Rivals Rankings Week: Breaking down the DB rankings
The final prospect rankings of the 2019 have been released and Rivals.com continues its Rankings Week with a position-by-position look at how things shook out. Here, we examine the headlines on a group of defensive backs that will shape the college football landscape for the next few years.
FINAL 2019 RANKINGS: Cornerbacks | Safeties
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Top 10 revealed
Tuesday: Rivals100 released | Mind of Mike | New Five-Stars
Wednesday: Rivals250 released | Roundtable
Thursday: Offensive position rankings released
TEAMS WITH TOP SIGNEES: Clemson, Texas A&M, Notre Dame
The rich keep getting richer. Clemson loaded up at defensive back this recruiting cycle led by five-star cornerback Andrew Booth, who’s rated at the position behind only No. 1 overall prospect Derek Stingley, Jr. Four-stars Sheridan Jones and Joseph Charleston are also highly-regarded and then Jalyn Phillips, Ray Thornton and Lannden Zanders round out the class. The Tigers were busy recruiting defensive backs and they got a lot of them.
Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher did an excellent job reloading at defensive back this cycle led by five-star cornerback Erick Young. Four-star safeties Brian Williams and Demani Richardson are two other in-state prospects that are huge pickups for the Aggies. Texas A&M also flipped JUCO four-star corner Elijah Blades from Oregon and that could be important from Day 1.
The third school that definitely made an impression at defensive back was Notre Dame, led by four-star safety Kyle Hamilton, who was impressive all week at the All-American Bowl. Four-star corner Isaiah Rutherford is an athletic specimen. Notre Dame went to Virginia to get four-star Litchfield Ajavon and Atlanta for three-star KJ Wallace.
PROSPECT TO WATCH: Kaiir Elam
The highest-rated defensive back still on the board is Kaiir Elam and his recruitment remains incredibly interesting as Florida and Georgia battle for the four-star corner from Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Benjamin School.
The Gators are believed to hold the edge in Elam’s recruitment for many reasons plus his brother, Matt, played at Florida. But Georgia is not giving up and some feel that the Bulldogs are making up a lot of ground fast as National Signing Day approaches.
TEAM TO WATCH: Florida State
The Seminoles received excellent news when five-star cornerback Akeem Dent decided to enroll early and so he’s off the market after programs tried to flip him late in the recruiting process. Florida State definitely welcomed Dent’s decision but coach Willie Taggart and his staff still have work to do to close out this phenomenal defensive back group.
Three of four committed but unsigned prospects are defensive backs – and they’re good ones in Brendan Gant, Nick Cross and Travis Jay. It’s looking likely that the Seminoles have a great chance at keeping all three in the recruiting class but Cross was especially impressive at the All-American Bowl and it wouldn’t be surprising to see other top teams try to flip him leading up to National Signing Day.
