Better late than never. This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, so I figured it was time to close the book on the 2019 class. This final feature will focus on the signature position group in South Florida football-the defensive backs. Even though this class might not be as deep as 2018, it is still a loaded group.
CORNERS
Akeem Dent- 5’11, 176, 4.54*(Palm Beach Central)- Two-way star with a complete game. Although he projects as a corner, he plays like a missile at safety. High-energy and competitive. Arguably the most athletic player at the NIKE Opening (116.13 SPARQ). FSU signee.
Senior HL
Kaiir Elam- 6’1, 182, 4.51* (Benjamin)- Small-school standout with some prototype tools. Similar build to Divaad Wilson from UGA. Held up well when he faced top competition in the offseason. Florida signee.
Senior HL
Te’cory Couch- 5’10, 148, 4.51* (Chaminade)- Skinny, long-armed South Florida corner with speed. Had a spectacular senior year, including a state title and an eye-opening performance at the Under Armour game. Competitive and runs hard to the football. Fluid mover. Needs to get stronger. 10.85 100M. Miami signee.
Senior HL
Jaden Davis- 5’10, 166, 4.58* (STA)- Pure cover corner who makes up for average size/speed with footwork and IQ. Good recognition in run game. Has the ability to play outside but would thrive as nickel. Oklahoma signee.
Senior HL
Jarvis Brownlee- 5’10, 169* (Carol City)- Aggressive, physical corner with exceptionally long arms. Can play zone or man with good instincts. Likes to hit. No official times but plays like a 4.6 guy. FSU signee.
Senior HL
Adrian Cole- 5’11, 165, 4.70* (Plantation)- This guy has a chance to be awesome. Superb athlete (40 VJ, 4.07 shuttle) with ball skills. Good instincts in the running game. Plays low and under control. Only weakness is lack of top-end speed but plays fast. Syracuse signee.
Senior HL
Zay Flowers- 5’10, 165 (University)- I originally wrote him up at WR but he belongs on defense. Sudden player who gears up quick. Physical tackler. Can blitz. Very good all-around skillset on both ends. Boston College signee.
Senior HL
Semar “Ace” Melvin- 5’11, 163, 4.63* (STA)- Long and bouncy corner (38 inch VJ) who loves to press. Was overshadowed by Al Blades, Asante Samuel and Jaden Davis in the STA backfield but showed his talent as a senior. Solid upside as he gets stronger. Wisconsin signee.
Senior HL
James Williams- 5’10, 175 (Chaminade)- The other corner next to Te’Cory Couch. Has big game experience in back-to-back trips to Orlando. Good awareness with the ball in the air. Wisconsin signee.
Senior HL
Josh Sanguinetti- 6’, 173, 4.86* (University)- Elite ball skills. Excellent guard on the hardwood. Plays WR, S and PR. Lacks big-time physicality or speed. 79-inch wingspan. Is he a safety or a corner? Indiana signee.
Senior HL
Tiawan Mullen- 5’9, 154* (Coconut Creek)- Brother of Clemson star Trayvon Mullen. Not as athletic as his brother but has good feet. Willing in run support. Showed well in Army All-American game. Indiana signee.
Senior HL
Deante Nelson- 5’10, 166* (Pahokee)- Do-it-all athlete with great feet. Returns kicks, plays receiver, QB, corner and safety. Makes a ton of plays. Could be the next Pahokee sleeper to go from a small college to the pros. Underrated. FAU signee.
Senior HL
Chris McDonald, Jr.- 5’10, 175 (Southridge)- Smallish corner with very good twitch. Can click and close on the ball quickly. Has been on the radar since his freshman year. Toledo signee along with his teammate Joe Smith.
Senior HL
Marcus LaFrance-6’2, 168* (Deerfield Beach)- Long-armed corner who can locate the ball. Confident and will compete with big names. Opened eyes on the camp circuit. Similar to Josh Sanguinetti- is he twitchy enough for corner or physical enough for safety? Middle Tennessee St. signee.
Senior HL
Darius McClendon- 6’1, 168, 4.74* (Forest Hill)- Another long corner signed to Middle Tennessee St. Plays all over the field for small school. Speed is below average but has some burst (35 VJ).
