Central Pennsylvania’s top senior defensive backs: Sports Recruiters Prospects

Sports Recruiters presents a list of the top senior defensive backs in Central Pennsylvania. These players are considered the top players in Central PA according to Sports Recruiters and college coaches across the country. I have seen most of these prospects play in-person.

This eight-part series will take a look at the area’s top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, underclassmen, top newcomers, as well as a list of honorable mention student-athletes.

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Brian “Tre” Neal III– Cornerback/Wide Receiver – 5’11”, 180 – Susquehanna Twp. H.S.

Tre just recently made a verbal declaration to Lehigh in the last week.  Neal selected Lehigh over offers from Cornell, Yale, Columbia, and Bucknell.  He has impressive ball recognition skills, fluid hips, and change of direction.  Tre has good anticipation and can cover well in space.  Neal improved his technique and recovery speed this past off-season while working with the Prime Xample group out of Maryland.  He has good body control and can make tackles in the open field.  Tre transferred from Cedar Cliff after his junior season ended and the transition to Susquehanna Twp. has been smooth thus far.  The hard hitting Neal is an aggressive player who flashes in the running lanes in run support and attacks ball carriers.  He is a terrific looking overall athlete with fine speed and is pointing towards enjoying an outstanding senior season.

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Matt Geiger – Safety/Running Back – 5’11”, 200 – Bishop McDevitt H.S.

Matt is an exciting two-way standout on offense and defense.  Geiger’s season was derailed by injury in 2015 but his off-season rehab was successful and he is back healthy.  He is really looking forward to having a fabulous senior year.  Matt has impressive quickness, excellent acceleration, and tremendous anticipation. Geiger is an instinctive player and who can cover in space but comes up in run support and makes sure tackles.  He plays like a linebacker in the Crusaders secondary and slides to multiple positions in McDevitt’s defensive scheme to take advantage of his skill set.  Matt registered 69 stops and seven sacks on defense last season.  On the offensive side of the ball, Geiger is one of the most explosive athletes in the mid-state.  He scored 8 touchdowns and averaged a whopping 9.7 yards a carry while sharing the load with Mike Jones in 2015.  Colleges are paying him close attention and Matt is receiving interest from FCS programs across the region.

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Trael Seegars –Safety/Running Back – 5’11”, 200 – Susquehanna Twp. H.S.

Trael is one of the finest two-way players in the mid-state.  Seegars can cover well in space, has fine closing speed, and good anticipation.  He has the ability to impact games at crucial times and shows excellent ball recognition skills.  Trael has the size and range that garners the attention of colleges.  Seegars is a dynamic play-maker also as a running back and scooted for 690 yards while scoring 9 touchdowns on the ground last season.  He was a 2015 First-Team Mid-Penn Keystone Division all-star selection as a running back.  The versatile Seegars displays the athletic ability of a college defensive back and has earned offers from Buffalo and Columbia thus far.

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Trysten McDonald– Safety/Linebacker/Wide Receiver – 6’1”, 200 – Cedar Cliff H.S.

Trysten will play a large role at wide receiver on offense in addition to his familiar spot roaming in the Colt’s secondary.  McDonald is one of the most versatile two-way players in the mid-state.  He demonstrates the ability to plant and drive when the ball is in the air and close quickly.  Trysten is a vicious hitting safety   who has the size and has the range to cover sideline to sideline.  McDonald is a physical athlete that shows good body control and instincts.  He has good change of direction, fantastic anticipation, and covers ground with excellent acceleration.  Trysten definitely has the skill set of a college defensive back and is a sure tackler in the secondary.

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Joel Davis – Safety/Athlete – 5’8”, 180 – Harrisburg H.S.

Davis, a safety and athlete on offense, is an outstanding overall talent and is very versatile.  Joel is the modern day jack-of-all-trades multi-purpose threat and even serves as the placekicker for the Cougars.  He can impact games in a huge manner from lining up at running back or in the slot as a wide receiver.  On defense, Davis displays excellent instincts, impressive ball recognition skills, and the ability to cover well in space.  Joel has excellent change of direction and is a sure tackler in the open field.  He has all the attributes you look for in a big-time athlete such as recovery speed, smooth acceleration, closing speed, natural instincts, and the ability to flip his hips effortlessly.  Davis was selected as one of Sports Recruiters Combine Showcase’s overall co-MVP’s this past spring.  Joel oozes the exceptional athletic ability that colleges scouts are searching for across the nation.