Rivals250 S JD Coffey commits to the Texas Longhorns

One of Texas' best 2021 prospects is staying in-state.

JD Coffey, a Rivals250 safety from Kennedale (Texas) High School, committed to the Longhorns on Monday. Coffey is the No. 4-ranked safety in the country and the No. 112 overall prospect.

Coffey has been a longtime Texas lean, but finally pulled the trigger on a commitment midway through June. LSU, Baylor, Washington, Oregon and Michigan were other finalists for the four-star defensive back.

Coffey is the 12th addition to the Longhorns' 2021 recruiting class, which entering Monday ranked No. 17 nationally on the Rivals team rankings. Coffey is the first safety to commit, though four-star Denton (Texas) Ryan athlete Billy Bowman Jr. is likely to find himself on the defensive side of the ball down the road. Coffey is the 10th in-state commitment for Tom Herman's team to date.

"(This) are where I feel most comfortable and I could see myself playing," Coffey told Rivals about his finalists in April when he narrowed his options down to six, including the Horns.

"Texas is my home school and everything about Texas is great, especially when it comes to life after football. If I don't make it to the league, I know that I'll still have a chance to succeed in life. The campus is amazing and I've been talking to (defensive coordinator) Coach (Chris) Ash a lot and he's cool. We've started building a relationship and Texas is a nice school I like."

On the timing of his decision: "I felt like it was the right time. I'm comfortable at Texas. I'm ready to get there and call it home."

On how Texas separated itself from the other finalists: "I definitely struggled with this. There were a lot of things I had to think about and a lot of circumstances I had to consider, so it was not easy at all. Texas, they just showed love constantly. Some schools hit you up now and then, they show love now and then, but Texas was consistent. They were checking on me every other day, checking on my family to make sure they were good."

On most important coaches in this decision: "Definitely, Coach Jay Valai. Coach Tom Herman, too, and also the defensive coordinator (Chris Ash). I really like the relationships I have with them. I can tell when it's fake love and when it's real love, when you're having a real conversation or you're just on the phone just talking. I can feel the difference in people at some of these schools, but Texas showed real love and we had real bonding, and that's where they separated from the other schools."

What about your experiences at Texas played a role? "Really, it's just the environment there. I knew it as soon as I got there. Four of the schools I had been to, I felt like it was at home. But I was comfortable with the coaches, with the players and their way at Texas. I can definitely see myself being there."

Coffey is one of the most decorated players in the state of Texas, beginning with a Class 4A First-Team All-State selection as a freshman in 2017. He followed that up with First-Team All-District honors as a sophomore and being named the District 6-4A-I Defensive MVP as a junior last season.

Coffey made an instant impact for Kennedale (Texas) High School. As a freshman, he managed 71 tackles, 11 TFL, 6 interceptions with 4 more pass breakups. Last season, he nearly mirrored those statistics with 71 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions, including one pick-six. Coffey has been a model of consistency as a difference-maker on the back end of the defense.

In terms of frame and measurables, Coffey owns a 24.24-second personal-best 200-meter time. He clocks in as 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. He's long and wiry and looks the part of a hybrid defensive back that's capable of lining up at multiple positions, including free safety and could even take snaps out at cornerback or in the nickel.

Coffey is an impactful safety that covers a ton of ground and patrols the back end of his team's defense with authority. He's a natural ballhawk with an innate feel for the game and finds himself in the right position more often than not. He naturally gravitates toward the football and brings a vast skill-set to the position.

While Coffey looks thin in stature, he has a case as the most physical safety in the Lone Star State for 2021. He tests receivers trying to catch passes in the middle of the field or down the seams with serious pops at the back end of plays. He's excellent at timing those big hits, too. That physicality shows in the run game as well. From his centerfielder position 20 yards off the ball, Coffey often takes direct paths to the ball-carrier and is very active in defending against the run. He also lines up close to or on the line of scrimmage, where he's able to blitz or make splash plays in the backfield.

One thing is for sure: you will know when Coffey hits you.

In terms of coverage, Coffey is a read-and-react defensive back that constantly studies opposing quarterbacks and reacts with his positioning on the field. He can cover a lot of ground in a hurry and as a center-fielder, his timing and natural nose for the football is a major aspect of his game. He possesses a natural feel for the game and in coverage.

Coffey is a versatile defensive back capable of helping over the top, working in double coverage and even lining up man-to-man with pass-catchers. In one aspect, Coffey can be a playmaker and seek out turnovers when playing on the back end or coming over the top. In single coverage, he can play press-man or off-coverage. He can be physical with the receivers and jam them off the line or play off and shows off elite closing speed. Coffey has a special vertical and routinely attacks the ball at its highest point.

Coffey's 14 interceptions over the past three seasons should serve as enough evidence. He's never far from the football and a potential threat for a turnover, and should be a versatile piece to plug into the Longhorns' secondary.