James Van Der Post James Van Der Post 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB/ATH Woodgrove | 2029 State VA was one of the best freshman strong safeties in 2025. He consistently shows the ability to read and react in a split-second, and is very good at sifting through traffic or playing over the top when it comes to defending the run. He takes excellent angles to the ball as well, making good form tackles at the point of contact.

When defending the pass, he’s very good at recognizing where the “weak spot” is post-snap, and then he’ll gravitate towards that area if he doesn’t have a deep assignment.

Van Der Post definitely takes the game seriously, and it’s going to be incredibly interesting to see how he does as a sophomore in 2026.

James is a Safety prospect out of Woodgrove. He displays good processing and tackling, making him an effective player in the back end of the defense for Woodgrove. He does not shy from contact and plays with good leverage to keep the play in front of him and minimize offensive yardage. Solid in pass coverage, he does a good job timing passes to force contested catches. He is one to keep an eye on.

Hudl / X