New Names: 5 Highly Athletic DBs

Georgia has no shortage of highly athletic prospects, especially at the skill spots. Nowadays, it is important to have a DB room stocked full of capable athletes in hopes of containing powerful air attacks. Here are a few DBs in Georgia that fit that mold.    Roderick Jackson is a big, physical DB prospect who is always around the football. He is a lean, muscular 6'1 190 and flies downhill to strike ball carriers and jump routes. He isn't the twitchiest prospect, but he can quickly shift his momentum downhill from his backpedal, allowing him to arrive on time and violently. His closing speed is the premier part of his game, frequently acting as the first hat to the football. He strikes with the power to de-cleat ball carriers and sometimes jar the ball loose. He guns downfield on kickoff duty, outrunning coverage and again acting as the first arrival to the ball carrier. Jackson is super underrated. He is a long, physical, athletic S prospect who violently flies to the football. Those guys tend to have roster spots waiting for them.     JaLloyd Ashley is a short, yet scrappy DB prospect with ball and tackle production. Might not have the length or stature to consistently play above the rim, but he can match footwork with WRs and remain in stride thanks to his speed, giving him a chance even against the bigger WRs. Ashley is a sound tackler, flowing vertically with the offense and not overpursuing ball carriers. His motor runs hot, consistently battling with blockers and dodging them to free himself and get after the football. Ashley might lack some of the physical traits that bigger colleges desire, but he is still an athletic DB prospect with the motor and playmaking ability to be around the ball consistently.     Hayes is a long, lanky CB prospect with some of his best football ahead of him. He has noticeable length at 6'0 165 and possesses plenty of room to build out his frame. He is a super instinctual player, stalking his prey in off-coverage and quickly changing direction based on where the ball is going. He plays center field pretty well, showcasing the ability to find the ball and run to a spot to make a play. He is a productive downhill player, quickly shifting momentum downhill to close space and make plays on the ball carrier. In the process of making the tackle, he brilliantly avoids blockers, likely due to his flexibility and bend. There is a chance Hayes ends up as a safety, but he is fluid in the hips which allows him to turn and run with WRs on the outside. He is also long, which crowds the catch point. If he can get to 180, he will be difficult to match up against. Hayes is a good athlete with good measurables, but his instincts differentiate him.     Jaylin Thelemaque is a D1 prototype CB prospect. He comes in at 6'2 175 with room to grow and has long enough arms to touch the grass when he squats in an athletic position. He is a mechanic with his footwork, matching at the line and proving difficult to separate against in the short areas. He is more quick than he is fast, but he is fast enough to give himself a chance, and his combination of height and length is difficult to throw over. He has plenty of ball production, totaling 15 PBUs last year. He is adequate as a tackler, firing downhill and using his length to trip up ball carriers. Thelemaque is tall, long, and extremely pesky in press coverage. He is a mechanic with his footwork, which will allow him to match with WRs during critical points in their route.     Kris Brunson exploded onto the recruiting scene this offseason, and for good reason. He is a 6'2 175 two-way player with impressive suddenness and playmaking ability. His lateral agility is impressive, shifting around DBs with the ball in his hands. As a CB, he matches releases at the line and at the top of the route, remaining in phase with WRs during critical parts of their routes. He has fluid hips, running and sticking with WRs all across the field. He has long speed, sticking with receivers as they cross the field. Simply put, separating against Brunson is a tough task. He can match footwork and hips at the line, turn and run with anybody, and stay attached as he runs all over the field. Not to mention, his 6'2 175 frame provides him with the length to crowd the catch point and tangle up WRs during their route. He has a few D1 offers under his belt, but if he can put up some good junior tape, there's a chance some FBS and even P4 schools get involved.

Georgia has no shortage of highly athletic prospects, especially at the skill spots. Nowadays, it is important to have a DB room stocked full of capable athletes in hopes of containing powerful air attacks. Here are a few DBs in Georgia that fit that mold.