A Step Ahead: Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Football Recruiting Blog

Class of 2008: Some Elite Defensive Backs (Part II)

A.J. Alexander DB/WR/QB/ATH 5'11 197 4.31 Altoona Pennsylvania

A.J. is one of the nation’s elite DBs……..As a junior, being the team’s best athlete he primarily played QB and received some All-State mention after carrying the ball 121 times for 854 yards and completing 36 of 69 passes for 393 yards, 4 TDs and 4 INTs. He also returned 2 kicks for scores…………An outstanding sprinter who made the state championships in the 100 (10.71), 200 (21.5 best) and relays and is one of the nation’s fastest football players………Not just a track star as he also is solidly built to play football……Due to his outstanding speed he projects at either CB or WR in the college……A combine warrior who tests through the roof, recording marks such as a 4.31 forty, 4.12 shuttle, 9 bench reps and 43-inch vertical as a sophomore……As of early January 2007 he had offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Michigan, Louisville and several others.


Rahim Moore DB 6'2 190 4.45 Los Angeles Dorsey California

Moore is possibly the top DB prospect on the West Coast and among the nation’s best........As a junior, he earned First Team All-Los Angeles and First Team Junior All-State honors after tallying almost 100 tackles and 7 INTs………A rare sophomore starter for a talent-laden Dorsey squad, registering 56 solo tackles, 33 assists and 8 INTs in earning Second Team All-City honors…….A very young Class of 2008 prospect. He won’t turn 18 until after his freshman season of college football. Still has room to get a lot bigger…….He has great football instincts, outstanding range, and is very aggressive. A real defensive playmaker……….Fine speed. As a freshman, he won the Los Angeles freshman-sophomore championship for 400 meters………An outgoing, personable and mature youngster…..By the end of 2006 he had offers from UCLA, Washington and Washington State


Jarred Holley DB/RB 6'0 160 4.40 Easton Pennsylvania

One of the nation’s top CB prospects………..A First Team AP Class AAAA All-State DB selection as a junior after tallying 9 INTs, 5 PBUs, 27 solo tackles and 24 PBUs from his CB spot. As a RB, he had 35 receptions for 549 yards and 8 TDs and carried the ball 127 times for 650 yards and 12 TDs.……Has been a First Team All-Area selection since his freshman year…………In 2006 he was the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the state…….. As a freshman, Holley carried the ball 37 times for 277 yards and a touchdown while backing up Ovid Goulbourne, now at West Virginia. He also caught 10 passes for 233 yards and a TD, and tallied 5 INTs……..Has great recovery speed and outstanding athletic ability as a CB, displaying great hips and a smooth back-peddle. Has nice technique for a youngster…….Really impressed at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine, earning All-Combine honors…….Some compare him to Penn State CB Justin King……..By mid-January 2007 he had reported offers from such schools as Pittsburgh, Penn State, Virginia and Northwestern.


Robert Blanton DB 6'2 175 4.78 Charlotte Butler North Carolina

Blanton is one of the top DB prospects in the nation.....As a junior he earned First Team AP All-State honors and was a Charlotte Observer All-Area selection after helping Butler reach the state 4A semifinals with 147 tackles, 7 INTs and 3 blocked punts……..As a sophomore he was a Second Team All-Mecklenburg selection after registering almost 100 tackles and picking off 6 passes…..Leads a very talented troika of Class of 2008 DBs at Butler……Impressed at the 2006 Michigan summer camp…..Looked very good at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine……..Has the height to play safety once he fills out a bit and the quickness and hips to play CB. A very fluid runner who changes direction well and has good football instincts……On tape, he shows great field awareness, opens his hips and has very good closing speed and ball skills. A gamer……Tested well as a sophomore, including a 4.25 shuttle and 32-inch vertical…….Loads of early offers, about 15 as of mid-January, including Michigan, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Clemson.


Ronnell Grixby DB/RB 5'10 200 4.50 Omaha Central Nebraska

One of the top safety prospects in the nation……It seems as though Ronnell has been a big-time prospect forever, as he already made a name for himself as a freshman starter for in-state power Omaha Central (the school that produced Gale Sayers)…...A two-way prep star at RB and safety……As a sophomore he rushed for 1,005 yards and had 370 yards receiving………As a freshman he tallied over 70 tackles on defense……..At RB, he has great vision, hands, burst and power. He’s gotten much bigger and more powerful..........Some feel he could be the best prospect to emerge out of Central in years…….Projects as a free safety in college due to his instincts, physical style of play and hard-hitting nature……..Very gifted athlete who runs well, has surprising strength and had a 34-inch vertical as a freshman. Just lacks ideal height…….Solid bloodlines as he is the younger brother of Nebraska CB Cortney Grixby and former Nebraska RB Deante Grixby…….Also stars in basketball, averaging 14 points and 5 assists per game as a sophomore point guard………….Nebraska was the first school to offer

posted by Jim Stefani @ 1:24 PM