Safety is an interesting position in South Florida. In the 2000s, you had a series of standout safeties from Sean Taylor to Kenny Phillips to Major Wright. Then there was a bit of a drought. Eddie Jackson (Boyd Anderson/Alabama) stands above the current pack as a two-time Pro Bowler and the highest paid safety in the NFL. Miami has done well with Deon Bush, Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine, but it’s still looking for its next first round safety.
This group could be excellent depending where some of these players end up. There is a lot of CB/S/LB versatility in this group, with a couple big-timers at the top.
James Williams, American Heritage (6’5, 218)- Unique jumbo athlete who has made his biggest plays against the best teams in South Florida. Enormous frame without being thin. Plays centerfield with range and strong hands. Also lines up at WR. Has bounced around multiple programs including Pace and Western. His body type screams front 7, but I believe he can stay at safety similar to Sean Taylor and Pat Watkins. Plays better with more space around him. His best role may be like Clemson star Isaiah Simmons. Elite national recruit.
Kamren Kinchens, Northwestern (5’11, 185)- Top ballhawk in South Florida (11 INTs). Alpha male leader who won back-to-back state titles and dominated on 7-on7 circuit for the Miami Immortals. Effective PR who is above-average with the ball in his hands. Head-hunter as a hitter. Enough range to function as single-high safety. Ran 4.68 forty as a sophomore and projects as a solid 4.5 guy in college. Miami, Auburn and Texas A&M are battling.
Corey Collier, Palmetto (6’1, 175)- Lanky DB with ball skills. Plays CB and S in high school but projects as a S due to leggy running style. Competes with high energy. Needs to become more consistent as a tackler. Ran a 4.83 as a sophomore but should get faster as his body develops. Takes aggressive angles to the ball and ballcarrier. Miscast as a five-star prospect but has upside once he gets into a college weight program.
Phillip O’Brien- Deerfield Beach (5’11, 175)- Tenacious competitor who is a better football player than athlete. Plays all over defensive backfield. Very effective in the box. Aggressive trying to strip the ball like Honey Badger. Deceptive long speed to hawk down ball carriers. Finisher with a nose for the end zone. Blocks kicks on special teams. Willing and effective tackler. Auburn commit.
Derrick Edwards, Palmetto (5’10, 185)- Well-rounded DB with strong frame and position versatility. Smooth mover with balance. Projects as a safety but has the feet to stay at corner. Springy with a 37-inch vert as a freshman. Nose for the ball on both defense and special teams. Lines up at nickel, field, boundary and safety. Does not get the fanfare of teammate Collier but similar projection at college level. Louisville is the favorite.
Tavoris Miller, South Miami (6’, 175)- All-around athlete who lines up at QB, WR, CB, S and PR. Also plays basketball. Long, solid frame that projects well for college. Explosive on contact but not yet a fundamental tackler. High points the ball as a WR. Has some make-you-miss on offense. Good not great speed. Physical runner who is not afraid of contact. Offers from Illinois, Indiana and Appalachian State. Underrated prospect.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11034368/5dbb0df76e8c4c0da848890b
Tyson Russell, St. Thomas Aquinas (5’10, 160)- Another CB/S who projects in the middle of the field. Son of former Miami Hurricane Twan Russell. Verified 4.35 shuttle and 32 VJ as a sophomore. Lined up outside and at safety for STA. Expected to play larger role as a senior after waiting his turn. Has some man coverage ability. Vanderbilt commit.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9894834/5d9a8adc9676390f0886ab85
Kenneth Norwood, Hallandale (6’2, 175)- Tall corner who projects to safety due to lack of speed. Miami Springs transfer. Excellent hands. Easily locates the ball and has the coordination to finish. 6 INTs. Also plays WR. Flashes physicality on special teams. Speed is the concern (12.5 100M this year) but is still early in his physical development. Offers from Penn State and Maryland.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12696555/5dbb39772347d20de843a57e
Jabhari Hill, Atlantic (6’1, 190)- High school corner that projects at safety. Strong body, may grow into LB. Tight-hipped but aware of the ball with solid straight line speed. Best coming downhill. Explosive with multiple blocked kicks. More of a hitter than a tackler. Battle tested against P5 competition. Long arms and strong hands. Also plays RB. Should produce immediately on special teams. Offers from USF, FAU and FIU.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11905988/5dc588a8066bce0f78f84e2e
Jeremiah McClendon, Atlantic (6’, 170)- Safety in a corner’s body. Excellent instincts facing the quarterback. Very good ball production. Like teammate Hill, he's more of a hitter than a tackler with a tendency to launch and not wrap. First-team All-County. Offers from Indiana and FAU.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9571540/5dbdedd94dec850e1c93d0ca
Boogsie Silvera, American Heritage (5'11, 185)- One of the hardest hitters in South Florida. Brother of Miami DT Nesta Silvera. Seeks out contact and will hurl his body at ball-carirers. Has the ability to jar loose the football. Excellent blitzer when he has a runway. Much more comfortable in the box and may ultimately develop into a linebacker if he grows. Smart player with multiple Ivy league offers. Toledo and Western Kentucky are in pursuit.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8333935/5ddafb333deb67137043b4f0
Christopher Nelson, Carol City (5’11, 175)- Emerged as DB in off-season for South Florida Express. Predominantly a RB last year who flourished as a pass-catcher. Good toughness and aggression as a runner. Offer from Arizona State.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10926068/5d578f5915f5930ea02c8b6b
This group could be excellent depending where some of these players end up. There is a lot of CB/S/LB versatility in this group, with a couple big-timers at the top.
