2021 Best Classes: The Secondary

With signing day finally upon us we look at the best classes in the country by position group. The defensive backs have become even more important with offenses emphasizing speed and becoming more proficient in the passing game. We weight slightly in favor of cornerbacks because their coverage abilities are at such a premium in college football right now. For the purposes of this article we will use the 247Sports Composite rankings because they factor in all of the major rankings services. Here are the teams that brought in the most talent in the secondary:

Ohio State

The Buckeyes recruit and develop defensive backs as well as anyone in college football. With Kerry Coombs back in Columbus, the defensive back recruiting was expected to take off and the Buckeyes landed a deep and talented class in 2021. The cornerback group is led by Jakailin Johnson and Jordan Hancock, the third and fifth ranked players at the position. Johnson and Hancock both have good size and excellent cover skills that will allow them to excel at the next level. Also projected to play cornerback for Ohio State is Denzel Burke, the eighth ranked athlete in the 2021 class. Burke has good feet and hips and should develop into a good corner in the slot or on the outside with time.

While the cornerback haul is elite, the Buckeyes also added a good group of safeties that fit their scheme well. Andre Turrentine and Jantzen Dunn are the ninth and tenth ranked players at the position. Turrentine is a bit of hybrid between corner and safety and has good coverage skills for the position. Dunn is an excellent athlete who has good size, range and ball skills to be an eraser on the back line. Ohio State also signed three star safety Jaylen Johnson, the 29th ranked player at the position, who has the build to be a bigger safety who could grow into a hybrid linebacker role. Ohio State added a talented group that brings a lot of versatility to their defense and should upgrade a defensive back group that was below the program standard in 2020.

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Alabama

Alabama has been at or near the top of almost all of these lists in 2021. The Tide signed the top ranked cornerback in the composite, Ga’Quincy McKinstry. He is an excellent athlete with good size and ball skills that allow him to be a playmaker in the secondary. To go with McKinstry at corner, Alabama signed Devonta Smith, the 20th ranked player at the position. Smith has grown into a good prospect who has the size and cover skills to play inside or outside. In addition to the two high school prospects, the Tide also signed Juco Khyree Jackson, a three star recruit who is one of the top Jucos in the class. Alabama has a good trio at the corner spot and added to it with safeties and athletes that can play multiple spots in the secondary.

Alabama signed two four star recruits at safety and a four star athlete that projects in the secondary as well. Terrion Arnold is the highest ranked of the group, checking in as the number three safety. He is a physically gifted athlete who has the size and range to play safety and the change of direction skills to play man to man when needed. Kaine Williams ranks 11th at the safety position and has good size and a frame that could allow him to play a hybrid role closer to the line of scrimmage. He is a good enough athlete to stay in the secondary and will provide good versatility. Lastly, Kadarius Calloway, the fourth ranked athlete in the country, is a physically developed prospect who also projects as a safety for the Tide. Alabama restocked the cupboard in the secondary with high end talent and good depth that can play multiple spots.

LSU

The Tigers led our 2020 DBU Rankings, so it’s no surprise to see them recruit a good class in the secondary. Interestingly enough, this year the Tigers only landed one cornerback. Damarius McGhee is the 13th ranked cornerback recruit in the country and may not be ready to be a star right away, but has the quickness, length and fluidity to be a good college cornerback. McGhee is a good corner, but with just one player signed at the position the strength of LSU’s secondary class is at the safety position.

LSU recruited three safety prospects in the 2021 class, led by the second ranked player at the position Sage Ryan. He is a do it all safety that can help fill many holes in the defense. He will be an excellent player slotting in just about anywhere in the secondary. He is joined by Derrick Davis Jr, the fourth ranked safety in the class. Davis is a bigger safety who has the speed and coverage abilities to stay in the defensive backfield and the attitude and toughness to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Three star recruit Matthew Langlois rounds out the group. He is the 35th ranked safety, but has excellent speed and could develop into a good player with experience. The Tigers landed plenty of top end talent to help replenish their secondary in the 2021 class.

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Florida

The Gators added a five member secondary class that features some quality at the top and depth as well. The jewel of Florida’s secondary class is Jason Marshall, the second ranked corner in the class. Marshall has rare athleticism and excellent physical traits for the position. He has the tools to develop into an elite cornerback if he reaches his ceiling. Along with Marshall the Gators signed Jordan Young, a three star recruit who is the 29th ranked player at the position. Young has the length and athletic ability to be a solid outside cornerback for Florida.

Florida signed three recruits to play safety, to go with the two aforementioned corners. The best of the bunch is Corey Collier, the sixth ranked safety in the country. He has the height, length and range to be a playmaking safety in college. The Gators also added Donovan McMillan, the 12th ranked prospect at the position. He is a big safety that is an aggressive downhill player in the secondary. Lastly, Florida added Dakota Mitchell a three star prospect ranked 34th at the position, who has versatility in run support and coverage at the safety position. Florida’s class has some star power and some depth to fill out the defensive back room.

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USC

USC signed three four star defensive backs and two athletes that will likely play in the secondary as well. At cornerback, the Trojans signed Ceyair Wright who is the sixth ranked player at the position. He has a good combination of length, athleticism and poise that will allow him to become a top cover corner. Wright will be paired with the 11th ranked corner in the class, Prophet Brown. Brown has the speed and ball skills to become a good cornerback as he develops. The pair gives USC the potential to have one of the best tandems in the country.

The Trojans signed one safety in the class, Xamarion Gordon, who checks in at 21st at the position. Gordon has good height and the frame to add more weight, he is a rangy player that could stick at safety but may move closer to the line of scrimmage if he gets too big. The two athletes likely to end up in the secondary for USC are Calen Bullock and Jaylin Smith, the ninth and 19th ranked athletes in the class. Bullock is a tall and instinctual player that does an excellent job of finding the football. Smith is a bit smaller but has good coverage skills and plays bigger than he looks and could be a good deep safety. USC signed five four star recruits and has plenty of options in the secondary moving forward.

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