November 29, 2010

Rivals.com recruiting staff
Rivals.com Football Recruiting


The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.

We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Mike Farrell breaks down the safeties.

SAFETY RANKINGS: Ball skills | Coverage skills | Fastest | Hardest hitter

5) Chris Jones, Adamsville (Ala.) Minor
Jones Highlights
Committed to: Alabama
Particulars: 6-0/185
Buzz: Plays receiver and has six picks as a junior on defense.

4) Cortez Davis, Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland
Davis Highlights
Committed to: Clemson
Particulars: 6-3/200
Buzz: Davis plays receiver as well as safety and has very sure hands, especially in traffic.

3) Karlos Williams, Davenport (Fla.) Ridge
Williams Highlights
Committed to: FSU
Particulars: 6-2/210
Buzz: Showed at the NIKE Camp in Gainesville that he could be a receiver in college as well.

2) Hasean Clinton-Dix, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
Clinton-Dix Highlights
Committed to: Alabama
Particulars: 6-2/190
Buzz: Ha-Ha gets the last laugh on opponents and is a threat to take it the other way on any pass thrown his way.

1) Gerrod Holliman, Miami (Fla.) Southridge
Holliman Highlights
Committed to: Ole Miss
Particulars: 6-0/180
Buzz: Double-digit picks as a senior, 'nuff said.

BEST COVERAGE SKILLS
5) Roderick Ryles, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
Ryles Highlights
Committed to: Arkansas
Particulars: 6-1/185
Buzz: Overshadowed by his teammates, Ryles is one of the best cover safeties in the country.

4) Karlos Williams, Davenport (Fla.) Ridge
Williams Highlights
Committed to: FSU
Particulars: 6-2/210
Buzz: Williams is so big and rangy that he covers a ton of ground and reads the quarterback well.

3) Howard Matthews, League City (Texas) Clear Springs
Matthews Highlights
Committed to: Texas A&M
Particulars: 6-1/200
Buzz: Matthews had eight interceptions in only six games as a junior.

2) Hasean Clinton-Dix, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
Clinton-Dix Highlights
Committed to: Alabama
Particulars: 6-2/190
Buzz: Clinton-Dix can play cornerback or safety in college and his versatility is unmatched.

1) Gerrod Holliman, Miami (Fla.) Southridge
Holliman Highlights
Committed to: Ole Miss
Particulars: 6-0/180
Buzz: Did we mention his double-digit interceptions as a senior?

FASTEST
5) Karlos Williams, Davenport (Fla.) Ridge
Williams Highlights
Committed to: FSU
Particulars: 6-2/210
Buzz: For a huge safety who could grow into a linebacker, Williams covers a ton of area with good speed.

4) Eilar Hardy, Pickerington (Ohio) Central
Hardy Highlights
Committed to: Notre Dame
Particulars: 6-1/175
Buzz: Hardy reaches top speed quickly and his closing speed is impressive.

3) Erique Florence, Valley, Ala.
Florence Highlights
Considering: Auburn and Alabama lead many others.
Particulars: 6-2/181
Buzz: One or two steps and Florence is bearing down on receivers at full tilt.

2) Hasean Clinton-Dix, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
Clinton-Dix Highlights
Committed to: Alabama
Particulars: 6-2/190
Buzz: Covers so much ground and moves well laterally, in backpedal as well as forward and back.

1) Malcolm Mitchell, Valdosta, Ga.
Mitchell Highlights
Considering: Alabama, Florida and Georgia lead others.
Particulars: 6-1/187
Buzz: The fastest player on a team loaded with speedy athletes.

HARDEST HITTER
5) Sheldon Royster, Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep
Royster talks hitting
Considering: Rutgers, Pitt, NC State, South Carolina and others.
Particulars: 6-0/185
Buzz: Royster plays safety like a linebacker and loves to come up and smack people.

4) Avery Walls, McDonough (Ga.) Eagle's Landing Christian
Walls Highlights
Considering: Michigan, Cal, Oregon, UCLA and others.
Particulars: 5-11/184
Buzz: His hits as a senior made him an internet sensation of sorts.

3) Corey Moore, Griffin, Ga.
Moore Highlights
Committed to: Georgia
Particulars: 6-1/195
Buzz: Delivers punishment whenever he is around the football.

2) Erique Florence, Valley, Ala.
Florence Highlights
Considering: Auburn and Alabama lead many others.
Particulars: 6-2/181
Buzz: Timing makes Florence special when it comes to laying out receivers.

1) Robenson Therezie, Miami (Fla.) Jackson
Therezie Highlights
Considering: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and others.
Particulars: 5-10/180
Buzz: Therezie is nicknamed "Cadillac" because of how hard and fast he hits.



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