My Unconventional DB Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My DB Rankings for the Class of 2026 are... unconventional. I disagree pretty regularly with the big D1 schools. So, here's my top 5, and why I have them ranked so high. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1290688"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bfdab42c548"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Samarae is my #1 DB in this class, but #3 when you factor in other likely DBs who I put in the "ATH" category. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, Samarae is ranked ahead of some DBs with division 1 offers. Why? Because he has better tape than all of them, performed extremely well at a recent camp, and has good testing numbers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strengths</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great athletic traits</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Far more explosive than most DBs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good ball skills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Plays slot DB- a lot of great run stop highlights</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good ball skills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaknesses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can force more INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tends to lose a step when WR makes cut</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Needs to have faster feet</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saw Samarae at our Prep Redzone camp. Easily won DB MVP. Good man corner. Good run stopper. Really hard to nitpick his game. Could have faster feet and change of direction, but once he does change direction, he's explosive enough to make up that ground. He also has longer than average arms than go up and swat balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just speaking on skill, Samarae should be a MAC prosepct. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566975"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bfdab42c5db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Probably my least contentious ranking with the top 5 DBs. David is a dang good safety, and he has the coaching + competition to keep him on a D1 trajectory. The main thing keeping him from a slightly higher ranking is the fact that I haven't seen him at an offseason camp. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strengths</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Most well-rounded Safety in class</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great zone player</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Goes for ball</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good backpetal</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Covers ground quickly</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Very competitive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Willing run stoppr</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaknesses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>No idea how he is in man coverage</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Could improve change of direction</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very athletic, far more polished than other Safeties, competitive. Goes and attacks the ball. Always goes for the intercpetion. Strugging to find a lot of nitpicks- an easy D1 evaluation. Did very well in first game of season against Davison.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1148719"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bfdab42c62e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Luke has zero D1 offers, and even though I'm ranking him #3, I expect him to go D2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though, his tape is far better than several DBs at powerhouse schools with D1 offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strengths</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Works year-round on strength and athletic training</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Very physical and willing to stop the run</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tackles and fills run like a Linebacker</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good ball skills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaknesses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Could be a touch more explosive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great at forcing PBUs but could be more aggressive to earn INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Struggles to read QBs eyes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Overall looking for Luke to be a bit more reactive and instinctual when defending pass</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Come on now. Luke, without a doubt, has better tape than several Division 1-offered DBs. Please, let me know if I'm wrong here.<br>The best run stopper in this class. Able to creep up, take on blocks, and make open-field tackles. A good DB- good zone player but could definitely work on reading QBs eyes and attacking the ball more often.<br>Dumbfounded that Luke doesn't have a single D1 offer. I know- he's 5'11". Still, a D1 player in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568145"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bfdab42c6a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">George comes in at #5, largely due to his size and versatility. Plus, George is a better pass defender and way better run defender than some D1 prospects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He still needs to develop slightly better instincts. Though, with his strength of competition in addition to his continued upward trajectory, he's well on his way to being a D2 or D1 prospect. Gut says be belongs in the MAC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["567929"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bfdab42c709"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strengths</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Long body and wide catch radius</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Talented Boxer</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>That said, he's more than willing to stop the run</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good zone player</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Physical</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaknesses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hate his backpetal</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Should work on change of direction</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can be a step more reactive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I LOVE that Windom is a boxer. As a result, I'm confident that he's willing to be physical and stop the run- that really shows up on tape. Also looks like a good zone player. Where he needs most work with is his backpetal and reaction time. Good D1 upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->