June 30, 2008

Rivals.com recruiting staff
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

VOTE: Fastest | Best ball skills | Best coverage skills | Most physical | Best athlete

Pick a category Stongest arm Most accurate Best scrambler Quickest Strongest Best athlete Best run stuffer Best pass rusher Best home-run threat Best inside runner Best in space Best downhill runner Strongest Best against the run Best pass rusher Quickest first step Best run blocker Best pass blocker Strongest Most agile Best athlete Best instincts Best run stopper Best closing speed Best athlete Best deep threat Best hands Best after catch Best athlete Fastest Best ball skills Best coverage skills Most physical Best athlete

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 Barry Every breaks down the cornerbacks.

Coming Next: Tight ends

CB RANKINGS: Fastest | Best ball skills | Best coverage skills | Most physical | Best athlete

5. AVERY GRAHAM, Clarksburg (Md.) High
COMMITMENT: Maryland
PARTICULARS: 5-10/183
THE BUZZ: Ran 55 meters in 6.49 seconds at indoor track meet.

4. JUSTIN GREEN, Louisville (Ky.) Male
Green highlights
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 5-11/178
THE BUZZ: Ran 10.67 100 meters as a sophomore to win the Kentucky state championship.

3. D.J. HUNTER, Middletown (Ohio) High
Hunter highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/196
THE BUZZ: As a freshman, was timed at 4.35 in the 40 and also has run a 10.5 100 meters.

2. DAVID GORDON, Tulsa (Okla.) East Central
Gordon highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/161
THE BUZZ: Has been timed at 10.5 in the 100 meters and 21.4 in the 200 meters.

1. BRANDEN SMITH, Atlanta Washington
Smith highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/171
THE BUZZ: Ran a 10.56 at the Georgia track championships.

OTHERS: Dominic Clarke, Fredrick (Md.) Tuscarora (Ohio State commitment); Jordan Love, Glen Allen (Va.) Deep Run; Gabe Lynn, Jenks (Okla.) High; Brandon Sermons, Pomona (Calif.) Diamond Ranch; Darius Winston, West Helena (Ark.) Central.

BEST BALL SKILLS

5. JANZEN JACKSON, Lake Charles (La.) Barbe
Jackson highlights
COMMITMENT: LSU
PARTICULARS: 6-0/174
THE BUZZ: Recorded five interceptions and also was one of his team's top targets on offense last season.

4. MARCUS DAVIS, League City (Texas) Clear Creek
Davis highlights
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-0/193
THE BUZZ: Has eight picks over the past two seasons and has returned three kicks for TDs.

3. MICHAEL CARTER, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely
Carter highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/154
THE BUZZ: Baseball star had great performance at Miami Nike Camp and recorded seven picks last season.

2. DRE KIRKPATRICK, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City
Kirkpatrick highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/180
THE BUZZ: Big corner has 11 interceptions over the past two years.

1. TERRY SHANKLE, Norwood (N.C.) South Stanly
Shankle highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-10/167
THE BUZZ: Has an amazing 15 picks and 47 receptions last year.

OTHERS: Bernard Bolden, Merced (Calif.) High; Eric Gordon, Nashville (Tenn.) Hillsboro; Cliff Harris, Fresno (Calif.) Edison; Travis Hawkins, Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard; Jayron Hosley, Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic.

BEST COVERAGE SKILLS

5. SHELDON PRICE, La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat
Richardson highlights
COMMITMENT: UCLA
PARTICULARS: 6-2/155
THE BUZZ: Long arms and good hips helped him earn MVP honors at the Los Angeles Nike Camp.

4. MARCUS TRICE, Mesquite (Texas) High
Trice highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-8/167
THE BUZZ: Showed hips on a swivel at the Ft. Worth Nike camp, along with an unbelievable change of direction.

3. MICHAEL CARTER, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely
Carter highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/154
THE BUZZ: Was on receivers like glue at the Miami Nike Camp.

2. DRE KIRKPATRICK, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City
Kirkpatrick highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/180
THE BUZZ: Kirkpatrick is going to be a good one. He has tremendous ball skills and great hips.

1. DARIUS WINSTON, West Helena (Ark.) Central
Winston highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/180
THE BUZZ: Winston has great recovery speed, long arms and good hips.

OTHERS: C.J. Barnett, Clayton (Ohio) Northmont (Ohio State commitment); Cliff Harris, Fresno (Calif.) Edison; Marlon Pollard, San Bernardino (Calif.) Cajon (UCLA commitment); Terry Shankle, Norwood (N.C.) South Stanly; Steven Terrell, Allen (Texas) High.

MOST PHYSICAL

5. D.J. HUNTER, Middletown (Ohio) High
Hunter highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/196
THE BUZZ: He's a big, two-way starter who plays like a linebacker.

4. VACHEL SAMUELS, Lynwood (Calif.) High
Samuels highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/190
THE BUZZ: Will knock the ball carrier out of his shoes if given the chance.

3. ANDREW GREEN, San Antonio James Madison
Green highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/181
THE BUZZ: Tall corner that can take on blockers and make the tackle.

2. ERYON BARNETT, Euless (Texas) Trinity
Barnett highlights
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-2/180
THE BUZZ: Huge corner who is not afraid to come up in run support.

1. JANZEN JACKSON, Lake Charles (La.) Barbe
Jackson highlights
COMMITMENT: LSU
PARTICULARS: 6-0/174
THE BUZZ: Hits like a strong safety but has cover skills.

OTHERS: Bernard Bolden, Merced (Calif.) High; Marcus Davis, League City (Texas) Clear Creek; Eric Gordon, Nashville (Tenn.) Hillsboro; Chris Williams, Cincinnati Winton Woods; Steve Williams, Dallas Skyline (Oklahoma commitment).

BEST ATHLETE

5. MARLON POLLARD, San Bernardino (Calif.) Cajon
Pollard highlights
COMMITMENT: UCLA
PARTICULARS: 6-1/160
THE BUZZ: Not only a football star but also one of the top long- and triple-jumpers in the state.

4. BRANDON MCGEE, Plantation (Fla.) High
McGee highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/186
THE BUZZ: Projected as a corner but is so athletic he plays quarterback and also stars in track.

3. MICHAEL CARTER, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely
Carter highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/154
THE BUZZ: True cover corner who plays almost every position for his high school baseball team.

2. JUSTIN GREEN, Louisville (Ky.) Male
Green highlights
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 5-11/178
THE BUZZ: Two-way starter who also is the state 100-meter champ.

1. BRANDEN SMITH, Atlanta Washington
Smith highlights
PARTICULARS: 5-11/171
THE BUZZ: Track star who has played every position on his football team, except the lines.

OTHERS: Jayron Hosley, Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic; Demontre Hurst, Lancaster (Texas) High; Dre Kirkpatrick, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City; Gabe Lynn, Jenks (Okla.) High; Darius Winston, West Helena (Ark.) Central.

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