Prospect Rashad Roundtree is one of the top safety recruits in the country.
Rashad Roundtree is an elite class of 2015 safety.
Roundtree, out of Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga., stands 6'1 and weighs in at 195 pounds. As of June, he's rated as a four-star prospect and one of the five best safeties in the country. He's also widely viewed as one of the 10 best players in the loaded state of Georgia.
Roundtree is receiving interest from several top programs, mostly in the Southeast. He holds scholarship offers from Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
Roundtree has adequate size for the safety position, though he is not an in-the-box thumper type.
Roundtree's greatest value comes when playing center field. And like a center fielder in baseball, Roundtree is really good because he is a smart player who recognizes the play early, and then has the quickness and overall speed to get a good jump on the football and make a play. He elevates and contests well, coming away with a lot of deflections and interceptions.
Roundtree does not show much in man-to-man coverage, but it's tough to tell if that is a reflection on his skills in the area, or if his high school team simply prefers to use him to defend the deep middle (and effectively, the entire deep zone because his range is very good).
He is also pretty good in run support, running the alley and knifing through the defense, often laying big hits on ball carriers. He is not the type, however, who should be expected to take on blockers and force flow back to the interior.
Roundtree is one of the 10 best safeties in the country for my money, and a player who profiles as a multi-year starter at the highest levels of college football if he continues to grow as a safety.
Fans can follow Roundtree on Twitter @Rashad_Tr33.