2018 Defensive Backs

[dolphins15]

Andrew Wingard (SR) 6'0" 210 Wyoming. He has put up monster production. He has 367 career tackles. 22.5 TFLs, 15 PBUS, 5 FF, 3 sacks and 8 INTS. On the NFL radar and an All American candidate.

Tanner Muse (JR) 6'2" 225 Clemson. Started 9 games and was 3rd on the team in tackles with 64. He had 63 yard fumble recovery for a TD.

Ben DeLuca (JR) 6'0" 201 Charlotte. Led the team in total tackles. He has 170 career tackles with 12 PBUs, 6 FF, and 2 INTS.

Jake Gervase (SR) 6'1" 212 Iowa. He had 58 total tackles to go with 9 PBU's and 3 INTS.

Justin Tranquill (JR) 5'11" 188 Western Michigan. Started the first two games then suffered a season ending injury. He has 107 career total tackles.

Jacob Theineman (SR) 6'1" 210 Purdue. Last season he had 80 total tackles with 5 TFL, 2 sacks, and 2 INTS.

Brody Hoying (JR) 5'11" 203 Eastern Michigan. First team All-Mac. He has 103 career total tackles with 11 TFL, 4 FF, 2 INT with 1 TD.

Robbie Grimsley (SR) 6'0" 193 North Dakota State. He was a FCS State 2nd Team All American. He has 221 career total tackles, 26 PBU's, 3 FF, 3 sacks and 11 INTS.

 

[celticdb15]

Awesome looking forward to this years crop of DBs!

 

[Leonardfan]

Iowa DB Brandon Snyder should return this year as well. He tore his ACL in spring practice last season and came back too quickly. I believe he only suited up for one or two games last year due to injury. Let's hope he is healthy in 2018. Once again Iowa will be a team to watch with 2 projected white starting safeties.

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Chase Hansen (SR) 6'3 220 Utah. Made 51 Tackles, 2.5 tfls, 1 sack, and 1 interception last season. Honorable mention all PAC-12. Hansen is up there with Wingard in terms of NFL potential, and should be drafted.

 

[Bucky]

Agreed Wingard and Hansen have draftable grades. In a fair world both should be drafted, I'd also like to see Muse with a big year at Clemson and declare early! We need DBs drafted!

 

[dolphins15]

Reed Blankenship (SO) 6'1" 195 Middle Tennessee. Started 9 games as a true Freshman. He was honorable mention All C-USA. He finished fourth on the team with 68 tackles, including 7.0 TFLs, a sack, and two interceptions.

 

[dolphins15]

He might not end up a star this season but I wanted to mention an incoming Freshman.

Ethan Bonner might be the only Power 5 scholarship CB in the country. He's a damn good player and everything points to him staying at CB. Defensive Coordinator Lance Anderson had good things to say about him when he signed.

 

[Red Raider]

I don’t know how to add the pictures from my phone but 2 more are:

Gaje Ferguson SS Utah State (SR)
6’0” 210lbs
He had 90 tackles 2tfl 1 sack 1 FF playing alongside Dallin Leavitt last season

Justus Parker NB Texas Tech (JR)
6’0” 205lbs
Preseason all-Big 12 defensive back
42 tackles 2.5 tfl 4 int 4 FF 1 FR and a TD last year as a sophomore, he was also used as a kick returner. It’ll be interesting to see if he slides into the main role since TTU’s main kick returners both went to the nfl after last season.

Also I’ve heard that Chase Hansen has bulked up to 230 pounds and will be playing linebacker/rover for his senior season. Will likely become a linebacker in the NFL

 

[Red Raider]

I had no clue that Boise State had a white starting safety last year! He’s on the Thorpe award watch list.

Kekoa Nawahine S Boise State (JR)
6’2” 205lbs
He had 108 tackles 4.5 tfl 3 INT 4 pdef 1 FR last season. Those are NFL numbers and he has NFL size, I’m looking forward to watching him these next couple of years. He is hawaiian but is clearly white.

https://broncosports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4325

 

[referendum]

I wonder about how Kekoa Nawahine got his name, he looks fully white, wonder if his paternal grandfather was Hawaiian.

 

[Don Wassall]

According to this article he's a Poly, though certainly anything but a stereotypical looking one:

It’s in their blood to be on the water.

When their busy schedules allow, a group of Boise State football players — some born thousands of miles away, some here in Idaho, united by a common heritage — bond together.

The ever-growing number of Polynesian-bred Broncos gather at Quinn’s Pond when summer temperatures soar.

“We like to go and try stand-up paddleboarding,” senior defensive tackle Daniel Auelua said. “But most of us are too big, so we end up just lying down on them.”

On Auelua’s side of the ball, the Boise State defense is dotted with players whose families hail from Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii.

There’s Auelua, defensive tackle David Moa, nose tackles Emmanuel Fesili and Sonatane Lui, STUD end Aisa Kelemete, linebackers Tyson Maeva and Ezekiel Noa and safeties Kekoa Nawahine and Kekaula Kaniho.

There is no easy explanation why so many players who are Pacific Islanders are good — according to PBS, they make up 0.5 percent of the U.S. population but are 28 times more likely to play professionally than any other ethnic group.

https://magicvalley.com/sports/they...cle_784ccb46-2859-52ef-a277-229d59f79bf0.html

 

[Heretic]

It's like you've been saying about the black talent pool drying up. The PTB have determined that will be filled by Polys. In following many of these team's recruits over the years, I don't remember seeing BSU recruiting that many Polys. Maybe they are doing it behind-the-scenes somehow or I just missed it.

