Early Look at 2016 IUFB Commits: Secondary

On Tuesday, I took a look at the 2016 offensive skill position commits to IU football. In this second addition, I go in-depth on the three secondary commits:

Safety

Jayme Thompson – 6-2/194 - Iowa Western (JUCO)
Style: Hard Hitting
IU Comparison: More athletic Mark Murphy (2011-14)

A former four-star prospect out of Toledo, Ohio, Thompson committed to Ohio State back in 2013. But before playing a single snap in Columbus, Thompson broke his ankle and missed his entire freshman season. He then decided to head to the JUCO ranks in search of playing time in 2014.

A year later, Thompson has committed to Indiana, where he expects to compete for a starting job right out the gate next season. He possesses the ability to defend the run with the best of them. Thompson has a nose for finding the football, fearlessly attacking the flats like a linebacker and closes on ball carriers with tremendous speed and power, which resembles Murphy. His combination of size and speed will give him an ability to run through any back or receiver in the Big Ten.

Thompson also drops back into coverage well. His range may need to be improved some, but if Thompson can work on quickening his hips to close on deep balls, he could prove to be one of the best all-around safeties in the conference. Coming in as a junior, Thompson will certainly give Chase Dutra a run for his money at strong safety next season.

Khalil Bryant – 6-0/190 – Jacksonville, Fla.
Style: Hard Hitting
IU Comparison: Tegray Scales (2014- )

I understand that the Scales comparison may confuse you, but after watching Bryant on tape I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching the sophomore IU linebacker.

Bryant is basically a linebacker in a safety’s body. If he is able to put on some pounds, I could see him making the switch to weak-side linebacker for Defensive Coordinator Brian Knorr. Bryant is a pure tackler, and he can bring down ball carriers in any fashion. He wraps up incredibly well, pursues the flats with aggression, and runs through backs and receivers with tremendous power.

Bryant plays a lot of linebacker in high school, which has limited his practice in coverage. It will be interesting to see how he translates to the college level. He is a gifted enough athlete to play strong safety, but if he can pack on 20 pounds in the next two or three years, we could see Bryant moving down to linebacker. Don’t forget, Scales came into Bloomington around 205 pounds last summer.

Cornerback

A’Shon Riggins – 6-0/160 – Hamilton, Ohio
Style: Coverage
IU Comparison: Tracy Porter (2004-07)

Riggins is an athlete who has been utilized all over the field at the high school level. He plays quarterback and receiver on offense, while being moved all over the secondary defensively. However, at the college level he profiles as a coverage corner.

Riggins’ time at quarterback is used mostly as a runner, where he displays incredible agility. He translates his skills with the ball in his hand to cornerback as well. His quick hips help him turn with receivers that are faster than him. He also has good jumping abilities and the awareness to find the ball in the air.

His coverage skills are on par with the Porter comparison, and so is his quickness with the ball in his hands. If you remember, Porter was once a great punt returner for the Hoosiers. When Riggins tucks the ball as a quarterback, he looks the returner part, and I could see Wilson utilizing his versatility on special teams.

The area that Riggins is going to need to work on is his backpedal, where he tends to look a little lazy. He is able to get away with it now, but he is susceptible to being burned by Big Ten caliber receivers. The potential to be a future Hoosier starter is certainly there, but I see him as a nickelback and return specialist at the next level.