The 4A Club Midseason Player Rankings: Defensive Backs

Every four weeks I like to take a look at the landscape of Class 4A football and come up with my own player rankings based on statistics. How I come up with my ratings is a system based on pro-football-reference.com’s "Approximate Value" system of ratings they use for overall performance during a season. For this article, I’m taking a look at my top 20 Class 4A Cornerbacks, top 10 Free Safeties, and top 10 Strong Safeties. In addition, I’m also giving out my top 5 overall DB’s as well. &nbsp; *Stats are up to Week 4* #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23960" first="Clayton" last="Muszynski"], Linn-Mar, JR - 16.719 15.5 tackles, 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A Analysis: While Linn-Mar was another school that had to shut down for two weeks, Clayton’s proven to play extremely well over the two games they played up to the midseason point. He’s very quick in getting to the ball carrier and he has good enough instincts to read where the QB is gonna throw to. &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23848" first="Ryan" last="Cole"], Bettendorf, SR - 15.143 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A Analysis: Ryan’s been not only vital on defense, but he also emerged as their starting running back on offense as well. He’s both speedy and powerful, a deadly combination for a 4-2-5 strong safety like Cole. &nbsp; #3. DaVares Whitaker, Sioux City East, JR - 14.921 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions, 2 TDs Highest Offers: D-1 (Cleveland State (Basketball)) Analysis: Starting his high school years in Arkansas, DaVares recently moved back to his hometown and is immediately making a difference for the Black Raiders. Once he gets his hands on the ball whether he’s a receiver, in the secondary, or returning kicks, you better know how to bring him down because he’s shown how he slips away from tackles and how he can score from anywhere on the field. &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23834" first="Joe" last="Morrison"], Waukee, SR - 14.288 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 22.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: FCS (St. Thomas) Analysis: A key part of the Waukee defense for the past three years, Joe is showing no signs of slowing down as a Senior. He almost plays like a linebacker because he’s a strong hitter, but also has some good speed to him too. &nbsp; #5. [player_tooltip player_id="23876" first="Sam" last="Daniel"], Fort Dodge, SR - 14.230 11.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 6 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: D-2 (Quincy, Upper Iowa, Wayne State (NE)) Analysis: The only thing holding [player_tooltip player_id="23876" first="Sam" last="Daniel"] back from the top spot is the number of tackles he’s made along with the amount of TD’s given up by the defense at the midseason mark. He’s a ballhawk of a free safety who quietly became one of the most elusive players in the state, leading the entire state in interceptions along with a couple of kick return TD’s as well. &nbsp; Top 20 Cornerbacks #1. Damarion Williams, Iowa City West, SR - 13.091 4.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers: D-2 (Bemidji State, Northern State) &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23849" first="Dante" last="Hansen"], Sioux City North, SR - 11.724 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 16.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers: D-2 (Bemidji State, UMary) &nbsp; #3. Jakari Bradley, Des Moines Roosevelt, SR - 11.439 4 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23885" first="Prince" last="Wei"], Muscatine, SR - 11.239 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 14.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: FCS (Northern Iowa) &nbsp; #5. Quincy Wiseman, Davenport North, SR - 11.052 15.5 tackles, 6 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #6. Mahki Jacobs, Davenport North, SR - 10.979 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #7. CJ Kuehl, Indianola, SR - 10.962 16.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #8. Owen Belman, Pleasant Valley, SR - 10.873 16 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #9. Henry Dweth, Urbandale, JR - 10.774 20 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #10. Cooper Cox, Ankeny, SR - 10.590 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: NAIA (Culver-Stockton, Graceland, Northwestern College) &nbsp; #11. Austin Klein, Dowling, SR - 10.570 4 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #12. Landon Nelson, Valley, SR - 10.078 6.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: FCS (Valparaiso) &nbsp; #13. Parker Stewart, Urbandale, JR - 9.890 14.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #14. Trey Walker, Johnston, SR - 9.696 16.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #15. Tanner Schark, Ottumwa, SO - 9.659 4 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #16. Mason DouBrava, Valley, SR - 9.562 9 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: D-2 (Minnesota State) &nbsp; #17. [player_tooltip player_id="23824" first="Aaron" last="Smith"], Waukee, SR - 9.439 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 9.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: FBS (Air Force, Army, Liberty, Navy) &nbsp; #18. Jaiden Buchanan, Marshalltown, SR - 9.435 9.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #19. Karter Kriegel, Johnston, SR - 9.272 12.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #20. [player_tooltip player_id="23997" first="Jeron" last="Senters"], Linn-Mar, JR - 9.119 3 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; &nbsp; Top 10 Free Safeties &nbsp; #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23834" first="Joe" last="Morrison"], Waukee, SR - 14.288 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 22.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: FCS (St. Thomas) &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23876" first="Sam" last="Daniel"], Fort Dodge, SR - 14.230 11.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 6 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: D-2 (Quincy, Upper Iowa, Wayne State (NE)) &nbsp; #3. Bennett Vanderloo, Sioux City East, SR - 13.863 20 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 1 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23931" first="Caleb" last="Rathjen"], Ankeny, SR - 11.728 18.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Committed: Iowa (Wrestling) (11/7/19) &nbsp; #5. Zane Beebe, Davenport North, SR - 11.631 8.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #6. [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"], Southeast Polk, JR - 11.298 16 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: Power-5 (Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Wisconsin) &nbsp; #7. Trey Krause, Valley, SR - 9.562 9 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: D-2 (Emporia State, Minnesota State, Quincy, Wayne State (NE)) &nbsp; #8. Tyree Gardner, Waterloo West, JR - 9.260 16.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #9. Jorge Ocampo, Muscatine, SR - 9.165 <strong>(Incomplete Stats)</strong> 26 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #10. JayVon Ratleff, Cedar Falls, SR - 8.951 6.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; Top 10 Strong Safeties &nbsp; #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23960" first="Clayton" last="Muszynski"], Linn-Mar, JR - 16.719 15.5 tackles, 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23848" first="Ryan" last="Cole"], Bettendorf, SR - 15.143 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #3. DaVares Whitaker, Sioux City East, JR - 14.921 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions, 2 TDs Highest Offers: D-1 (Cleveland State (Basketball)) &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23838" first="Logan" last="Flanagan"], Dubuque Senior, SR - 13.454 8.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: D-2 (Upper Iowa, Concordia) &nbsp; #5. [player_tooltip player_id="23955" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"], Ankeny, JR - 13.363 17 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #6. Caleb Helgeson, Johnston, JR - 12.578 12.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #7. Jacob Darr, Indianola, SR - 11.718 28.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #8. Elijah Mickey, Cedar Falls, SR - 11.208 27.5 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Committed: Minnesota-Duluth (8/22/20) &nbsp; #9. Justin Scherrman, Cedar Rapids Washington, SR - 10.021 14 tackles, 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A &nbsp; #10. Carson Kriegshauser, Dowling, SR - 9.940 27.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers: N/A