James Williams, American Heritage (6’5, 218)- Unique jumbo athlete who has made his biggest plays against the best teams in South Florida. Enormous frame without being thin. Plays centerfield with range and strong hands. Also lines up at WR. Has bounced around multiple programs including Pace and Western. His body type screams front 7, but I believe he can stay at safety similar to Sean Taylor and Pat Watkins. Plays better with more space around him. His best role may be like Clemson star Isaiah Simmons. Elite national recruit.
Kamren Kinchens, Northwestern (5’11, 185)- Top ballhawk in South Florida (11 INTs). Alpha male leader who won back-to-back state titles and dominated on 7-on7 circuit for the Miami Immortals. Effective PR who is above-average with the ball in his hands. Head-hunter as a hitter. Enough range to function as single-high safety. Ran 4.68 forty as a sophomore and projects as a solid 4.5 guy in college. Miami, Auburn and Texas A&M are battling.
Corey Collier, Palmetto (6’1, 175)- Lanky DB with ball skills. Plays CB and S in high school but projects as a S due to leggy running style. Competes with high energy. Needs to become more consistent as a tackler. Ran a 4.83 as a sophomore but should get faster as his body develops. Takes aggressive angles to the ball and ballcarrier. Miscast as a five-star prospect but has upside once he gets into a college weight program.
Phillip O’Brien- Deerfield Beach (5’11, 175)- Tenacious competitor who is a better football player than athlete. Plays all over defensive backfield. Very effective in the box. Aggressive trying to strip the ball like Honey Badger. Deceptive long speed to hawk down ball carriers. Finisher with a nose for the end zone. Blocks kicks on special teams. Willing and effective tackler. Auburn commit.
Derrick Edwards, Palmetto (5’10, 185)- Well-rounded DB with strong frame and position versatility. Smooth mover with balance. Projects as a safety but has the feet to stay at corner. Springy with a 37-inch vert as a freshman. Nose for the ball on both defense and special teams. Lines up at nickel, field, boundary and safety. Does not get the fanfare of teammate Collier but similar projection at college level. Louisville is the favorite.
Tavoris Miller, South Miami (6’, 175)- All-around athlete who lines up at QB, WR, CB, S and PR. Also plays basketball. Long, solid frame that projects well for college. Explosive on contact but not yet a fundamental tackler. High points the ball as a WR. Has some make-you-miss on offense. Good not great speed. Physical runner who is not afraid of contact. Offers from Illinois, Indiana and Appalachian State. Underrated prospect.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11034368/5dbb0df76e8c4c0da848890b
Tyson Russell, St. Thomas Aquinas (5’10, 160)- Another CB/S who projects in the middle of the field. Son of former Miami Hurricane Twan Russell. Verified 4.35 shuttle and 32 VJ as a sophomore. Lined up outside and at safety for STA. Expected to play larger role as a senior after waiting his turn. Has some man coverage ability. Vanderbilt commit.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9894834/5d9a8adc9676390f0886ab85
Kenneth Norwood, Hallandale (6’2, 175)- Tall corner who projects to safety due to lack of speed. Miami Springs transfer. Excellent hands. Easily locates the ball and has the coordination to finish. 6 INTs. Also plays WR. Flashes physicality on special teams. Speed is the concern (12.5 100M this year) but is still early in his physical development. Offers from Penn State and Maryland.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12696555/5dbb39772347d20de843a57e
Jabhari Hill, Atlantic (6’1, 190)- High school corner that projects at safety. Strong body, may grow into LB. Tight-hipped but aware of the ball with solid straight line speed. Best coming downhill. Explosive with multiple blocked kicks. More of a hitter than a tackler. Battle tested against P5 competition. Long arms and strong hands. Also plays RB. Should produce immediately on special teams. Offers from USF, FAU and FIU.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11905988/5dc588a8066bce0f78f84e2e
Jeremiah McClendon, Atlantic (6’, 170)- Safety in a corner’s body. Excellent instincts facing the quarterback. Very good ball production. Like teammate Hill, he's more of a hitter than a tackler with a tendency to launch and not wrap. First-team All-County. Offers from Indiana and FAU.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9571540/5dbdedd94dec850e1c93d0ca
Boogsie Silvera, American Heritage (5'11, 185)- One of the hardest hitters in South Florida. Brother of Miami DT Nesta Silvera. Seeks out contact and will hurl his body at ball-carirers. Has the ability to jar loose the football. Excellent blitzer when he has a runway. Much more comfortable in the box and may ultimately develop into a linebacker if he grows. Smart player with multiple Ivy league offers. Toledo and Western Kentucky are in pursuit.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8333935/5ddafb333deb67137043b4f0
Christopher Nelson, Carol City (5’11, 175)- Emerged as DB in off-season for South Florida Express. Predominantly a RB last year who flourished as a pass-catcher. Good toughness and aggression as a runner. Offer from Arizona State.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10926068/5d578f5915f5930ea02c8b6b
