National Signing Day 2013 is right around the corner and Athlon Sports is releasing its position-by-position rankings for the Class of 2013 based on the Athlon Consensus 100. Who is left on the board? Who has the best class at one position? Who had positional needs to fill? And, obviously, who are the stars of tomorrow fans can look forward to at every position?
As passing offenses and the talent that makes those offenses run get more advanced and more talented, the need for elite defensive backs continues to rise. Lockdown cover corners who can play the run or physical high-point safeties who can man-up in coverage have become the norm. Versatility is the name of the game when defending the pass these days. This is why both safeties and corners are listed below in one list.
Florida and USC lead the way in the 2013 secondary class. The Gators claim three of the top 19 DBs in the nation including the top coverman, Vernon Hargreaves III. He is an elite talent who will continue the recent trend of young star corners (Joe Haden, Janoris Jenkins). VH-3 will be joined by a pair of big safeties in Marcell Harris (6-1, 210) and Keanu Neal (6-1, 205).
While the Gators have the top prospect in the class, the Trojans have the best overall collection. Su'a Cravens is the top safety in the nation while Jalen Ramsey offers Lane Kiffin tremendous cover-corner skills in the body of a safety. Leon McQuay III and Chris Hawkins give the Trojans four of the top 12 defensive backs. All four are ranked in the top 50 nationally.
UCLA also landed four nationally rated defensive backs with two AC100 talents leading the way, Priest Willis and Tahaan Goodman. Ohio State also landed two AC100 talents in Eli Apple and Cam Burrows, as well as nationally ranked Gareon Conley. Alabama is poised to sign three nationally ranked defensive backs too.
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Georgia and LSU each landed a pair of nationally ranked DBs.
2013 Positional Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | ATH
| Name | AC100 | Hometown | Ht | Wt | Verbal |
1. | Vernon Hargreaves III | No. 3 | Tampa, FL | 5-11 | 185 | Florida |
2. | Su'a Cravens | No. 5 | Murrieta, CA | 6-1 | 205 | USC |
3. | Jalen Ramsey | No. 15 | Nashville, TN | 6-0 | 190 | USC |
4. | Kendall Fuller | No. 16 | Olney, MD | 6-0 | 175 | Virginia Tech |
5. | Vonn Bell | No. 26 | Rossville, GA | 5-11 | 190 | -- |
6. | Mackensie Alexander | No. 30 | Immokalee, FL | 5-10 | 175 | -- |
7. | Leon McQuay III | No. 31 | Seffner, FL | 6-2 | 185 | USC |
8. | Tony Conner | No. 32 | Batesville, MS | 6-1 | 205 | -- |
9. | Priest Willis | No. 39 | Tempe, AZ | 6-2 | 200 | UCLA |
10. | Tre'Davious White | No. 45 | Shreveport, LA | 5-10 | 170 | LSU |
11. | Eli Apple | No. 49 | Voorhees, NJ | 6-1 | 185 | Ohio St |
12. | Chris Hawkins | No. 50 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 6-0 | 175 | USC |
13. | Cameron Burrows | No. 61 | Trotwood, OH | 6-0 | 195 | Ohio St |
14. | Tahaan Goodman | No. 65 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 6-1 | 185 | UCLA |
15. | Marcell Harris | No. 78 | Orlando, FL | 6-1 | 210 | Florida |
16. | Tray Matthews | No. 82 | Newnan, GA | 6-0 | 195 | Georgia |
17. | Maurice Smith | No. 89 | Sugar Land, TX | 5-11 | 175 | Alabama |
18. | Artie Burns | No. 98 | Miami, FL | 6-0 | 180 | Miami |
19. | Keanu Neal | No. 104 | Bushnell, FL | 6-1 | 205 | Florida |
20. | Jourdan Lewis | No. 107 | Detroit, MI | 5-10 | 160 | Michigan |
21. | Gareon Conley | No. 115 | Massillon, OH | 6-1 | 165 | Ohio St |
22. | Shaq Wiggins | No. 124 | Tyrone, GA | 5-10 | 170 | Georgia |
23. | Cole Luke | No. 133 | Chandler, AZ | 6-0 | 170 | Notre Dame |
24. | Johnny Johnson | No. 146 | Fresno, CA | 5-10 | 175 | UCLA |
25. | Antwuan Davis | No. 162 | Bastrop, LA | 6-0 | 180 | Texas |
26. | Hatari Byrd | No. 163 | Fresno, CA | 6-1 | 190 | Oklahoma |
27. | Tyler Foreman | No. 169 | Encino, CA | 6-2 | 190 | UCLA |
28. | Ashton Shumpert | No. 187 | Tupelo, MS | 6-1 | 205 | Miss. St |
29. | Anthony Averett | No. 191 | Woodbury, NJ | 6-1 | 175 | Alabama |
30. | Brian Walker | No. 193 | Charlotte, NC | 5-10 | 170 | North Carolina |
31. | Rashard Robinson | No. 194 | Pompano Beach, FL | 6-1 | 170 | LSU |
32. | Kameron Miles | No. 195 | Mesquite, TX | 6-2 | 200 | Texas A&M |
33. | Tim Harris | No. 225 | Richmond, VA | 6-2 | 190 | Virginia |
34. | Jonathan Cook | No. 229 | Spanish Fort, AL | 6-0 | 185 | Alabama |
View the complete 2013 Athlon Consensus 100
Recruiting Videos:
AC100 On Campus: Su'a Cravens
AC100 On Campus: Jalen Ramsey
AC100 On Campus: Ethan Pocic
AC100 On Campus: Robbie Rhodes
AC100 On Campus: Jalin Marshall
AC100 On Campus: Jake Raulerson
AC100 On Campus: Cameron Burrows
AC100 On Campus: Dontre Wilson
AC100 On Campus: Taco Charlton
AC100 On Campus: Torii Hunter Jr., Part I
AC100 On Campus: Torii Hunter Jr., Part II
AC100 On Campus: Josh Banderas, Part I
AC100 On Campus: Josh Banderas, Part II
