Five-Star: Top DBs
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A close second for the Defensive Back MVP award, Wade made a statement with his play in both one-on-ones and 7-on-7 at M&T Bank Stadium. Although just a rising junior, Wade plays with the confidence of a seasoned pro. He was not intimidated by the bigger wide receivers and was game for checking the smaller, quicker slots. In a game against Team Swarm, the coach had Wade spy the speedy Sam Bruce, who had been cutting up Team Flurry's defense, and put the handcuffs on him.
3
CB
William Poole III (2017)
Atlanta (Ga.) Hapeville Charter
You never know how underclassmen will respond to the big stage and bright lights of the Five-Star Challenge, but Poole, like Wade, was ready. The 5-foot-11, 173-pound defender plays with greater length and more physicality at the cornerback position than his measurements would suggest. He also has great instincts and came away with two interceptions during 7-on-7 play while checking big-name wide receivers like Nate Craig-Myers.
4
DB
Nashville (Tenn.) Father Ryan
We do not hand out a "Mr. Congeniality," award, but if we did, Williams would be the hands-down winner. The Nashville native was shaking hands with everyone on the sidelines, making new friends and complimenting everyone on their play. However, do not mistake Williams' affable nature as a weakness. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety is a long and disruptive defender who raised his play when his Team Swarm needed it most.
5
CB
Sachse, Tex.
Mayden has had an outstanding offseason and he carried that momentum with him to Baltimore. One of the few bright lights on a Team Swarm team that struggled in 7-on-7 play, Mayden made plays early and locked down his side of the field while playing the field corner. Physically, the 6-foot, 187-pound Mayden has an ideal frame for the cornerback position, and he combines that with an outstanding break on the football and a knack for getting in passing lanes.
6
DB
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Smith stuffed the stat sheet for Team Flurry during 7-on-7 play while lining up at cornerback and safety. Smith is the class of 2016's No. 1 ranked safety prospect, and that appears to be the position of the future for the 6-foot-2, 185-pound five-star. But he also showed the ability to play man coverage in one-on-ones and 7-on-7 play. The LSU commit picked off a pass near the end zone and got his hands on several more in the 7-on-7 tournament.
7
DB
DeAngelo Gibbs (2017)
Suwanee (Ga.) Peach Tree
For some reason, cornerback Richard LeCounte decided he was going to play safety for Team Flurry during the 7-on-7 tournament, which meant one of the team's safeties also had to play out of position. That ended up being Gibbs and the rising junior responded in his second appearance at the Five-Star Challenge. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound prospect probably doesn't have the hips to play the position in college, but he made up for it with great instincts.
8
ATH
Jeffrey Okudah (2017)
Grand Prairie (Tex.) South Grand Prairie
While Okudah did not have as many splashy plays as some of the guys ahead of him on this list, the rising junior was consistently solid throughout the day. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety prospect, Okudah was one of the top performers during the morning drills and one-on-one session. He was also a reliable member of the Team Swarm defensive backfield, registering several pass break-ups and taking care of his assignments.
9
CB
Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro
When coaches talk about looking for cornerbacks with "hips on a swivel," Murphy is one of those players who most completely embodies that term. The 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback is not a particularly physical defensive back, but he can hang with any wide receiver in the country because of that ability to flip his hips and change direction. He also came up with one of the biggest plays in the 7-on-7 semifinals -- an interception near the end zone that sent his Team Tumblr to the championship.
10
CB
Detroit (Mich.) King
Hill ended up with the title of "Jekyll and Hyde," after his performance at the Five-Star Challenge. After ranking as the top defensive back performer list during the morning session of drills and one-on-ones, Hill struggled in the 7-on-7 portion of the camp. The Penn State commit had proven to be lockdown in man coverage during the one-on-ones, but he either ran out of gas or had a rare off performance during 7-on-7 play.
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Josh Helmholdt
Midwest Recruiting Analyst
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