The Puget Sound’s Top 2023 SAFs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have reached the final part of our series where I look at the senior standouts in the Puget Sound, and that means we are covering the guys who will be patrolling the deep secondary for their teams this fall: the safeties. Like the corners, this is a position group that is loaded with talent in 2022, with many of these guys already having offers on the table to play at big-time programs. There will undoubtedly be risers who find their way onto the list this coming fall, but these are the 2023 safeties who I am most excited to evaluate this season as they hope to lead their teams to glory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f6fe683bc2d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Crandall is one of the top athletes in the area in the defensive backfield, able to play any position in the secondary with ease and show off his exceptional athleticism. The most important trait a safety can have is tracking the football in the air, and Crandall is able to showcase that with excellent production when it comes to interceptions and pass breakups. He is also very comfortable moving in space, showcasing very good change of direction and angles on defense, offense, and special teams. Crandall is a natural athlete at any defensive back position, and as a Colorado State commit, he is in a good position to use his senior season to further develop and showcase his immense talents.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["87408"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"As soon as you turn on Fasavalu's tape, the first thing you notice is his speed. He is extremely adept at getting sideline-to-sideline to make plays on the football as well as tackle ballcarriers. He does a great job of changing direction and shifting up the field to take angles on offensive players to bring them down. And when he is coming downhill, he is like a bullet train; impressive physicality and great tackling form for a defensive back, which he uses to punish whoever is in his way. Fasavalu reminds me a little bit of Tyrann Mathieu in the way that Bethel uses the senior defender. He is used all over the defense and is able to take advantage of his great athletic gifts to make the plays they need. With a handful of FBS offers already in tow, Fasavalu will continue to make a name for himself in 2022.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["87411"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Fraser is one of the most impressive players in this group in regards to coming downhill and stopping the run, an area where he is extremely proficient. He possesses excellent stop-and-start ability that allows him to adjust his angles efficiently and come screaming towards the line of scrimmage. A big part of that is pure athleticism, but just as big is his exceptional footwork, with very little wasted movement that would hinder his ability to get downfield in a hurry. Coming towards the line isn't the only place Fraser uses this skillset, however; he is also great at getting sideline-to-sideline in the backend and making plays on outside receivers as a deep coverage man. He does a great job with play recognition and always being in the right spot to make a play, whether that means reading a quarterback's eyes to make a play on the ball or reading blockers to attack the best angle to the running back. Fraser is another guy who is set for a big senior season, and more attention on the recruiting trail will follow if he can deliver.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["333679"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Turner has exceptional ball tracking abilities, which contributed to very solid interception numbers in his junior season and will set him up for success this season and beyond. He does a great job of always following the quarterback's eyes while proficiently playing his zone, making him a tough player to throw against because of how well he sees and reacts to the field. Similarly impressive is his range and general movement ability; he does a fantastic job of working both sideline-to-sideline and downhill to make plays in both the pass and run games. Turner is another guy who is used all over the field for his team, playing both corner and safety at a high level, and his impressive length comes into effect when he plays the latter, as it allows him to make plays on the ball that look like easy completions initially. He has not been getting a ton of attention on the recruiting trail, but he is absolutely someone I think will start to turn some heads with some big performances in the early part of the season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["333741"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Daley is not afraid to hit, and when he does, he lays the lumber. Opposing receivers or running backs that come into his area of the field need to be on the lookout, as he is a very physical player for his size and translates that physicality into great technique to bring offensive players down. He also has strong start-and-stop ability that allows him to get down the field in a hurry and take good angles to the ball carrier. With a handful of offers from smaller schools to his name already, Daley will be able to utilize his senior season to show off his abilities on a bigger stage. While he may not be getting the most attention on the recruiting trail, he has the physicality and smarts that college coaches will be drawn to when those decisions start to get finalized.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["155608"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"McNeese is another player that is not getting a ton of attention right now, but he has the physical tools to be a factor at the next level. That starts with his speed, as he showcases exceptional straight-line ability that is an asset for him when it comes to getting down the field and towards the sideline. However, that doesn't mean he is only a track guy, as he has exceptional footwork that allows him to change direction and move around the field with excellent proficiency. He does a fantastic job of breaking on the ball while it is in the air and using that athleticism to make plays that many guys would have been out of position for. None of that is to undersell his physicality at the position, either, as he is not afraid to come downfield, fill a gap, and get low to bring down opposing runners. McNeese absolutely possesses the size and athletic traits to be a player at the next level, and with a big 2022 season approaching, he will be chomping at the bit to make his name known.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["333755"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Rhooms is a great player on both sides of the ball for Auburn Riverside, and a big part of that is his extremely impressive speed. When Rhooms gets going, he looks like a track star out there, moving all over the field with exceptional quickness and agility that makes him a threat no matter where he is lined up. On offense, this comes in the form of being an elite deep threat, but it is just as much a factor on the other side of the ball, as he can make plays all over the field from his deep safety position. Offensive players coming into his zones have to be wary of him coming downhill, as he is very physical for his size and not afraid to take some big hits it means making a play. Rhooms plays the position at a very high level because of his athleticism and instincts, something which will certainly get a coach's attention as he finishes his high school career and begins his transition to the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->