The 4A Club Post-Regular Season Player Rankings: Defensive Backs
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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…
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Continue ReadingEvery 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.
*Stats are up to Week 8*
#1. Joe Morrison Joe Morrison 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Waukee | 2021 IA , 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.
#2. Xavier Nwankpa Xavier Nwankpa 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA , 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.
#3. Aaron Smith Aaron Smith 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Waukee | 2021 State IA , 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.
#4. Caleb Rathjen Caleb Rathjen 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2021 IA , 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.
#5. Prince Wei Prince Wei 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Muscatine | 2021 IA , 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 Prince Wei Prince Wei 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Muscatine | 2021 IA doesn’t let many wide receivers get a ton of yards after the catch.
Top 20 Cornerbacks
#1. Aaron Smith Aaron Smith 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Waukee | 2021 State IA , 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)
#2. Prince Wei Prince Wei 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Muscatine | 2021 IA , Muscatine, SR – 18.511
29.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – FCS (Northern Iowa)
#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&F), William Penn (T&F))
#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)
#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
#6. Dante Hansen Dante Hansen 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Sioux City North | 2021 IA , 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)
#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)
#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)
#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)
#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
#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
#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
#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
#14. Austin Klein, Dowling, 9.234
9.5 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#15. Henry Dweth, Urbandale, 9.080
26.5 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#16. Bill Mukhtar, Waukee, 9.009
13 tackles, 0 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#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
#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)
#19. Tanner Schark, Ottumwa, 8.639
21 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#20. Will Cornwell Will Cornwell 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , Ankeny, 8.628
24.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
Top 10 Free Safeties
#1. Joe Morrison Joe Morrison 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Waukee | 2021 IA , Waukee, SR – 23.419
46 tackles, 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – FCS (St. Thomas)
#2. Xavier Nwankpa Xavier Nwankpa 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA , 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)
#3. Caleb Rathjen Caleb Rathjen 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2021 IA , 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)
#4. Sam Daniel Sam Daniel 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Fort Dodge | 2021 IA , 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))
#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))
#6. Marcus Morgan Marcus Morgan 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Iowa City West | 2021 IA , 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)
#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
#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
#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
#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
Top 10 Strong Safeties
#1. Ryan Crandall Ryan Crandall 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , Ankeny, SR – 14.704
32 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#2. Logan Flanagan Logan Flanagan 6'5" | 190 lbs | DB Dubuque | 2021 IA , 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)
#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))
#4. Dylan Muszynski Dylan Muszynski 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Linn-Mar | 2022 State IA , Linn-Mar, SR – 13.378
44 tackles, 5 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#5. Ryan Cole Ryan Cole 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB St. Ansgar | 2021 IA , Bettendorf, SR – 13.230
28.5 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#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
#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
#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
#9. Jack Wattier Jack Wattier 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Urbandale | 2022 IA , Urbandale, JR – 9.588
21.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 0 TDs
Highest Offers – N/A
#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)