Senior HL
Larry Robbins- 5’7, 165, 4.59* (Northwestern)- Undersized spark plug in the Bulls secondary. Plays bigger than his size. Not afraid in run support. Projects as a nickel corner. Buffalo signee.
Senior HL
SAFETIES
Tyrique Stevenson- 6’1, 202, 4.48* (Southridge)- Maybe the best player in South Florida. Combines excellent measurables (10.88 100M) with outstanding football instincts. Returns punts, catches passes, plays man, tackles. Looks like a grown man. Georgia signee.
Senior HL
Jordan Battle- 6’1, 187, 4.57* (St. Thomas)- Complete safety. Excelled in man coverage during the camp circuit and has the measurables to play corner. Nose for the ball. Emerged as a dynamic return man as a senior. Also a very good basketball player. Alabama signee.
Senior HL
Keontra Smith- 5’11, 195, 4.55* (Chaminade)- Twitched-up safety who is one of the best tacklers in the class. Made a big splash as a freshman and has progressively moved closer to the ball (LB as a senior). Elite testing numbers (104 SPARQ). Covered well and on the national champion SFE 7-on-7 team. More straight line than fluid. Also a pretty good RB. Miami signee.
Senior HL
Mark-Antony Richards- 6’1, 195, 4.56* (Wellington)- Gifted playmaker who can impact the game in multiple ways. Similar athlete to his brother. Not as fluid but a better straight-line runner. Dominated average competition. Raw on defense but has the ability to excel at CB or S. Excellent instincts on both ends. Auburn signee.
Senior HL
Cornelius Nunn- 6’0, 170, 4.54*(Palmetto)- Dade County playmaker who can contribute at CB, S, WR and PR. Had a monster senior season which earned him a Miami offer. If he stays focused, he can be a star. Syracuse signee.
Senior HL
Joe Smith- 6, 190* (Southridge)- Underrated box safety that can strike. Gets low and pops. Solid in coverage with a nose for the ball. Excellent instincts. Signed with Toledo.
Senior HL
Cecil Powell- 6’1, 193 (Piper)- Former LB who exploded on the scene as a senior. Grabbed 8 INTs and returned multiple kicks for TDs. Track star who qualified for state in the 400M (48.10), the long jump (22’5.25) and the triple jump (44’10.25). NC State signee
Senior HL
CORNERS
Akeem Dent- 5’11, 176, 4.54*(Palm Beach Central)- Two-way star with a complete game. Although he projects as a corner, he plays like a missile at safety. High-energy and competitive. Arguably the most athletic player at the NIKE Opening (116.13 SPARQ). FSU signee.
Senior HL
Kaiir Elam- 6’1, 182, 4.51* (Benjamin)- Small-school standout with some prototype tools. Similar build to Divaad Wilson from UGA. Held up well when he faced top competition in the offseason. Florida signee.
Senior HL
Te’cory Couch- 5’10, 148, 4.51* (Chaminade)- Skinny, long-armed South Florida corner with speed. Had a spectacular senior year, including a state title and an eye-opening performance at the Under Armour game. Competitive and runs hard to the football. Fluid mover. Needs to get stronger. 10.85 100M. Miami signee.
Senior HL
Jaden Davis- 5’10, 166, 4.58* (STA)- Pure cover corner who makes up for average size/speed with footwork and IQ. Good recognition in run game. Has the ability to play outside but would thrive as nickel. Oklahoma signee.
Senior HL
Jarvis Brownlee- 5’10, 169* (Carol City)- Aggressive, physical corner with exceptionally long arms. Can play zone or man with good instincts. Likes to hit. No official times but plays like a 4.6 guy. FSU signee.
Senior HL
Adrian Cole- 5’11, 165, 4.70* (Plantation)- This guy has a chance to be awesome. Superb athlete (40 VJ, 4.07 shuttle) with ball skills. Good instincts in the running game. Plays low and under control. Only weakness is lack of top-end speed but plays fast. Syracuse signee.
Senior HL
Zay Flowers- 5’10, 165 (University)- I originally wrote him up at WR but he belongs on defense. Sudden player who gears up quick. Physical tackler. Can blitz. Very good all-around skillset on both ends. Boston College signee.
