New Additions to New England 2024 Rankings: DB Evaluations
In this article:
Michael Bonsu New E #152 DB #14 HEIGHT 5'9" WEIGHT 180 POS DB CLASS 2024 View Player Boost Profile Download Image Michael Bonsu Class 2024 Position DB Height 5'9" HS Dexter Southfield | New E New Additions to New…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTop ten positional ranking debut for Dexter Southfield’s Michael Bonsu Michael Bonsu 5’9″ | 180 lbs | DB Dexter Southfield | 2024 State New E . Experienced in press coverage. Boundary corner with great body control and ball-tracking ability, almost that of a wide receiver. No problem getting physical at the LOS or while being in-phase with a wideout. A conscious effort to provide run support help. Can keep his technique while diagnosing the run or pass. Numerous interceptions reeled in by Bonsu, QBs should be forced to place balls where only their man can get to it, not in range of Bonsu. Has reps at wideout, so I could argue a change to ATH. That being said, I like his reps at DB too much to move him off. Special corner.
Excellent at the catch point is Suffield Academy’s Brenden Toppin Brenden Toppin 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Suffield Academy | 2025 State New E . Quality frame standing at 5’11, 180 pounds. Substantial reps in off-coverage at boundary corner, an area he excels in. Can sink his hips while keeping his feet moving to stay on the hip of wideouts who try to get loose under 15 yards. Good awareness, Toppin seeks out the ball well. Solid in run support. Just a two-minute tape, would love to get an extensive look at the young man.
Highlights
First six-foot corner on this list, a DB I feel I should have ranked a tad bit higher. That will come after I get a closer look when we see him at our camp on April 1st. Opportune player who comes up big when he’s needed at Manchester Memorial. Plays at the LOS well, some bump-and-run action seen on tape. Also, some quality run support reps covering the flat zone. He has some safety traits that MM can play around with, as well as quality receiving reps to boot. Listed at DB because of how much I like the full package he provides along the boundaries. I will consider a change to ATH, I can’t fault colleges for wanting to look at him from multiple angles.
Highlights
Intriguing prospect from a size perspective alone. 6’3, 190 pounds, I know all too well how much those at the next level covet tall and long DBs. Says a lot about this young man’s athleticism that the Brooks School coaching staff trusts him to keep up with some tremendous wide-out talent. The way Nwobi plays the run, I could see him being a fun project at OLB. He looks a bit raw in his backpedal, slightly uncomfortable in some stances. I stress that it’s slight, this kid is still moving well enough to almost land inside the top 30 at his position. I like Nwobi’s ability to open up and run with kids much smaller than he is. His second stride downfield makes up for any late transitions at the LOS. Much of Nwobi’s tape highlights his ability in-phase. Would love to see more reps of him being targeted to see how he plays the ball. This is a modest ranking because of said limited tape. That being said, I can’t wait to see how this young man develops.
Very limited tape out of the reclass junior Julian Grant Julian Grant 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Tabor Academy | 2024 State New E . Still good enough tape to warrant a ranking out of me. Just three games out of Grant and he’s displaying some of the best technique of anyone on this list. Transitions out of his backpedal to striding downfield in a pinch. Buttery hip flip. Outstanding feet, always keeping Grant active both laterally and vertically. Again, in just three games I see him showing he can play both off and press. Incredibly aware of his surroundings. Grant is more than willing to lay wood to ball carriers running his way. Multiple interceptions to his name despite playing in less than four games. Easy a top 15 corner candidate with more tape.
Highlights
Productive in just six games. Shows his ability to break on the ball immediately when you turn on the tape. Plays through the receiver’s triangle well throughout the tape, causing plenty of PBUs all season long. Great in run support, sheds his man early, showing he can diagnose the run in time to actually be a threat to make tackles before major yardage can be obtained. Reminds me a ton of Julian Grant Julian Grant 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Tabor Academy | 2024 State New E , just with much more tape to behold. Frame is perfect for the position, not too short, not too heavy. Christopher Barnes Christopher Barnes 5’11” | 160 lbs | DB Portsmouth Abbey | 2024 State New E is what you call an annoying, pesty corner. That’s arguably the best kind of corner.