PRZ Iowa | C/O 2022 Rankings | December Update

Some big new names along with some impressive stock risers have the Defensive Back rankings for the class of 2022 looking a little bit different. Take a look below to see where these ballhawks and coverage specialists landed in the 2022 position rankings update and find out what makes them so good at their craft. These Defensive Backs had big Senior seasons that show they are primed and ready for football at the next level. There are several names on this list to keep an eye on as recruiting and commitments take hold. Newcomers DB6 [player_tooltip player_id="244222" first="Jahsiah" last="Galvan"], 6’2, 195, West Liberty, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10617716/617c2e42578d760ba85cd444">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JahsiahGalvan">Twitter</a> Galvan, a member of a highly impressive in-state recruiting class for UNI, jumps into the Defensive Back rankings at number 6 after a year in which he showed a ton of versatility totaling nearly 70 tackles and 1,700 all-purpose yards. What is made immediately clear on film is how much range he plays with and how hard he hits; Galvan is an absolute ballhawk. He is the prototype of a Strong Safety: someone who can play from depth or walked up into the box. He uses tremendous closing speed when action comes to him and takes incredible angles across the field when action is away to keep everything bottled up. Galvan simply gets to the ball in elite fashion and makes plays the vast majority can’t. Another thing is also certain; when he arrives, he arrives with a boom and absolutely makes his presence felt. DB12 [player_tooltip player_id="244223" first="Jeron" last="Senters"], 6’0 170, Kennedy, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GKJFh">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jeronsenters14">Twitter</a> Senters is coming off of a wildly successful senior year and, the now first team all-state player and Upper Iowa commit, joins the Defensive Backs rankings at number 12 in the class of 2022. Senters was a weapon for the Cougars in each phase of the game; he excelled as a Wide Receiver and return man, but was exceptional in coverage and the 6 interceptions he came away with is strong evidence of that. What stands out right away about Senters’ skill set is how well he breaks on passes while keeping everything in front of him on the outside. He does an outstanding job covering a deep half or third. Opponents might feel it is passive coverage, but it is not; his speed and instincts just give receivers the illusion that they are open. In reality he is actually covering a ton of ground and beats the ball to its target. DB13 [player_tooltip player_id="244232" first="Keegan" last="Andriano"], 6’1 185, Ankeny Centennial, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11567287/617d9502578e990efc1349aa">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrianoKeegan">Twitter</a> Andriano was the source of some massive hits this fall and that, paired with the way he can play centerfield and tackle in space, gets him into the rankings at number 13. Andriano had 59 tackles and 2 interceptions for the Jaguars and he carried a hit stick around with him at all times. He has impressive coverage skills and both interceptions came on highly athletic plays where he jumped over everyone, got fully extended to high point the ball, and seemed to hang in the air. The way he hits and tackles in space is what impresses most, though. There is one play that really stands out and represents how he attacks. Andriano lined up a ball carrier who ran off-tackle and had already gained about 12 yards with a full head of steam. He halted all momentum, took his opponent off his feet, and drove him into the turf. DB26 [player_tooltip player_id="244230" first="Jack" last="Armstrong"], 5’10 180, Des Moines Roosevelt, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12981368/6175f435ab925806e0022014">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jackharmstrong">Twitter</a> Armstrong, a recent Grand View commit, was an excellent zone Corner this fall and his coverage skills help him break into the rankings at number 26. What stands out immediately on film is how patient within and disciplined to his zone he is while in coverage. Armstrong is so good at staying true to his responsibility, especially when Quarterbacks are out of the pocket and can threaten with their legs. Many young Defensive Backs would fly up or get caught in no man’s land, but Armstrong maintains his job and finds opponents as they threaten. That patience paid off several times for Armstrong who, by clamping down on receivers, made Quarterbacks hold on to the ball longer than they would like to. This led to interceptions and coverage sacks for the Roughriders. Armstrong is a big addition for the Vikings. DB32 [player_tooltip player_id="244227" first="Seth" last="Brown"], 5’10 165, Nevada, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GKJ3M">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SethBro14187927">Twitter</a> Brown was class 3A’s interception leader this fall with 6 picks and a first team all-state Defensive Back. His dominant play in the secondary gets him into the rankings at number 32 in a position group that is highly concentrated with talent. He has recently picked up a few offers and he should see that trend continue after such a successful season. What impresses so much when Brown is in coverage is how he sticks to his route and doesn’t cheat by staring into the backfield. He matches patterns really well and is laser focused on his receiver’s