Senior HL
Semar “Ace” Melvin- 5’11, 163, 4.63* (STA)- Long and bouncy corner (38 inch VJ) who loves to press. Was overshadowed by Al Blades, Asante Samuel and Jaden Davis in the STA backfield but showed his talent as a senior. Solid upside as he gets stronger. Wisconsin signee.
Senior HL
James Williams- 5’10, 175 (Chaminade)- The other corner next to Te’Cory Couch. Has big game experience in back-to-back trips to Orlando. Good awareness with the ball in the air. Wisconsin signee.
Senior HL
Josh Sanguinetti- 6’, 173, 4.86* (University)- Elite ball skills. Excellent guard on the hardwood. Plays WR, S and PR. Lacks big-time physicality or speed. 79-inch wingspan. Is he a safety or a corner? Indiana signee.
Senior HL
Tiawan Mullen- 5’9, 154* (Coconut Creek)- Brother of Clemson star Trayvon Mullen. Not as athletic as his brother but has good feet. Willing in run support. Showed well in Army All-American game. Indiana signee.
Senior HL
Deante Nelson- 5’10, 166* (Pahokee)- Do-it-all athlete with great feet. Returns kicks, plays receiver, QB, corner and safety. Makes a ton of plays. Could be the next Pahokee sleeper to go from a small college to the pros. Underrated. FAU signee.
Senior HL
Chris McDonald, Jr.- 5’10, 175 (Southridge)- Smallish corner with very good twitch. Can click and close on the ball quickly. Has been on the radar since his freshman year. Toledo signee along with his teammate Joe Smith.
Senior HL
Marcus LaFrance-6’2, 168* (Deerfield Beach)- Long-armed corner who can locate the ball. Confident and will compete with big names. Opened eyes on the camp circuit. Similar to Josh Sanguinetti- is he twitchy enough for corner or physical enough for safety? Middle Tennessee St. signee.
Senior HL
Darius McClendon- 6’1, 168, 4.74* (Forest Hill)- Another long corner signed to Middle Tennessee St. Plays all over the field for small school. Speed is below average but has some burst (35 VJ).
Senior HL
Larry Robbins- 5’7, 165, 4.59* (Northwestern)- Undersized spark plug in the Bulls secondary. Plays bigger than his size. Not afraid in run support. Projects as a nickel corner. Buffalo signee.
Senior HL
SAFETIES
Tyrique Stevenson- 6’1, 202, 4.48* (Southridge)- Maybe the best player in South Florida. Combines excellent measurables (10.88 100M) with outstanding football instincts. Returns punts, catches passes, plays man, tackles. Looks like a grown man. Georgia signee.
Senior HL
Jordan Battle- 6’1, 187, 4.57* (St. Thomas)- Complete safety. Excelled in man coverage during the camp circuit and has the measurables to play corner. Nose for the ball. Emerged as a dynamic return man as a senior. Also a very good basketball player. Alabama signee.
Senior HL
Keontra Smith- 5’11, 195, 4.55* (Chaminade)- Twitched-up safety who is one of the best tacklers in the class. Made a big splash as a freshman and has progressively moved closer to the ball (LB as a senior). Elite testing numbers (104 SPARQ). Covered well and on the national champion SFE 7-on-7 team. More straight line than fluid. Also a pretty good RB. Miami signee.
Senior HL
Mark-Antony Richards- 6’1, 195, 4.56* (Wellington)- Gifted playmaker who can impact the game in multiple ways. Similar athlete to his brother. Not as fluid but a better straight-line runner. Dominated average competition. Raw on defense but has the ability to excel at CB or S. Excellent instincts on both ends. Auburn signee.
Senior HL
Cornelius Nunn- 6’0, 170, 4.54*(Palmetto)- Dade County playmaker who can contribute at CB, S, WR and PR. Had a monster senior season which earned him a Miami offer. If he stays focused, he can be a star. Syracuse signee.
Senior HL
Joe Smith- 6, 190* (Southridge)- Underrated box safety that can strike. Gets low and pops. Solid in coverage with a nose for the ball. Excellent instincts. Signed with Toledo.
Senior HL
Cecil Powell- 6’1, 193 (Piper)- Former LB who exploded on the scene as a senior. Grabbed 8 INTs and returned multiple kicks for TDs. Track star who qualified for state in the 400M (48.10), the long jump (22’5.25) and the triple jump (44’10.25). NC State signee
Senior HL
