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.