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How did the 2011 class pan out? SDS takes a look as we continue our daily dissection of position groups from that recruiting season. Since defensive backs are broken into two categories (cornerback, safety), we’ve combined the top players at each position into one comprehensive Top 10:
Revisiting 2011 recruiting
Note: Recruiting rankings are in reference to 247sports’ industry composite from 2011.
SEC Spin
Plenty of top-tier SEC defensive backs have come out of the 2011 recruiting class, notably All-Americans Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt from Ole Miss along with Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, a solid rookie for the Green Bay Packers. Justin Coleman (Tennessee) and Damian Swann (Georgia) are two other solid contributors from this cycle who rarely stood in the spotlight during their careers in the SEC East.
Biggest Bust
One of several secondary signees in Auburn’s 2011 class, four-star Erique Florence never cracked the lineup during his first two seasons and transferred to Troy two months before the start of the 2013 campaign. Other defensive backs in the same class that eventually became multi-year starters on the Plains include Robenson Therezie and Jermaine Whitehead.
Most Impressive Overachievers
Three-stars Golson and Christion Jones became outperformed their grade, especially Golson who became Ole Miss’s first unanimous first team All-American this season since Michael Oher after a 10-interception senior campaign.
Jones made his presence felt primarily on special teams at Alabama, returning two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns. As a wideout, Jones finished with 85 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven career scores.
It’s important to note that Prewitt, a former three-star for the Rebels from the 2011 class who was a first team All-American as a junior, was listed as an athlete coming out of Bay Springs, Miss. and is therefore not listed in this Top 10. What he did during his career in Oxford however, can’t be ignored.
Re-Grading the Top 10
2011 No. 1: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama (S), five-star
New No. 1: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama (S), five-star
Two-year starter on Kirby Smart’s defense who left Alabama after his junior season as a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Clinton-Dix made 93 tackles this season as a rookie.
2011 No. 2: Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia (CB), four-star
New No. 2: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon (CB), four-star
Multi-year starter for the Ducks who suffered a devastating knee injury prior to this season’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Florida State. Considered college football’s best cover corner, Ekpre-Olomu is a three-time All-Pac 12 performer and was a consensus All-American as a senior in 2014.
2011 No. 3: Damian Swann, Georgia (CB), four-star
New No. 3: Senquez Golson, Ole Miss (CB), three-star
Golson tied the program record with 10 interceptions as a senior this season, including the game-clinching pick against Alabama — an upset felt throughout college football.
2011 No. 4: Doran Grant, Ohio State (CB), four-star
New No. 4: Gerod Holliman, Louisville (S), four-star
An early draft entry after tying the FBS record with 14 interceptions this season, this third-year sophomore blossomed into one of the nation’s top ballhawks after he was given permission to roam by defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Holliman didn’t pick off a single pass during the 2013 campaign.
2011 No. 5: Nick Waisome, Florida State (CB), four-star
New No. 5: Justin Coleman, Tennessee (CB), three-star
Coleman started 38 games (including final 34 consecutive) over his career in Knoxville, tallying 157 total tackles, 17 pass-breakups and five interceptions. The secondary’s most reliable corner and primary nickelback, the Vols often leaned on the veteran to put other teammates in the right position.
2011 No. 6: Erique Florence, Auburn (S), four-star
New No. 6: Chris Hackett, TCU (CB), three-star
2011 No. 7: Gerod Holliman, Louisville (S), four-star
New No. 7: Christion Jones, Alabama (CB), three-star
2011 No. 8: Wayne Lyons, Stanford (S), four-star
New No. 8: Jermaine Whitehead, Auburn (CB), four-star
2011 No. 9: Marcus Roberson, Florida (CB), four-star
New No. 9: Damian Swann, Georgia (CB), four-star
2011 No. 10: Charles Jackson, Nebraska (CB), four-star
New No. 10: Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia (CB), four-star
