Opponent Rankings Week: The storylines for the top defensive backs in 2025
The Rivals250 for the 2025 class has been updated, and now it’s time to break down each position. Today we continue with the defensive stance and look at the big storylines in the defensive back rankings.
New rankings: Athlete | Cornerback | Safety | Outside linebacker | Inside linebacker | Strong-side defensive end | Weak-side defensive end | Defensive tackle | Offensive tackle | Offensive back | Center | Wide receiver | Tight end | Running back |Multi-purpose back |Pro-style quarterback |Dual-threat QB
Will NA’EEM OFFORD remain a five-star?
There’s a lot to like about Naeem Offord in the movie. But this is the only place we see him. Orford had a very quiet offseason without any major events. Therefore, the exposure point does not exist for him now.
It will be huge to see him develop into his senior season and remain a five-star prospect. Can he do it? Absolutely. But he has to show a lot. It will also be interesting to see if Auburn can get him to give up his commitment to Ohio State.
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Who will emerge at cornerback?
Devin Sanchez is undoubtedly the best corner in the 2025 Rivals250 class, but everything behind him is wide open. This means there may be some big changes the next time we roll out rankings. Dijon Lee and Blake Woodby are currently closest to five stars. Lee, in particular, is a fascinating rising star and continues to impress.
Shamar Arnoux and Jaimier Scott are a pair of prospects currently outside the top 10 at the position who could have big senior seasons. Both have impressed this summer. If development continues, it’s easy to see them slipping into the top ten.
How about Courtland Guillory or Mark Zachary? It is said that everyone’s current rating may be too low. There could still be big changes at the cornerback position.
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Will the trend away from oversized safety gear continue?
One of the trends worth watching is that NFL teams are shying away from taking big safeties in the early rounds of the NFL Draft. Teams are more likely to draft an Anthony Winfield-type player (5-foot-9, 203 pounds) than a player 6-foot-1 and taller.
So you’re going to see that trend trickle down to college football recruiting. Of our top seven safeties, only Faheem Delane (6-foot-1) and Anquon Fegans (just over 6-foot) are taller than 6 feet this summer. That’s not to say the taller safeties are bad, they’re just relegated to a hybrid linebacker role. This is especially true as more colleges look for athleticism to match the offenses they face.
