Alabama DB Report: 5 Risers, 5 Sleepers

As I continue to take a deeper dive into Alabama, I shift my focus to the DBs. The DB position is becoming more and more important each year. Here are 10 in Alabama to watch out for.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Risers</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1014928' first='Justin' last='Godwin'] is primarily an outside corner with elite ball skills and a competitive edge. He measures around 5'11 175. He can compensate for his shorter height and length with his leaping skills and ability to play above the rim, which he brings over from the basketball court. He fires his hands to press at the line. When he connects, he can create enough pause in WRs to disrupt timing and prevent separation. Can sometimes over-reach and get off-balanced, which can be fixed with better footwork. He has enough speed to carry with WRs vertically (11.40 100M), but his change of direction allows him to flip his hips and blanket WRs with his back to the QB. He participates in T/F events like hurdles and jumps which require twitch and explosiveness. While in phase with WRs, he isn't afraid to assert himself physically and crowd the catch point. He spots the ball well and as I mentioned earlier, can rise through traffic to make a play on the football. Godwin is an impressive athlete with D1 offers under his belt.   *Godwin now plays HS ball at Wetumpka*     [player_tooltip player_id='1196641' first='Koby' last='Johnson'] is a linearly built DB prospect with alignment versatility and fantastic instincts. He hovers around 6'0 and looks to have enough length to play on the perimeter. He is best playing with depth, where he patiently gets into his backpedal and most comfortably diagnoses routes and reads the QB. He is like a panther, sneaking up on WRs and pouncing on his prey, which in this case is him jumping routes. He is a magnet to the football, visibly accelerating to another speed when making a play on the ball. He doesn't have much press on tape and doesn't look as clean when turning his hips to run and battle vertically. However, he does track the ball well and does a good job of getting a paw in the air to play the ball. As he adds more weight, he should be able to play on the line more consistently. I think Johnson will eventually move to S, where he can track the ball and keep the action in front of him.     [player_tooltip player_id='808553' first='Michael' last='Igbinoghene'] is in a league of his own when it comes to speed. He has run 10.75 in the 100M, making him one of the speedier football players in the state. His measurements vary, but he likely falls in the 5'9-5'10 range. He is well-built for his frame, sporting plenty of muscle. He thumps pretty well and quickly closes space to the football, connecting with plenty of downhill momentum. He is a candidate to slide inside and play as a nickel, where he can chase after the ball more consistently and defend against the run. However, if he does stick on the outside, his speed will allow him to stick with WRs and have a chance to make a play on the football. The only knock on his game is his size. If he were 6'0, he would be a blue chipper. Regardless, he should get a crack at the FBS level, and he still has a P4 grade from me. He reminds me slightly of former Auburn DB Javaris Davis.     [player_tooltip player_id='451868' first='Aarin' last='Hill'] is a steadily rising DB prospect set to have a productive senior season. He is a long, lanky 5'11 165 with plenty of room to add weight. He is not the most twitchy or explosive prospect, but he puts his long speed on display when he has to carry receivers vertically. Looks best playing with cushion, where he can backpedal and turn and run with ease. He is patient, never appearing out of control or out of position. He does a fantastic job of attacking the football, working through the hands of receivers to frequently break up passes. As a tackler, he comes downhill and settles down, striking with a firm base. Now, he just has to continue to add more weight to avoid getting flushed by blockers or trucked by RBs at the next level. Hill is a smooth, consistent DB who will only get better as he adds more weight and short-area explosiveness.     [player_tooltip player_id='401115' first='Jordan' last='Holmes'] is an instinctual DB prospect with natural athleticism. He has a T/F background and also contributes on the basketball court. His suddenness and explosiveness flashes all over his tape, quickly changing direction and making electric plays after INTs, which he had 6 of as a junior. He is listed at 5'10 160, but brings over the ability to play above the rim from the hardwood. His footwork and suddenness when mirroring WRs is spectacular, matching moves and proving capable of handling double moves and more advanced concepts. His route recognition skills in zone coverage flash on tape, shifting from one WR to another and frequently putting himself in position to jump routes and play the football. Holmes can compensate for being on the shorter side with his insctincts and ball skills. He can stick to WRs on a rope, bait QBs in zone coverage, and play through the football on jump ball situations. He is a clear D1 caliber DB prospect.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sleepers </h2>    Holsonback is a long, featherweight CB prospect with some upside. Plays predominately on the outside, where he uses his length to challenge WRs throughout the route and at the catch point. He won't run the fastest 40-time, but he has competitive speed, showing the motor to stick with WRs throughout their route and carry them vertically. He uses his length to poke at the football and crowd the hands of receivers. What really will keep him on the field is his tackling ability. He is thinner, but he competively battles off blocks and does a good job of attacking the trunk of ball carriers. Holsonback should absolutely be considered a senior sleeper and is worthy of some small-school opportunities.     Xavier Boswell is a super fluid mover that played both ways for Trinity Presbyterian, and was productive while doing so. There is plenty to like about his build, coming in around 6'1 160 with room to get stronger. He is also fluid hipped, allowing him to move around the field with little limitations. Boswell is a true S prospect, patiently backpedaling and possessing the hips needed to turn, run, and get under the ball. He tracks the ball well, which you can thank his baseball background and reps on offense for. Boswell looks good on both sides of the ball. To me, his ability to play centerfield will give him the most value.     Arnold Bush is a speedy DB prospect with plenty of ball production. He is best playing with cushion, where he can easily carry receivers vertically. If he does press up, he does have the speed to recover if he gets beat intially. He tracks the ball very well, and frequently floats under the ball from across the field. He likely has upside as a returner, which can be seen when he takes INTs back. He is simply too fast and explosive to not be intrigued by his upside as a returner. Bush can stick on the outside, where he can run with anybody. However, I like his upside as a S prospect, where he can cover plenty of ground and get under the football. His best traits on tape translate to S. There are some D1 caliber tools here.     John Griffin is a true S prospect that has contributed early in his HS career. He comes in at 5'11 180 with some broad shoulders and a solid muscle mass, which might project best to N or as a box safety. Griffin is patient with his backpedal, and violent when he comes downhill. He quickly explodes on routes, which frequently allows him to jump routes for INTs or blow up crossing receivers. He mirrors receivers well and is immune to moves at the top of routes, which gives him a chance vertically. Griffin will play best in a scheme that allows him to bring his stout frame downhill to attack underneath route concepts.     [player_tooltip player_id='1115876' first='Frisco' last='Robertson'] was one of the most productive defenders in the state last year, totaling 9 INTs on top of several PBUs. He has really good instincts on the outside, allowing him to stay under control while receivers try to work him off-platform. He has enough footwork as well to match and mirror. He showcases some long strides, allowing him to stick on the hips of WRs as he carries vertically. As you could imagine, he finds the ball well, picking it off the hip of WRs and also coming unattached to the receiver to make a play on the football. He is willing as a tackler, firing downhill and upending ball carriers in space. There are more physically gifted DBs in the state, but the ability to be around and impact the football translates, and that's exactly what [player_tooltip player_id='1115876' first='Frisco' last='Robertson'] does.

As I continue to take a deeper dive into Alabama, I shift my focus to the DBs. The DB position is becoming more and more important each year. Here are 10 in Alabama to watch out for.