2010-2011 NCAA College Prospects: Safeties

Author's Note: Last year, before I became a Front Page Author, I posted a few pieces on the top college prospects at the very beginning of the college football season for '09-'10. There are roughly 22 positions (11 on each side of the ball) to focus on. Each week, leading up to the very first NCAA Football Game for the '10-'11 Season, I will take a look at one of the positions. Each position will vary in the amount of players I cover. Number of players per position will range anywhere from 10-20 of the top prospects. I will be ranking them as to where I think they will be slotted in next years draft should they all enter. Mind you, these are just my opinions, but I feel that the rankings are going to be pretty close to the opinions of the rest of the Nation. I haven't seen any preseason player rankings yet, so it should be interesting to compare to once they come out.

The safety position may not be the biggest concern for the 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft. However, Dashon Goldson could be shown the door if he wants Antrel Rolle type of money to stay in San Francisco. So it's not completely out of the realm of thinking should that happen. It's food for thought at least.

With that said, the crop of safeties this years get's really thin after the first few rounds. Outside of the top five guys on my list, there is less than a handful of the rest of the pack that has big-time potential. The 49ers would most likely have to look at free agency or the draft early on to fill the void if Goldson walks. There are plenty of other teams that will also be in the market for safeties, so whatever happens with Dashon Goldson could dictate the way the 49ers scout and draft in 2011.

Click continue below to see the rankings...

1. DEANDRE MCDANIEL | 6'1", 210 LBS | CLEMSON TIGERS - Had McDaniel come out in this past draft, he would have probably been a top three safey selected. A lot of people may debate that there is no way he would have gone before Taylor Mays, but it's quite possible that he could have gone directly after Eric Berry. McDaniel should be the clear number one safety off the board if he repeats the success he has had in his previous seasons.

2. RAHIM MOORE | 6'1", 197 LBS. | UCLA BRUINS - Moore should have a breakout season for the Bruins and be the anchor piece in that flimsy defensive backfield. He will have to go through a guantlet of high ranking teams to showcase his talents to the pro scouts. If the scouts watch closely, Moore should easily be a top five in the 2011 Draft. 

3. DEUNTA WILLIAMS | 6'2" 210 LBS. | NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS - The Tarheels are going to have a stacked defense for the 2010-'11 Season. Williams will be the key piece in the secondary. Williams has excellent tangibles and could catapult his draft stock in to the 1st Round or early 2nd. The Tarheels defense will be fun to watch this year, so if you're paying attention this year, don't neglect to watch this young talented prospect.

4. AHMAD BLACK | 5'9", 185 LBS. | FLORIDA GATORS - Even though Black is on the smaller side of your prototypical safety, he can go after the ball and pluck it from the sky with the best of 'em. Joe Haden was possibly drafted higher than his worth in large part to the two guys behind him. Make no mistake, Black is going to be rated fairly high once the season is over.

5. QUINTON CARTER | 6'1", 193 LBS. | OKLAHOMA SOONERS - I try not to let any biases get in the way when I am evaluating talent. Considering that, and that I am a Sooners fan, I feel like this is a good fit for Carter here. He will need to step up and have big games against the Sooners rivals... and it wouldn't hurt to have a stellar game in the Red River Rival Game against Texas as well. Since Coach Bob Stoops has taken over the program he has had hard-nosed defenses. Carter fits the system very well.

6. JERMALE HINES | 6'2", 210 LBS. | OHIO STATE BUCKEYES - Hines is a big hitting coverted Linebacker. Look for Hines to jar the ball loose a couple times as well as potentially a few jaws. Hines should not fall short of making ESPN highlight reels in the upcoming season.

7. CHRIS CULLIVER | 6'1", 191 LBS. | SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS - Culliver had a bit of a drought last year as far as picks were concerned but that was in large part to teams game-planning against him and throwing away from him. He will still be on opposing teams radar, however, he has a couple of young corners that should step up and help him get back to his game. Remeber the name Chris Culliver because by season end, it could be very familiar.

8. TEJAY JOHNSON | 6'1", 212 LBS. | TCU HORNED FROGS - The first time Tejay Johnson caught my attention was last year in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. While Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes terrorized Kellen Moore, Tejay Johnson held down the fort in the secondary. He also made a few nice tackles (8 to be exact) in that game. Johnson is a guy who could sneak up in to a top five pick at his respective position.

9. TROY WOOLFOLK | 6'0", 193 LBS. | MICHIGAN WOLVERINES - Here is another guy, much like Ahmad Black, that didn't get the recognition he deserved due to a big name cornerback over-shadowing his individual play. Woolfolk will have every opportunity to shine. The Wolverines as a whole, will be looking to bounce back after a less than stellar record and performance last season.

10. HIRAM ATWATER | UAB BLAZERS - No relation to the great Steve Atwater, Hiram Atwater has the opportunity to get himself drafted and play in the NFL. Usually UAB games are not televised but sources have Atwater rated high and in some cases even higher than what I have him ranked here. He transfered from a JUCO after the 2008-'09 Season and will look to have a solid second NCAA-1 year.

11. DUKE IHENACHO | 6'1", 210 LBS. | SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS

12. DOM DECICCO | 6'3", 230 LBS. | PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

13. TYLER JONES | 6'1", 201 LBS. | SMU MUSTANGS

14. JAIQWAUN JARRETT | 6'2", 195 LBS. | TEMPLE OWLS

15. ERIC HAGG | 6'2", 205 LBS. | NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS