Michigan's Top 10 Defensive Back Recruits for the Class of 2019

Well. as usual, life happened and I've been away from my blog. Anyhow, let's get back to it now. Here are the top 10 defensive backs for the class of 2019 in the state of Michigan. The Great Lakes State every year produces big-time, high-level Division I college football talent in the secondary. Besides the offensive line and wide receiver, I think the position group where the state of Michigan produces the most talent each and every season is in the secondary.

Just off the top of my head, current NFL defensive backs from the Great Lakes State include Avonte Maddox (Detroit King, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Eagles), Kavon Frazier (Grand Rapids Christian, CMU, Dallas Cowboys), Jeff Heath (Lake Orion, Saginaw Valley State, Dallas Cowboys), Darius Phillips (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, WMU, Cincinnati Bengals), Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M, Dallas Cowboys), Desmond King (Detroit East English Village/Detroit Crockett, Iowa, Los Angeles Chargers), Josh Jones (Walled Lake Western, North Carolina State, Green Bay Packers), Delano Hill (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M, Seattle Seahawks) and Brandon Carr (Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Grand Valley State, Baltimore Ravens). Tony Lippett (Detroit East English Village/Detroit Crockett, MSU, Miami Dolphins) was a starter for the Dolphins at cornerback before suffering an injury last season.

Of course, throughout the decades, the state of Michigan has produced some of the game's greatest defensive backs including, Randy Logan (Detroit Northern, U-M, Pro Bowl safety for the Philadelphia Eagles), Bill Simpson (Royal Oak Shrine, MSU, Pro Bowl safety for the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills), Mike Bass (Ypsilanti, U-M, led the NFC in interceptions with eight in 1971, returned a fumble for a TD for a record 49 yards in Super Bowl VII and was named one of the 70 greatest Washington Redskins of all-time), Mike Harden (Detroit Central, U-M, captain of the Denver Broncos' famed "Orange Crush" defense, picked off 38 passes during his career, returning four for touchdowns), Todd Lyght (Flint Powers Catholic, Notre Dame, All-Pro cornerback with Los Angeles Rams, won a Super Bowl and collegiate national championship, current DB coach for the Fighting Irish), Dave Whitsell (Shelby, Indiana, All-Pro cornerback, led NFL in interceptions with 10 in 1967 while playing for the New Orleans Saints, member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame), Terry McDaniel (Saginaw, Tennessee, five-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time All-Pro, 35 career interceptions, returned six interceptions for TDs) and Paul Krause (Burton-Bendle, Iowa, started four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings, holds NFL record for interceptions in a career with 81, arguably the greatest safety to ever play the game, eight-time Pro Bowl selection, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame).

All that being said, here are the next generation of outstanding defensive backs from the state of Michigan. Here are the Great Lakes State's top 10 defensive back prospects for the class of 2019.

Michigan's top 10 defensive back recruits for the class of 2019 -- 

1. Julian Barnett-6-2, 195-Belleville -- He's also my No. 1 wide receiver prospect for Michigan's class of 2019. Arguably the best two-way talent in the Midwest, Barnett could play either WR or DB at the next level. With 4.5 speed and a tough, physical nature, Barnett is a handful on either side of the football. I can see Barnett gaining 20-25 pounds in college and lining up as a hybrid linebacker/strong safety-type guy and being extremely effective as a pass defender, run-stopper or a devastating pass rusher. He's an outstanding all-around football player. Verbal to Michigan State.
2. Marvin Grant-6-2, 205-Detroit King -- One of my favorite players in the state of Michigan. This kid just has "it." Maybe the best all-around, natural football talent in the Great Lakes State, Grant is a smooth, skillful player for the Crusaders. A bone-crushing tackler and ball hawk at safety, Grant is a three-year starter for national powerhouse King. Was hoping he'd stay in-state, but he's Big Ten all the way nonetheless. Verbal to Purdue. 
3. Rod Heard-5-10, 180-Farmington Hills Harrison -- Three-year starter at legendary Harrison program, Heard is also an explosive tailback prospects. A lockdown-type cornerback, Heard could also play safety at the next level. Led the Hawks to a Division 3 state runner-up finish last season. Has 4.5 speed and excellent vision, quickness and instincts. Verbal to Northwestern. 
4. M.J. Griffin-6-2, 185-Saline -- Great size and speed combination, Griffin is a three-year starter for the Hornets, a program which has produced plenty of D-I talent as of late (Josh Jackson-QB-Va Tech, Bryce Wolma-TE-Arizona, Dimitri Douglas-OL-Michigan State). Also a sure-handed, deep-threat receiver for Saline, Griffin uses his 4.5 speed and height to overwhelm opponents, especially on the defensive side of the football. He's a Big Ten talent for sure, but opted to play out of the conference. Verbal to Temple. 
5. Josh DeBerry-6-1, 175-Warren DeLaSalle -- Spark plug and catalyst for DeLaSalle on both sides of scrimmage. Exciting, explosive skill-set, DeBerry is a home run-type wide receiver for the Pilots and an "opponents just don't throw his way"-type cornerback. I like him as a shutdown cornerback at the next level. Good hands and burst, DeBerry led DeLaSalle to the Division 2 state championship last season. Michigan, Michigan State where are you on this guy? Holds offers from Northwestern, Wake Forest, Boston College, Colorado State, Iowa, Kentucky, Iowa State.
6. Aidan Harrison-6-3, 190-New Lothrop -- One of the best players nobody seems to be talking about. Harrison is a tremendous athlete, first and foremost. A basketball and track and field standout, Harrison has high jumped 6-foot-6. With his long strides, Harrison can cover a lot of ground quickly as a safety and, of course, out-leap most, if not all, opponents for 50-50 balls in the air. Verbal to Missouri.
7. Kobe Myers-6-2, 185-Waterford Mott -- A long, rangy cornerback for the Corsairs. Very fluid athlete who also is a standout wide receiver. Like many on this list, has good height/weight for a defensive back and will only get bigger and stronger at the next level. Has offers from Iowa and Syracuse among many others.
8. Kortez Toles-6-3, 185-Grand Blanc -- Overwhelming force at cornerback for the Bobcats. Uses height and length to smother opposing receivers. Has quickness and ball skills of a high-level DB prospect. As a corner, Toles reminds me of Tony Lippett (Detroit native, started at corner for the Miami Dolphins), at least with his height and mobility. At the moment, not receiving the recruiting publicity I believe he deserves. Has offers from Bowling Green State, Central Michigan, Cornell and Morgan State. Indiana, Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers, etc. where are you on this kid?
9. Jordan Anderson-5-11, 190-Harper Woods -- Was named first-team All-Detroit by the Detroit News last season while playing for Detroit East English Village. Had 43 tackles and six interceptions as a cornerback and rushed for 1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. A game-changer on either side of the football, Anderson is just a "football player." He could be successful as a RB at the next level, but I like him as a press cover, in-your-face cornerback. Verbal to Bowling Green State.
10. Daraun McKinney-5-10, 185-River Rouge -- The ultimate playmaker, McKinney is lightning in a bottle and one of the most explosive and exciting players in the state of Michigan. McKinney makes plays in all three phases of the game. A sticky cornerback and sure-handed receiver, McKinney is truly gifted as a kick and punt returner. Last season, McKinney returned seven kickoffs for touchdowns and five punts for touchdowns setting state records for both. Though the Big Ten wanted him (Indiana offer), McKinney will play in the Mid-American Conference. Verbal to Northern Illinois. 

