Introducing the CFB Saturdays College Football S Rankings

Over the last several weeks we have been unveiling our College Football player rankings by position. Today we will take a look at our College Football S rankings. A few notes before we discuss the rankings themselves.

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the college football S rankings here.

Top of the Class

Richard LeCounte (Georgia) leads the way on our list at #1. He is a do-it -all safety who excels at the highest level. LeCounte plays on an excellent Georgia defense and does a bit of everything, recording 61 tackles 4.5 TFL and 4 interceptions in 2019. He has excellent range when playing deep and has great instincts to read and react to where the ball is going. He is also good in one on one coverage on the inside, giving the defense versatility in how they deploy him. LeCounte is a fast and explosive safety who closes on the ball quickly and can deliver a big hit at any time. His instincts and understanding of the game help him get in good position, where his talent takes over and he makes plays. LeCounte should finish his career with a strong senior season for the Bulldogs.

JaCoby Stevens (LSU) is our second ranked safety. He is a big, strong safety who can play in the box or over the top, in 2019 he accounted for 92 tackles, 9 TFL, 6 PBU and 3 interceptions. Stevens has excellent ball skills and good range in the secondary. He high points the football well making difficult interceptions look easy. Stevens is also excellent in blitz situations, he closes on the ball quickly and has quick hands to disrupt passing lanes. He is a good tackler in space who can spy quarterbacks or handle running backs on the perimeter. He is a physical defender and covers tight ends well, and had some good battles with top tight end Kyle Pitts last season. Stevens can do a bit of everything on the field and is tough for the offense to account for because of his versatility.

Trevor Moehrig (TCU) checks in as the third safety on our list. He is a tall and rangy playmaker in the secondary. Moehrig excels as a deep safety or in man coverage against slot receivers and tight ends. He has the speed and quickness to stick with receivers and the ball skills to make plays on the football. Moehrig has good anticipation and is able to jump pass routes to make plays. He was very effective in coverage with 11 PBU and 4 interceptions. He does a good job getting downhill quickly against screens and quick passes and sifting through traffic to make the tackle. Moehrig goes into his junior season with high expectations after his excellent 2019 season.

Paris Ford (Pittsburgh) holds the #4 spot on our list. He is a rangy safety with average size who is a big hitter. Ford is excellent in run support, getting downhill quickly and arriving at the football with impact. He is also a good player in coverage, anticipating passes well underneath and reacting quickly to the ball to make plays. Ford’s versatility was evident as he recorded 97 tackles 2.5 TFL, 11 PBU and 3 interceptions in 2019. He has the speed and range to cover ground in the secondary and the instincts a safety needs to quickly get to the football. Ford is a key player in the Pitt secondary and should continue to shine in 2020.

The Next Group

Andre Cisco (Syracuse) checks in at #5 in our rankings. He is a complete player at the safety position. Cisco has the range and instincts to play a deep safety and take away plays over the top. Cisco can also play in coverage underneath and does an excellent job of anticipating passes and jumping the route to make the interception. He is a good hitter who shows the ability to separate the ball from the receiver on impact. Cisco is also strong in run support, taking good pursuit angles to the football and making good strong tackles upon arrival. Cisco is a star in the the secondary for the Orange and we expect him to be excellent again in 2020.

Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame) is a physical specimen who checks in at #6 on our list. He is a tall safety with excellent length who will continue to get bigger and stronger. Hamilton uses his size and anticipation to close passing windows quickly. He has good ball skills and was able to intercept four passes as a freshman. He is a physical player who can play close to the line of scrimmage and will pursue the football sideline to sideline. Hamilton is a good hitter who will deliver a big hit when given the opportunity. After a strong freshman season, we expect Hamilton to be a force all over the field for the Irish in 2020.

Greg Eisworth (Iowa State) takes the #7 spot in our rankings. He is a hard nosed safety who has decent size at the position. Eisworth is an instinctual safety who has an excellent feel for the game. He gets downhill quickly to fill gaps against the run game and is a good tackler upon arrival. The same instincts are a major asset in coverage where Eisworth feels routes developing in front of him and behind him to get in good position to make the play. Eisworth is a good athlete who can cover good ground in coverage, and has the physicality to take on blockers and make plays in traffic. He should be primed for a big senior season in 2020.

Others To Watch

Eric Burrell (Wisconsin) is currently ninth on our list. He may not be the biggest safety but Burrell is a versatile player who can do many things well for the defense. He has good range when playing deep and can make plays over the top. He reacts well to the football and has the ball skills to make a play on the football. Burrell is a sound tackler in space who can bring down shiftier players in space and also delivers a big hit whenever possible. He is a good blitzer who closes quickly to make plays in the backfield. Burrell is a perfect fit in the Wisconsin defense and should have a big season once the Big Ten decides to play in 2020.

Demani Richardson (Texas A&M) checks in at #17 in our initial 2020 rankings. He is a fierce safety who has good size and strong build for a young player. Richardson is an aggressive hitter who delivers hits with impact. He showed a nose for the football quickly and saw his role grow as a freshman. He has good athleticism and pursues the football well, sifting through traffic to find the ball carrier. Richardson should be more comfortable as a sophomore and continue to assert himself on the field. We expect Richardson to be a star in the SEC in 2020.

Marcelino Ball (Indiana) is currently ranked at #20 in our rankings and we love his upside. He is a powerful player who is a hybrid safety/linebacker. Ball has excellent speed for his size and is able to close distance quickly on the football field. He plays the game with force and is always ready to make an impact collision. Ball has the speed and acceleration to make plays in coverage as well, making him a versatile defender who can excel against modern spread offenses. Ball is a leader on the Indiana defense and will be counted on to be an impact players when the Big Ten season begins.

Click here for the Top 25 S Rankings.

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