As a Cal fan, whenever I see an ATH commit to Cal, I automatically start thinking about whether he will play RB or line up as a WR. After all, I assume they will want to play on the offensive side of the ball as has been the case for the majority of Cal ATH commits.
But where will 2017 ATH commit Jordan Genmark Heath play? After all, he lines up at WR, RB, safety, and on special teams in his highlight reels. So potentially, he could line up at any of those positions as he shows potential and playmaking ability in all of those roles. But, according to Ryan Gorcey of Scout he has been recruited to play safety at Cal.
If that is the case, that would be a tremendous commitment for Cal as it is no secret that Cal could use some help on the defensive side of the ball. So, I will treat this recruit analysis as if Genmark Heath will line up at safety for Cal in the future.
What does Genmark Heath bring to the table? Well, for starters he measures in at a 6’2” 205lb, so he definitely has the size to play safety. And you can see how he uses that size when he plays. He looks big, tough and very physical. He makes solid contact, delivering bone-crushing tackles as he forces multiple fumbles.
Genmark Heath also shows good instincts and intelligence as he seems to read the play early on as it develops, allowing him to be in the right place at the right time. On top of the physicality, toughness, and instincts, Genmark Heath also shows great closing speed and good range making plays from sideline to sideline. What’s not to like about his ability as a run stopper?
We can see those same abilities translate over well to Genmark Heath’s pass coverage. The instincts, being in the right place at the right time, the physicality and toughness, the range and closing speed all bode well for his abilities in pass coverage. He shows good, but not elite, speed, and also shows great ball skills whether he is lining up as a WR or as a safety. He tracks the ball well and shows tremendous hands. It is easy to see him line up as a ball-hawking safety for Cal.
Genmark Heath plays hard, never stopping until the play is over. We see time and time again he chases down an opposing player from behind. A player who consistently plays with that kind of effort will always have a place at Cal. Genmark Heath is the type of tough, physical, athletic player that Cal can use, regardless of where he plays. Whether he ends playing offense or defense, his commitment is a big one for Cal. Though there are a few things that he could work on, namely speed, acceleration and taking the best angle, it is easy to imagine Genmark Heath making big plays for Cal (hopefully on defense) in the near future.