Other top DB recruits for Michigan's class of 2019 (all are D-I prospects at some level) -- 
Art Herndon-5-11, 170-St. Joseph, Bradley Dunn-6-0, 175-Saugatuck (Division 7-8 All-State first team as junior, led Indians to D-7 state runner-up finish last season) , Tyrese Hunt-Thompson-5-11, 170-Cassopolis, Jaden Thelen-6-3, 190-Haslett (Lansing State Journal Dream Team pick as junior, three-sport star, four-year varsity football player), Jalen Broussard-6-1, 185-East Grand Rapids, Stephen Bracey-5-9, 165-East Kentwood (Verbal to WMU), Deamonte Clark, 5-9, 170-Wyoming Godwin Heights, Devante Bedford-6-1, 180-Montrose, Josh Kramer-6-0, 185-Lansing Catholic (Lansing State Journal Dream Team and Division 5-6 All-State selection as junior, six interceptions, 50 tackles last year), Noah Smith-6-0, 175-Lansing Everett, Nick Thomas-5-11, 190-Jackson Lumen Christi, Kobe Hayward-6-0, 185-East Lansing, Marcus Fuqua-6-1, 195-Southfield A & T (Verbal to Buffalo), Khalil Dawsey-5-10, 175-Birmingham Groves (Verbal to Harvard), Derrick Hinton-5-10, 170-Auburn Hills Avondale, Xavier Goldsmith-5-9, 170-Farmington Hills Harrison (Verbal to Colorado State), Elija Griffin-5-11, 185-Harper Woods (Verbal to Toledo), Nic Jones-6-1, 170-Southfield A & T (Verbal to Ball State), Javon Kimpson-5-11, 195-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (Verbal to Miami, OH), Kamal Hadden-6-1, 165-River Rouge (Verbal to CMU), DaRon Gilbert-6-2, 195-Birmingham Brother Rice, Josiah Curry-6-0, 190-Mount Morris, Aaron Herron-6-3, 185-Holton (finished second in D-4 state track and field final in 110-meter hurdles in 14.95 and placed eighth in 100 meters in 11.44), Tahj Chatman-6-1, 185-Ypsilanti Lincoln, Michael Harper-5-11, 180-Anchor Bay, Ormondell Dingle-6-1, 190-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to CMU), Koleman Wall-6-3, 200-Muskegon Oakridge, T.J. VanKoevening-6-4, 205-Hudsonville Unity-Christian, Ahmad Gardner-6-2, 175-Detroit King (Verbal to Cincinnati), Jason Fairfield-6-0, 175-Holland West Ottawa (Holland Sentinel All-Area as junior, set school record with seven interceptions last season), Keimonnee Fields-5-9, 175-Waterford Mott, Hunter Delor-6-2, 205-Marysville, Tim Stallworth-6-1, 190-Dearborn Fordson, Rayvon Williamson-6-0, 175-Detroit Community (six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns this season), Zonterio Weekley-5-10, 170-Kalamazoo Central.

PHOTO -- Belleville senior Julian Barnett (6-2, 195) is arguably the best two-way player in the Midwest. A high-level Division I college football prospect at defensive back or wide receiver, Barnett is the No. 1-ranked recruit at both positions in the state of Michigan for the class of 2019. With 4.5 speed, Barnett is a tough, physical competitor on either side of the football. Barnett has verbally committed to Michigan State.