2015 UTSA Defensive Recruiting Class

Earlier this week I broke down UTSA's offensive recruiting class as we head into the final push of the 2015 recruiting cycle. The recruiting class was dominated by the offense early in the process as the staff would rack up nine offensive commitments before earning one on the defensive side of the ball. Today UTSA holds 10 defensive commitments and will look to add more before national signing day on February 4th. Let's see how UTSA stacks up at each defensive position.

Safeties: B

Andy Martel - Richmond Foster HS (6'1", 195, 4.51)

CJ Levine - Port Arthur Memorial HS (5'11", 175, 4.79)

This group was looking really special until a Monday night decommitment dropped the strength in numbers to two. Martel was a Houston Touchdown Club finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in the Houston area. Levine decommitted from Houston after UTSA knocked off the Cougars in their new stadium. The ball-hawking safety has created countless turnovers in his career at Port Arthur Memorial. UTSA will be in the hunt for another prep safety after the decommitment of Darryl Godfrey.

Cornerbacks: B

Jacolbie Butler - Pearland HS (5'9", 175, 4.51)

Jacorie Jones - Port Arthur Memorial HS (5'10", 175, 4.69)

Two solid athletes here. Butler is a high school running back that will be making the move to corner in college. It's easy to imagine him as a standout on defense with his quick feet and fluid hips. Jones brings a little bit more size to the table and could be a great, physical defender if he continues to increase his strength. Both athletes will likely redshirt.

Linebackers: B-

Diamon Cannon - Killeen Shoemaker HS (6'1", 198, 4.88)

La'Kel Bass - Hutchinson CC (6'1", 230, 4.7)

I'm of the opinion that UTSA got a huge steal in Cannon so I might rate this unit higher than other pundits. While certainly undersized, Cannon has all of the toughness and instincts a coach could ask for. Bass is a JUCO transfer that will likely provide depth at both outside linebacker and "Dawg" safety. He doesn't have the level of athleticism to replace what Jens Jeters left behind but Bass is a sure tackler that will make the right plays.

Defensive Ends: B+

Baylen Baker - Abilene Wylie HS (6'5", 250)

Tyrone Hunt - Arp HS (6'4", 230)

King Newton - Southlake Carroll HS (6'2", 260)

It's hard not to like the size UTSA is bringing in here. Baker was his district's MVP as a defensive end and Newton inherited an NFL pedigree from his father. Hunt played at a really small school in East Texas and I've had a hard time finding any information on him. UTSA has really knocked their defensive line evaluations out of the park so I'm going to give the staff the benefit of the doubt here.

Defensive Tackles: B-

Jonathan Tuiolosega - Monterrey Peninsula CC (6'2", 300)

Vontrell Williams - Butler CC (6'3", 295)

EDIT: Defensive tackles are getting a score bump from an F to a B- thanks to Vontrell Williams signing just minutes after I posted this article. Williams is a forceful P5 talent that started his career at Illinois. I see him filling Ashaad Mabry's role as a space-stuffing DT. I also think Tuiolosega is going to be a big time contributor in 2015 as a three technique DT. Tuiolosega formerly trained as a wrestler which means he understands body leverage and lower body power generation. With three of the Roadrunners' best defensive tackles now graduated, UTSA will likely need at least one more defensive tackle from the high school ranks.