Riphin II is a prospect featuring a high ceiling. At 6-foot-4 and 200-plus pounds, there’s plenty of room for growth on a projectable frame. Speed, quick-twitch athleticism and a good feel for the game stand out when we pop on his junior season highlight video at Denison-Schleswig. On the first clip, he utilizes his size and long arms in coverage. It results in an interception. There’s a path to a future on the next level playing hybrid or linebacker. A career on offense in college also is a possibility. On the second clip of his 11th-grade tape, Riphin II uses long strides in leaving the defensive back in the dust for a long touchdown. The size and catch radius at receiver give him a high ceiling at that position. He’d also be an asset on special teams.

Wilson Riphin brings D1 athleticism to the table, and despite his status as an unranked Athlete has garnered that level of attention from scouts. As a LB/Safety hybrid, Riphin recorded 45 tackles, a TFL, a PBU, and an INT. He also added 5 receptions for 132 yards and a receiving TD as well as 218 kick return yards (18.2 yards per return). Riphin would make for a great overhang defender with his length, being difficult for WRs to block against and able to effectively seal the gaps in the run working outside the box, while also flashing great ball-skills and footwork to effective shut down receivers in the passing game. Riphin remains to be a work in progress, but he’s due to start gaining offers very soon with the trajectory he’s on.

We last wrote about Riphin II in early June of last year, meaning an updated evaluation was in order for the Denison-Schleswig standout. First, Riphin shot up almost four inches in height since our last check-in. His frame is such that it has plenty of room to fill out without the loss of impressive athleticism and fluidness to his game. He’s already producing at a high level as evidenced by his 45.0 tackles (33 solo, 1.0 TFL) last fall. Riphin intercepted a pass and was credited with a pass defended. He caught five passes for 131 yards (26.2 YPC) and a touchdown, and averaged 18.2 yards on 12 kick returns. Riphin is receiving Division I interest, which makes sense when watching his 11th-grade highlight video. While he’s smooth at receiver with room to grow there, his ceiling as a defender is higher. Riphin’s long arms and strides, along with his lateral quickness and ability to change directions, make him a great fit as a hybrid linebacker-safety capable of supporting the run and covering opposing pass-catchers.

With an admirable sophomore season, Riphin set the stage for what could very well be a dominant junior campaign in 2025. He delivered 30.5 tackles (17 solo, 2.5 TFL) with an 80-yard Pick-6, two fumble recoveries and a half sack. Riphin’s 10th-grade highlight video supports the statistics. It only contains several clips, but they tell the story of a defender with good instincts and discipline. Operating in the zone, Riphin takes care of his area, keeping eyes one the quarterback and breaking on the ball. He diagnoses plays quickly and holds up well in run support.