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.
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| Alabama's Patrick Surtain Jr (Alabama Athletics) |
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)
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