Rick O'Brien: Rating Southeastern Pennsylvania's top cornerbacks

We continue with our position-by-position rankings, this week grading the area's top cornerbacks.

In compiling this subjective top-10 list, we took into consideration coverage ability, open-field tackling, skill at supporting against the run, and potential to succeed at the next level.

1. Daryl Worley, Penn Charter, senior, 6-foot-2, 165. Depending on the alignment, the West Virginia commit, who also made an impact as a wide receiver and kick returner, lined up at cornerback or safety.

2. John Reid, St. Joseph's Prep, sophomore, 5-10, 175. With five interceptions, Reid has scholarship offers from Boston College, Central Florida, Colorado, Maryland, and Rutgers. Alabama and LSU have made inquiries.

3. Najee Goode, Imhotep Charter, senior, 5-10, 170. With his aggressiveness, Goode has drawn interest from Massachusetts, Old Dominion, Stony Brook, Toledo, and Towson.

4. Spencer Rymiszewski, West Chester Henderson, senior, 6-0, 180. He has a scholarship offer from Coastal Carolina. James Madison, Navy, and William and Mary are also involved.

5. Terrell Smith, Episcopal Academy, junior, 5-11, 165. With his speed and instincts, Smith, who made three picks, will likely wind up playing on at least the Division I-AA level.

6. Dad Poquie, La Salle, senior, 5-10, 180. His intensity and sure tackling earned him first-team all-Catholic League Class AAAA honors for the second straight year.

7. John Kim, Pennridge, senior, 5-10, 170. With Kim as a lockdown defender, the Rams went 7-0 en route to the Suburban One League Continental Conference title.

8. Shaquille James, West Catholic, senior, 5-9, 150. He also sparked the Burrs as a wide receiver, making 32 catches for a team-high 576 yards and seven touchdowns.

9. Ryon Muse, Pennsbury, senior, 5-7, 155. He played a key role in the Falcons' drive to the Suburban One League National Conference championship.

10. Michael Fowler, Pottsgrove, sophomore., 5-10, 165. He was always assigned to defend the opponent's top wideout.

Twenty others to watch, listed alphabetically: Cyrus Barlee, Upper Darby, jr., 5-9, 185; Devon Brown, Neshaminy, jr., 5-11, 170; Brandon Feamster, Downingtown East, sr., 6-2, 180; Phil Gore, Abington, sr., 5-8, 160; Cory Grabowski, Plymouth Whitemarsh, sr., 6-0, 165; Kyle Lowery, Methacton, jr., 5-10, 165; Hannibal Mathis, Haverford School, sr., 6-0, 185; Pat McCabe, St. Joseph's Prep, sr., 6-2, 190; Ahjavon Patrick, Cheltenham, sr., 6-0, 175; Chris Rocco, La Salle, sr., 5-10, 160; Bobby Romano, Archbishop Ryan, jr., 5-11, 160; Matt Rushton, Episcopal Academy, sr., 5-11, 185; Jared Shoemaker, Spring-Ford, jr., 5-11, 155; Chris Simmons, Interboro, sr., 6-5, 180; Kendall Singleton, Archbishop Wood, jr., 6-0, 165; Mike Smoluk, Ridley, sr., 5-10, 180; Marcus Sydnor, Haverford High, sr., 5-10, 150; Joe Taylor, Germantown Academy, sr., 6-0, 155; Jaishan Thornton, Haverford High, jr., 5-7, 165; Nyeem Thrones, Imhotep Charter, jr., 5-9, 170.

Quotable. Cheltenham's Joe Gro, on Plymouth Whitemarsh fullback Corey Kelly, a 1,400-yarder rusher: "He gets every tough yard you need. And he can also break out of the pack for a big gain."

Notes. Pennridge junior halfback Mike Class, who rushed for 2,400-plus yards and 32 touchdowns this season, has been contacted by Penn State and Boston College. . . . In 11 outings, St. Joseph's Prep's defense allowed only two rushing TDs (both on quarterback sneaks) and scored seven touchdowns. The unit loses eight of 11 starters. Expected back in 2013 are cornerback John Reid, tackle Joe DuMond, and free safety Tom Johnson. . . . Outside linebacker Jake Anderson (nine) and strong safety Jordan Majors (seven) combined for 16 tackles in Malvern Prep's Thanksgiving Day loss to St. Joe's Prep. Majors also made his sixth interception of the season. . . . Upper Moreland's Rob Knox carried 127 times for 1,437 yards and 15 TDs this season. . . . Cheltenham senior Jonathan Howard, a 6-3, 205-pound two-way end, improved significantly after dropping about 45 pounds in the offseason. . . . Pottsgrove tailback Mark Dukes and QB Tory Hudgins rushed for a combined 2,608 yards and 45 touchdowns. Their two-year totals: 5,185 yards and 82 TDs. . . . Council Rock North freshman QB Brandon McIlwain passed for 1,370 yards and nine TDs. He rushed for 715 yards and 11 TDs. . . . Through 12 games, West Chester Henderson strong safety Phil Mitten had recorded 77 tackles and two interceptions. He and twin brother Chris, a running back and outside linebacker for the Warriors, are headed to Providence for lacrosse.