has elite athleticism and brings a physical presence to the secondary. Don't be surprised if Dorn makes more than a few really impressive interceptions as a Tar Heel. - Friedman

Marquel Dismuke

Carson, Calif.

Dismuke is a long, lean, athletic safety who could add more weight but still comes up and likes to pop receivers coming across the middle. For someone 6-foot-2 but only 180 pounds, the Nebraska commit is surprisingly physical and aggressive, and he likes to lower his pads and rock the receiver. What also stands out about Dismuke is his ability to cover ground. He runs like a deer and he's also useful on offense in a pinch. - Adam Gorney

ATH

Demetric Felton

Temecula (Calif.) Great Oak

Felton is a tremendous athlete who uses his speed and elusiveness to beat defenders all over the field. The UCLA commit was mainly used as a running back in his senior season but he can absolutely line up in the slot and beat linebackers in the passing game as well. He's undersized so quarterbacks have to be accurate but he slips tackles all the time and his speed makes him extra special. - Gorney

ILB

Ja'Quain Blakely

Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County

Blakely is the best defensive player on one of the nation's top high school football teams and spent the season showing excellent sideline-to-sideline speed. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he had ideal size with a frame to add more bulk without costing him any of his quickness. Blakely is committed to Tennessee. - Woody Wommack

ILB

Tyrel Dodson

Franklin (Tenn.) Centennial

On the hoof it's clear that Dodson has the size to be an excellent SEC linebacker and the Texas A&M commit spent the fall adding production on the field to his resume. Dodson's combination of size, speed and football IQ is exactly what teams look for when evaluating middle linebacker prospects. ¬- Wommack

OLB

Jaleel Laguins

Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County

The Georgia commit is capable of helping in coverage, rushing the passer and stopping the run. His versatility combined with a season of impressive production helped him earn the bump. - Wommack

Ikenna Okeke

Smyrna, Tenn.

Okeke starred on both sides of the ball for his high school team and made some incredible plays at wide receiver and safety. He can play safety and corner, and has elite length, something that is in high demand at schools around the country. Okeke is committed to Texas A&M.