National Signing Day 2018 Recap: The Defensive Backs

In our final discussion of the upcoming early commits let’s take a look at the secondary, a position BC was very strong at in 2017. If you haven’t already please check out our feature on the quarterbacks, offensive skill positions, offensive line, defensive line and linebackers.

Commits: (recaps via BCEagles.com).

Aaron Gethers

5-10, 180

Hummelstown, Pa./Bishop McDevitt

Listed as the No. 2 cornerback prospect in Pennsylvania by 247Sports … rated as the No. 23 prospect in Pennsylvania and the No. 82 cornerback nationally according to 247Sports … former high school teammate with current Eagle Kobay White … played for head coach Jeff Weachter at Bishop McDevitt High School … rated as the 35^th-best player in the Keystone State by ESPN Recruiting … first-team all-conference as a junior after totaling 30 tackles and three interceptions … All Mid-Penn Conference selection according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News … as a senior, led Bishop McDevitt with five pass breakups and was second on the team in tackles … helped guide the Crusaders to a 10-3 record and a state quarterfinal appearance in Class 4A … key part of a Bishop McDevitt team that finished 6-0 in the Mid-Penn Conference … team captain …

Elijah Jones

6-3, 180

New York, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes

Top-rated cornerback in New York and the state’s No. 8 overall prospect according to Rivals.com … No. 12 player in the state of New York and the No. 83 athlete nationally according to 247Sports … ranked No. 9 in New York and the nation’s 62^nd-best athlete by ESPN Recruiting … played for head coach C.J. O’Neill at Cardinal Hayes … averaged 26.1 yards per reception and finished the season with 1,017 receiving yards as a senior … 14 touchdown receptions, including a 99-yard touchdown catch … three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 22 tackles in 10 games … scored a career high five touchdowns in Cardinal Hayes’ 50-14 quarterfinal win to earn Catholic League Player of the Week honors … also a standout in track … team captain …

Jason Maitre

5-10, 170

Everett, Mass./Everett

Top-ranked athlete in Massachusetts and the state’s No. 7 overall recruit according to 247Sports … ESPN Recruiting listed Maitre the top-ranked athlete in Massachusetts and the No. 4 recruit in the state … rated as the No. 70 athlete nationally by ESPN Recruiting … played for head coach John DiBiaso at Everett High School … two-way player who excelled at wide receiver and cornerback … finished his senior season with nine touchdown receptions … all-around threat who also scored three touchdowns rushing, two punt returns for scores and one kickoff return for a touchdown … on defense totaled four interceptions including one pick six … 68 career tackles and nine career interceptions … Boston Herald All-Scholastic selection … MIAA All-State First-Team selection at wide receiver … team captain …

Projected 2018 Returning Depth: Mike Palmer (So.), Hamp Cheevers (Jr.), Will Harris (Sr.), Lukas Denis (Sr.), Taj Amir Torres (Sr.), Mehdi El-Attrach (Jr.), Brandon Sebastian (R-Fr.), Jahmin Muse (R-Fr.), Timi Tijani (Sr.), Ben Stewart (R-Fr.)

Projected Two Deep:

LC: Taj Amir Torres, Mike Palmer

RC Hamp Cheevers, Brandon Sebastian

SS Will Harris, Mehdi El Attrach

FS Lukas Denis, Ben Stewart

Analysis: BC lost some really strong players at the end of this year with the graduation of Isaac Yiadom and Kamrin Moore. But the Eagles still have some serious talent with the nation’s leader in interceptions Lukas Denis returning for his final year at the Heights. As long as injuries don’t hit they should be strong with four players who are all experienced lined up at the four positions. It’s going to be the next group to step up that is going to be worth watching as BC is going to need to fill in the two deep with players that aren’t experienced in game day situations. Just based on size I figured Stewart would slot in at safety, a position he played in high school, while Sebastian and Palmer fill in at corner. Of course if BC needed to they could always switch the position of a player, say a wide receiver, like they did in the past with Gabe McClary.