The Gophers received a commitment from Covington, Georgia safety Darius Green this morning. He is a three-star prospect with an 87 rating, according to 24/7 Sports. Green chose Minnesota over offers from Virginia, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Maryland, Indiana and others.
Minnesota’s staff has consistently valued recruits with versatility and above average athleticism. These type of players can be used creatively in Joe Rossi’s scheme. After the athlete arrives, the Gophers’ coaching staff can decide which position fits them best. In high school, Green was occasionally flexed into the box to take advantage of his physicality. He played safety, linebacker and cornerback in Newton High School’s defense.
Green was very physical in run support and frequently shed to get through blockers. He has shown the athleticism and physicality to cover both wide receivers and tight ends. As he develops in Minnesota, his versatility will be a key asset. From a testing perspective, Green posted an above average 10.62 100-meter track time. This explosiveness and range may allow him to possibly cover the deep half and flex into the box. With the type of things he can do athletically, Green will be an intriguing player to evaluate in Rossi’s defense. He could potentially be used like Chris Williamson within the Gophers’ scheme. While watching tape and looking at Green’s metrics, I saw a few similarities. His developmental track is something I’ll monitor closely over the next couple of seasons.
Here’s a look at Green’s sophomore and junior year film: