2018 Top Impact Freshman Defensive Backs

We continue with our breakdown of the top 10 freshmen to emerge in 2018, moving to the last line of the defense -- the secondary. With the proliferation of spreads and Air Raids on offense, having a defensive backfield that can keep the damage to a minimum is paramount.

Defensive backs are getting bigger, reversing a recent trend of smaller, quicker players on the edge. A lot of that is to counter the big receivers who make a living on jump balls and in the red zone. You have to fight fire with fire, and bringing in long, athletic players on the back end is one way to stop a physical passing attack.

These are not necessarily the top 10 defensive backs signed in 2018, but rather the 10 with the quickest chance to make a real impact. Positional rankings are included.

Alabama's Patrick Surtain Jr (Alabama Athletics)

2018 TOP 10 IMPACT DEFENSIVE BACKS
1. Patrick Surtain Jr/Alabama (DB1) -- The top kid in the class had an excellent teacher -- his father, a three-time Pro Bowler and 11-year NFL veteran from Southern Miss. The younger Surtain is long (6-1) and has excellent technique, and could fit in to an Alabama secondary that lacks experience. Already on the two-deep, Surtain could be a breakout star as soon as this year.
2. Brendan Radley-Hiles/Oklahoma (DB9) -- One of the few smaller corners in this year class, Radley-Hiles (5-10, 183) was in for spring and dazzled, to such an extent that he's listed as a starter at one corner spot for the Sooners. Excellent in press coverage and possessing an ability to recover, Radley-Hiles will help an Oklahoma D which ranked 87th against the pass in 2017.
3. Corione Harris/Kansas (DB48) -- One of the top players in Louisiana spurned his home state Bayou Bengals for a chance to play right away, and he can do just that with the Jayhawks. Harris, who needs to put on weight (170 pounds), is nevertheless excellent at anticipating the ball and a better tackler than his size would tell you. Another who was in for spring practice and impressed.
4. Anthony Cook/Texas (DB16) -- The Longhorns nabbed three of the top 12 DBs in the country, yet it's Cook who could be in line for the earliest playing time. At 6-0, 190, Cook has the size and quickness to become a playmaker, and the coaches raved about him during spring ball. Texas already had an excellent defense, but youth will make it even better in 2018.
5. Amari Burney/Florida (DB32) -- The Gators were excellent against the pass in 2017 (28th nationally) but lost a lot of talent. Burney could help alleviate the worry as he's already on the depth chart at one safety spot. Blessed with a big frame (6-1, 224) and a ball-hawking mentality, Burney has the look of a star -- something the Gators have had a lot of in the secondary in recent seasons.
6. AJ Lytton/Florida State (DB12) --One of the brightest stars in Maryland decided to cast his lot with new coach Willie Taggart, and his talent has put him into the two-deep already. A versatile sort who can play corner or nickel safety, Lytton has speed and smarts and could be in the Seminoles rotation in a hurry.
7. Isaac Taylor-Stuart/USC (DB7) -- The loss of Jack Jones to academics means that the cornerback rotation is in a state of flux. Taylor-Stuart (6-2, 187) has the size to be a headache for bigger receivers, and isn't afraid to get physical at the line of scrimmage. He'll likely open the year as a nickel, but could find himself on the field a lot in the pass-happy Pac-12.
8. Tyson Campbell/Georgia (DB2) --  While All-America candidate D'Andre Baker holds down one corner, the other is up for grabs. Mark Webb gets first dibs, but Campbell -- a high school teammate of Surtain at American Heritage HS in Fort Lauderdale -- has the talent to take the starting spot sooner rather than later. Another big corner (6-3, 180), Campbell has a good instinct for the football and could become a playmaker in the secondary.
9. Kyler McMichael/Clemson (DB14) -- The Tigers defensive line gets most of the hype, but the secondary is sneaky good, and McMichael could be a part of that right away. A product of Norcross, Ga., the 6-1, 190-pounder could take over from senior Mark Fields, who started just one game last season. McMichael is a hitter, and adds depth to one of the top secondaries in the ACC.
10. Christian Tutt/Auburn (DB49) -- There isn't much experienced depth for the Tigers, which means Tutt could have a chance to play very quickly. While he may not open the year as a starter, the Georgia native should be in the rotation early for an Auburn squad that will be tested out of the gate by Washington.

Just Missed: Caden Sterns/Texas (DB3); Houston Griffith/Notre Dame (DB17); Josh Proctor/Ohio State (DB18); Gilbert Frierson/Miami Fla (DB39); Christian Morgan/Baylor (NR); Keni-H Lovely/Western Michigan (NR); Kelvin Joseph/LSU (DB10); Donte Burton/Wisconsin (NR); Kwantel Raines/West Virginia (DB38); Jevon Jones/Arkansas State (NR)

2018 Top Impact Freshman Offensive Linemen

It isn't glamorous, it doesn't make headlines (unless there's a penalty), but if you don't have one you are not going to win football games. It's an offensive line, and the best teams have the best guys up front. It's not rocket science, folks. The big uglies win ballgames for you.

Freshmen don't often get into the starting lineup unless they are otherworldly talents (see Pace, Orlando) or if a team is going through a rebuild or a coaching change. To that end, it isn't always easy to forecast the guys who will play a major role in their teams fortunes in a given year. But fear not, friends -- we have found 10 behemoths who should be able to, at worst, contribute and, at best, grab a starting spot.

These are not necessarily the 10 top recruited offensive linemen, but rather the 10 who will make an immediate impact by grabbing playing time. Positional ranking is included.

UCLA's Chris Murray (Orange County Register)

2018 TOP 10 IMPACT OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
1. Chris Murray/UCLA (OL28) -- The Bruins needed a LOT of help, and Chip Kelly smartly picked up some offensive linemen for his uptempo spread option system. Murray, who protected USC QB recruit JT Daniels at Mater Dei HS, has already been penciled in as a starter at guard, and impressed as a prepster with his quickness and attention to detail.
2. Penei Sewell/Oregon (OL7) -- The Ducks return both of their guards, but Sewell is good enough to get into the rotation and has already climbed to second string on the right side. A massive individual (6-5, 349), Sewell is surprisingly nimble and can get out in front on traps and pulling plays. 
3. Delone Scaife/Miami Fla (OL20) -- Scaife is another player who was in for spring ball and made waves, enough to climb to a backup guard spot. Scaife is strong and powerful and adept at finishing blocks.
4. Brey Walker/Oklahoma (OL5) -- The Sooners don't have a holdover at right tackle, which means Walker could seize that spot with a good fall camp. As it is, the agile, quick-footed Oklahoma native is penciled in as the backup.
5. Nicholas Petit-Frere/Ohio State (OL1) -- The Buckeyes must replace left tackle Jamarco Jones, and while they profess to have confidence in redshirt freshman Thayer Munford, Petit-Frere should challenge for the starting spot once he arrives for fall camp. Tall but lean (6-6, 272), Petit-Frere is equally good at pass and run blocking, and could be a fixture up front should he nab the starting role. 
6. Rasheed Walker/Penn State (OL9) -- There isn't a ton of experience behind the starting tackles, so don't be shocked if the Maryland native grabs one of the backup roles -- at least as a start. Walker has good footwork and, at 6-6, excellent arm extension.
7. William Barnes/North Carolina (OL6) -- The Tar Heels are in transition, and one of their real question marks is up front on offense, returning just one starter. Barnes, a Florida native, has a mean streak and good strength, and it should be just a matter of time before he finds his way into the lineup. 
8. Jamaree Salyer/Georgia (OL2) -- If Georgia wasn't returning three starters up front, and if two reserves from last year weren't set to start in 2018, Salyer might be at the top of this list. Another massive individual (6-4, 342), Salyer loves to run block and should be a perfect fit for the Dawgs run-based offensive philosophy. 
9. Curtis Dunlap Jr/Minnesota (OL24) -- PJ Fleck is all about toughness, which is why he focused so heavily on offensive line in the last recruiting cycle. Dunlap is one of two top-50 linemen the Gophers nabbed, and hails from the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida. He was already up to number two at right guard, and with a good fall camp might be able to ascend to starter. 
10. Jackson Carman/Clemson (OL3) -- Carman was the top prospect in Ohio but spurned his home state Buckeyes for Dabo Swinney's crew. A prototype left tackle thanks to excellent feet, Carman isn't beating out All-America Mitch Hyatt for that spot. So he might need to spend a year on the right side, where there is a lot of inexperience.

Just Missed: Cade Mays/Georgia (OL4); Will Craig/Cal (OL35); Steven Jones/Oregon (OL27); Colten Blanton/Texas A&M (OL21); Jerome Carvin/Tennessee (OL50); Demarcus Marshall/Texas Tech (NR); Alec Anderson/UCLA (NR); Levon Livingston/SMU (NR); Nik Hogan/Tulane (NR); Despelado Alexandre/Georgia State

2018 Top Impact Freshman Tight Ends

The days of the the tight end being used as another tackle are over -- replaced by sleek, smooth, fluid athletes who can line up all over the field and make plays in space.

As more and more teams look for ways to create mismatches in the passing game, tight ends are being utilized in every fashion imaginable -- in the backfield, in the slot, out wide, even as a hybrid motion man. Linebackers aren't fast enough to keep up and safeties aren't always big enough to handle tight ends one on one. So the chances are there for these players to shine, and there are a number of them coming into the game in 2018.

The following are not the top tight ends recruited, but the tight ends with the biggest opportunity to make an impact in 2018. Positional ranking is included.

Miami's Brevin Jordan (Palm Beach Post)

2018 TOP 5 IMPACT TIGHT ENDS
1. Brevin Jordan/Miami Fla (TE1) -- A four-star talent and Miami's top rated recruit, Jordan is the prototype for today's tight end -- fast, good hands the moves of a running back in the open field. He's a solid blocker, too, and can line up anywhere in the formation. Just another explosive weapon for the Hurricanes to utilize. Was in for spring ball and is the favorite to start at tight end.
2. Kyle Pitts/Florida (TE 11) -- Another four star talent, Pitts chose the Gators over Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Miami, among others. Pitts has imposing size (6-6, 250) and uses his body well to shield defenders, making him an inviting red zone target. A very good blocker, Pitts will be an asset in the ground attack and can still go out into a pattern and create problems.
3. Jeremy Ruckert/Ohio State (TE2) -- Quite possibly the most naturally-gifted tight end Urban Meyer has ever recruited -- and he's had some good ones. The four-star Ruckert can run past linebackers down the seam and is too big for safeties to handle alone. In the Buckeyes new-look offense, Ruckert could be the one who changes the tradition of OSU tight ends being used as glorified tackles. Great with the ball in his hands, Ruckert should have ample opportunity to get on the field, if not start, in 2018.
4. Chig Okonkwo/Maryland (TE23) -- A bit of a sleeper, the athletic three-star is fluid in his movements and built more like a receiver -- at least for the moment. That means he can stretch the field for an emerging Maryland offense. He will need to put on size if he's to help as a blocker, but for now he should be able to damage as a flex tight end.
5. Leonard Taylor/Cincinnati (TE16) -- A nice pick up by Bearcats coach Luke Fickell, who nabbed Taylor out of Springfield, Ohio. A four-star talent, Taylor was Cincinnati's top 2018 signee and should be in line for immediate playing time. A big, imposing target, Taylor will be looked at in the red zone and on third down.

Just Missed: Mustapha Muhammad/Michigan (TE6); Spencer Webb/Oregon (TE11); Dallin Holker/BYU (TE46); Brevyn Spann-Ford/Minnesota (TE40); James Mitchell/Virginia Tech (WR62); TJ Banks/West Virginia (ATH34); Isaiah Likely/Coastal Carolina (NR)