The 4A Club Post-Regular Season 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 8* &nbsp; #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23834" first="Joe" last="Morrison"], Waukee, FS, SR - 23.419 46 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - FCS (St. Thomas) A quick word: Joe’s a physical and versatile safety whose presence is felt not only when he lays out opposing receivers. &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"], Southeast Polk, FS, JR - 20.078 19 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers - Power-5 (Arizona State, Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Wisconsin) A quick word: With 18 Power-5 offers, it should come as no shock that Xavier is currently rated the #2 safety in the nation, 37th overall in the class of 2022 according to 247Sports.com. &nbsp; #3. [player_tooltip player_id="23824" first="Aaron" last="Smith"], Waukee, CB, SR - 19.085 18.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers - FBS (Air Force, Army, Liberty, Navy, Wyoming) A quick word: An x-factor on both sides of the ball, the 3-star ATH just picked up an offer from Wyoming over these past four weeks since my last rankings. &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23931" first="Caleb" last="Rathjen"], Ankeny, FS, SR - 18.602 31 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 3 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Committed - Iowa (Wrestling) (11/7/19) A quick word: He wasn’t expected to start heading into the season, but the future Hawkeye Wrestler is really proving himself by bringing his mat technique to the gridiron in the secondary. &nbsp; #5. [player_tooltip player_id="23885" first="Prince" last="Wei"], Muscatine, CB, SR - 18.511 29.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - FCS (Northern Iowa) A quick word: Muskie Corner [player_tooltip player_id="23885" first="Prince" last="Wei"] doesn’t let many wide receivers get a ton of yards after the catch. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;">Top 20 Cornerbacks</span> #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23824" first="Aaron" last="Smith"], Waukee, SR - 19.085 18.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers - FBS (Air Force, Army, Liberty, Navy, Wyoming) &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23885" first="Prince" last="Wei"], Muscatine, SR - 18.511 29.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - FCS (Northern Iowa) &nbsp; #3. Cooper Cox, Ankeny, SR - 12.630 4.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - NAIA (Culver-Stockton, Graceland, Northwestern College, Grand View (T&amp;F), William Penn (T&amp;F)) &nbsp; #4. Landon Nelson, Valley, SR - 12.146 15 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - FCS (Valparaiso) &nbsp; #5. Nathan Gee, Cedar Falls, SR - 12.029 13 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #6. [player_tooltip player_id="23849" first="Dante" last="Hansen"], Sioux City North, SR - 11.638 33 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions, 2 TDs Highest Offers - D-2 (Bemidji State, UMary) &nbsp; #7. Quincy Wiseman, Davenport North, SR - 11.458 25 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-2 (Upper Iowa) &nbsp; #8. Mason DouBrava, Valley, SR - 11.385 15 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-2 (Minnesota State) &nbsp; #9. Damarion Williams, Iowa City West, SR - 10.844 10.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers - D-2 (Bemidji State, Northern State) &nbsp; #10. CJ Kuehl, Indianola, SR - 10.734 20.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #11. Luke Meyer, Iowa City Liberty, 10.589 21 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #12. Owen Belman, Pleasant Valley, 10.570 27.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #13. Cass Camarigg, Sioux City East, 10.124 20 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #14. Austin Klein, Dowling, 9.234 9.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #15. Henry Dweth, Urbandale, 9.080 26.5 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #16. Bill Mukhtar, Waukee, 9.009 13 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #17. Mahki Jacobs, Davenport North, 8.998 18.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #18. Jerry Chada, Fort Dodge, 8.872 - incomplete stats 21 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-3 (Cornell College, Hamline) &nbsp; #19. Tanner Schark, Ottumwa, 8.639 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #20. [player_tooltip player_id="23989" first="Will" last="Cornwell"], Ankeny, 8.628 24.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;">Top 10 Free Safeties</span> #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23834" first="Joe" last="Morrison"], Waukee, SR - 23.419 46 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - FCS (St. Thomas) &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"], Southeast Polk, JR - 20.078 19 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers - Power-5 (Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Wisconsin) &nbsp; #3. [player_tooltip player_id="23931" first="Caleb" last="Rathjen"], Ankeny, SR - 18.602 31 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 3 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Committed - Iowa (Wrestling) (11/7/19) &nbsp; #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23876" first="Sam" last="Daniel"], Fort Dodge, SR - 14.779 - incomplete stats 19.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 7 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-2 (Quincy, Upper Iowa, Wayne State (NE)) &nbsp; #5. Trey Krause, Valley, SR - 13.451 29.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers - D-2 (Emporia State, Minnesota State, Missouri Western, Quincy, Wayne State (NE)) &nbsp; #6. [player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"], Iowa City West, SR - 12.547 10.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers - Power-5 (Iowa (Baseball), Iowa State) &nbsp; #7. Bennett Vanderloo, Sioux City East, SR - 11.637 29.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 1 TD Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #8. Zane Beebe, Davenport North, SR - 11.021 21.5 tackles, 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #9. Sam Fleming, Davenport Central, SR - 10.351 68 tackles, 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #10. JayVon Ratleff, Cedar Falls, SR - 9.723 8.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;">Top 10 Strong Safeties</span> #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23955" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"], Ankeny, SR - 14.704 32 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23838" first="Logan" last="Flanagan"], Dubuque Senior, SR - 14.131 14 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-2 (Upper Iowa, Concordia) &nbsp; #3. DaVares Whitaker, Sioux City East, SR - 13.687 32 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="23960" first="Clayton" last="Muszynski"], Linn-Mar, SR - 13.378 44 tackles, 5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #5. [player_tooltip player_id="23848" first="Ryan" last="Cole"], Bettendorf, SR - 13.230 28.5 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #6. Jacob Darr, Indianola, SR - 11.199 45.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 1 TD Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #7. Jackson Decker, Prairie, SR - 10.876 17.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #8. Caleb Helgeson, Johnston, JR - 10.073 21.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #9. [player_tooltip player_id="23974" first="Jack" last="Wattier"], Urbandale, JR - 9.588 21.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - N/A &nbsp; #10. Ethan Saskowski, Valley, SR - 9.135 26 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs Highest Offers - D-3 (Hamline)