At least the 2019 BSU class is shaping up better.

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Regardless I cant see how Kekoa Nawahine will be viewed as Poly. He's poly only in name. Just look at him.

 

[Leonardfan]

It's like you've been saying about the black talent pool drying up. The PTB have determined that will be filled by Polys. In following many of these team's recruits over the years, I don't remember seeing BSU recruiting that many Polys. Maybe they are doing it behind-the-scenes somehow or I just missed it.

At least the 2019 BSU class is shaping up better.

I would say for at least the past decade the trend of polys playing in the PAC 12, MWC and at BYU has really exploded. They certainly are not given the skill position spots like affletes (although we are seeing an uptick in poly QBs). However, they are being disproportionately being slotted as defensive linemen, offensive linemen and linebacker. White players just get bumped down one more run in the caste system due to their lack of melanin.

 

[Leonardfan]

Memphis SS/Star Austin Hall is a very good player that has gotten some next level notoriety. Since he is white and big for a safety at 6'2 215 he will probably get the Nate Gerry treatment at the next level. At Memphis he is going to be a hybrid Safety/OLB this season. He was originally a walk on at Memphis.

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Taylor Rapp (JR) 6'0 207 Washington. Thought Rapp would be getting more coverage on here, as he was first team all Pac-12 last season and on the Butkus award watch list heading into 2018. Tallied 59 Tackles, 3.5 tfl's, 2 sacks, and an Int in 2017.

 

[TwentyTwo]

Eric Weddle can't play forever...fortunately Andrew Wingard could be a Pro Bowler one day....
Had high hopes for Chase Hansen being the next John Lynch/Harrison Smith ; but adding 10lbs & playing more of a hybrid LB/Role; has to stay healthy; turned 25 in May

Tanner Muse is a game changer that should be on NFL Radar....glad he's staying away from baseball....Brandon Snyder is a big-time hitter; hope he can make another full recovery

Mentioned last season as to where Taylor Rapp stood from a Caste Perspective because mother is from China. He is an outstanding player w bright future!

Thanks for including freshman Corner Back Ethan Bonner(Stanford)...the only other freshman CB's i could locate from FBS were Riley Moss(Iowa) & Matt Martinez(Charlotte)

Good article with the opportunities that are few & far between!
From Scott Case in 80's; Brian Davis 90's to Jason Sehorn playing CB in the NFL ...but then the door closed.... Dustin Fox VERY VOCAL about the discrimination at CB asking "WHY"!! Ethan Kilmer; Donny Lisowski; Pete Ittersagen had breif stints ; Kevin Kaesviharn played CB before being moved to Safety; Jordan Peterson was a solid CB at Texas A&M in 08' before bad elbow injury ended chance for NFL. Now coach had interesting words......Nick Oppenneer (Colorado St) mentioned too was an excellent college CB in 08'
https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/04/26/white-cornerbacks-jason-sehorn-kevin-kaesviharn-donny-lisowski
Antony Cioffi is playing in CFL; Micah Hanneman was moved to Safety (rookie Free-Agent w Cleveland Browns)

Chase Kuerschen (Soph.) 6'- 1" 210 Tulane ... had 8 starts as True Freshman had 60 tackles(4th most on team) Two Forced Fumbles & pass deflection; ...listed as Starter in publications; however Ourlads doesn't list him on Depth Chart for some reason?

Parker Baldwin (Sr.) 6'- 2" 215 San Diego State......Honorable Mention All Mountian West Conf. ; Hard hitting Safety recruited as Athlete had 75 tackle & INT; yeah Leonardfan....wonder if he will get Nate Gerry treatment too?

 

[Matt Prater]

Andrew Bird was a first team all Texas selection going to Rice as a true freshman cb as well. A whole whopping 4 guys. I am 42. By the time I hit 50 there will be no white corners left in d1 football.

 

[Bucky]

Memphis SS/Star Austin Hall is a very good player that has gotten some next level notoriety. Since he is white and big for a safety at 6'2 215 he will probably get the Nate Gerry treatment at the next level. At Memphis he is going to be a hybrid Safety/OLB this season. He was originally a walk on at Memphis.

Nice was unaware of this guy! I too have noticed the trend of bulking up our bigger safeties into LBs at next level. Blechen, Gerry, Hansen another Ute and now possibly this guy. It's frustrating but the situation is so dire at this point that I'll take them making roster's as athletic LBs.. Just like with our RBs, DBs are either too small or too big. Always looking to move us to FB or LB..

 

[Red Raider]

Found another new guy

Ron Laforce (SR) New Mexico State 6’1” 180lbs
104 tackles, 1tfl, 3 INT, 5 pass def in 2017
Lots of production from an undersized safety

 

[Red Raider]

All signs are also pointing to Brandon Ezell starting at CB for San Jose State this year!

 

[Leonardfan]

DB Chris Johnson University of North Alabama - Division 2 Consensus All American with next level ability.

https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2018/07/chris-johnson-2/

 

[Bucky]

DB Chris Johnson University of North Alabama - Division 2 Consensus All American with next level ability.

https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2018/07/chris-johnson-2/

Nice highlights! 6'3 200lbs next level ability no doubt.

 

[wile]

https://thankgoditssaturday.com/2018/08/21/2018-white-cornerback-rankings/

This was mentioned at Sailer's and I posted it to Clay Travis' twitter since he made a neg of a white RB being in the Georgia game yesterday

 

[Red Raider]

I haven't heard much about him on here but BYU has a starting safety that transferred from Utah named Austin Lee, he has been putting up a decent season.
27 tackles 1 tfl 1 INT 1 FF