eyes. The timing of how he gets his head around to make a play on the ball is textbook. Brown’s talents extend beyond what he can do on passing downs. He also added 47 tackles and a fumble recovered for a touchdown. Brown really is a complete Defensive Back. Stock Risers DB9 [player_tooltip player_id="100889" first="Jake" last="Erickson"], 6’0 190, Fort Dodge, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GWaiU">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeErickson_21">Twitter</a> Erickson capped off an extremely successful year as the Dodgers leading tackler with 78.5 total and a first team all-state selection. Erickson is so talented from deep, middle of the field alignment and what he put on film bumps him up the number 9 spot in the Defensive Back rankings. Erickson’s highlights, whether defending the run or pass, is a collection of big hits. Against the run he had a knack for reading keys, identifying the play, then matching the path of the ball carrier to fly down into the box or alley and deliver a bone crunching hit. Similarly, when the ball was thrown, Erickson took a great read step, stayed over the top of routes, and broke downhill once the ball was in the air to dish out a perfectly timed, violent collision. There probably wasn’t anyone better last year starting from depth and impacting so many plays. DB14 [player_tooltip player_id="148879" first="Tyree" last="Gardner"], 6’2 180, Waterloo West, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11796940/617c521c578d760ba85ce77e">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TyreeGardner5">Twitter</a> Gardner will be suiting up for the Tommies next fall at the division 1 level and was a do it all kind of athlete for the Wahawks this past season. The ability and skill set he put on display taking snaps at Quarterback, returning kicks, and patrolling the secondary at Free Safety make the possibilities of what position he’ll settle into at the next level endless. Gardner is twitchy, agile, and really fast. If he continues to play Free Safety St. Thomas is getting a player who has a lot of range in coverage and can be a stopgap at the last level of defense against the run. Gardner is fast and getting behind him would be a difficult task. He can also deliver knockout hits and make opponents pay for trying to catch passes underneath. Gardner is a fearless hitter, too, and can take away any daylight a ball carrier might think they have. DB15 [player_tooltip player_id="23989" first="Will" last="Cornwell"], 5’10 180, Ankeny, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11552223/619d4d46bed6e5022857b42c">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/willcornwelll">Twitter</a> Cornwell, one of the toughest and most physical Defensive Backs in the state, picked off 6 balls and added 36.5 tackles to his resume this fall. He moves up to number 15 in the Defensive Back rankings after a year where he proved just how versatile a player he can be outside of and behind formations. Having a player like Cornwell who can play Corner and Safety, defeat blocks and stick their nose in to condense the football field and take space away from an offense, and be multi-dimensional fitting into different coverages is a huge asset. Cornwell had a pick six against Prairie where he broke downfield, got hands to the ball at the same time as the receiver, took it right from him, and was gone. He also shoots towards the ball like a missile on runs and executes textbook tackles through ankles and thighs. DB18 [player_tooltip player_id="148877" first="Jackson" last="Morton"], 6’2 160, Greene County, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/9918878/Jackson-Morton/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonMorton8">Twitter</a> Morton had playmaking ability in each phase of the game like no other this fall for the Rams. The stud athlete had 38 tackles, 16 total touchdowns, and needed to be identified every play no matter which Greene County unit was on the field. He jumps up to number 18 in the rankings as a Strong Safety/Outside Linebacker hybrid who has a tremendous amount of value in coverage, defending the run, and blitzing. Morton would excel in the same role at the next level. He is a playmaker and fitting into a scheme that allows him to play free, instinctual football would be dangerous. What he can do when rolled down near the line of scrimmage as an extra hat in a single-high scheme should be very exciting to college coaches. Morton was a threat to do something special at any given time this season. DB25 [player_tooltip player_id="148884" first="Kane" last="Zuehl"], 5’11 170, West Hancock, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJvED">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Kanezuehl">Twitter</a> Three-year starter, two-time state champion, and two-way star player [player_tooltip player_id="148884" first="Kane" last="Zuehl"] jumps up to number 25 in the Defensive Back rankings. Zuehl showed a lot of versatility this fall lining up across the defense as a key piece of the Eagles defense who could neutralize whatever scheme they were going against. It appears on film that Zuehl lined up at Corner, Safety, and even Linebacker at times. Having someone who has that vast of a skill set that can be put up against an opponent’s strength week in and week out is not common and Zuehl proved on film that each job he was tasked with was one he could execute. One constant that Zuehl brought to each job was how hard he hit. Zuehl plays and delivers blows like he is the biggest player on the field. The confidence and attitude he carries is very obvious on film.