Building Florida's perfect DB recruit using Top 100 prospects for 2027
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There is no such thing as a perfect recruit, but what if we could make one?
Better yet, if college coaches built a high school football player in a lab, what he look like? What would be the most important traits?
Basically, what would the Frankenstein Recruit look like?
Obviously, there really isn't one mold that would work. No coach is looking for a 335-pound wide receiver or a wiry, 175-pound speedster at defensive tackle.
Different positions have different requirements, which means every position is going to have the different desired attributes.
Using only Florida high school players from the 2027 recruiting class, USA TODAY Florida Network recruiting reporters Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson are building a Frankenstein Recruit at each position.
Here is the defensive back they built:
Speed: Aaryn Washington, IMG Academy
USA TODAY Florida Top 100 rank: No. 6
Commitment: USC
Defensive backs need to be fast, we're not breaking any news there. And there is no shortage of fast defensive backs in Florida. Washington, originally from California, is probably the fastest when it comes to on-field production. He has incredibly quick feet and his swift hips allow him to swivel without losing his assignment. He popped a 4.3-second 40-yard dash time at IMG's pro day. Despite appearing in just two games out of state last year, Washington has already proven he's among the quickest in Florida.
Frame: Mekhi Williams, Lennard
USA TODAY Florida Top 100 rank: No. 12
Commitment: Wisconsin
Lennard comes in at 6-foot-3 with extremely long arms, and he knows how to use them. The best safeties are able to cover the field quickly, and Williams uses his length to get to balls most DBs have no chance at. There are few safeties with both elite length and explosion, and Williams (a state track qualifier) is a nightmare in the secondary.
Attitude: Jordan Young, Lakeland
USA TODAY Florida Top 100 rank: No. 51
Commitment: Pittsburgh
It takes a certain level of pride to be an elite defensive back. Sometimes you get burned, other times you keep your side of the field locked down. It can be hard to treat every rep like a big deal, but it's what separates good players from great players — and Jordan Young cares about every single down. A lot. Simply put, he just has that dog in him, and he goes to war every snap. He's a physical, feisty player that takes great pride in his ability to cover and doesn't shy away from tough matchups. The Dreadnaught secondary goes as Young does, so it's no surprise Lakeland has one of the most formidable defenses in the state.
Tackling: Charles Woodson Jr.
USA TODAY Florida Top 100 rank: No. 39
This isn't the first time you've seen the words tackle and Charles Woodson together, and it won't be the last. The son of Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is one of the hardest-nosed safeties in the country. His form tackling is picture-perfect (he must have had a good teacher), and he is elite at bringing guys down on an island. He has some of the best run support in the class, incredible vision, and his frame (5-11, 175 pounds) gives him a fair shake against most skill positions on the field.
Hands: Zayden Gamble, St. Thomas Aquinas
USA TODAY Florida Top 100 rank: No. 15
Commitment: Notre Dame
People don't often associate good hands as being an important factor for defensive backs, but it's another thing that separates good players from elite ones. And it's not always about just catching the ball. Gamble is a legit ballhawk that uses his hands really well, getting inside of receivers to make them uncomfortable and breaking up passes. He wins hand-to-hand combat when in single coverage and does a great job of shrinking receivers' catch radiuses. Gamble is already an explosive athlete with a high IQ, and how he uses his hands is one of the biggest reasons he's the No. 1 safety in the state.
Coverage Skills: Censere Gaylord
USA TODAY Florida Top 100: No. 13
Official Visits: Auburn, Georgia Tech, Washington, Georgia
When it comes to technique and understanding, it doesn't get much better than Gaylord. The 6-foot corner is arguably the most polished in the state. He has next-level understanding of the position, and uses great vision to diagnose plays quickly. He has great feet, fluid hips, and is sticky in 1-on-1 coverage. He's also a heat-seeking missile in run support, and flies off blocks to get into the backfield. He recovers well and uses his length to make plays on the ball, and he's a also consistent tip-drill winner with good hands.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Building a perfect DB from top Florida recruits: Frankenstein project
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