Strengths: aggressiveness, willing tackler, versatility
Weaknesses: turnover production as a corner
Steven Ortiz is a 5’11”, 175-pound defensive back from Goodyear, AZ. Ortiz committed to the Gophers over offers from Oregon, Penn State, Washington, and Washington State. He carries a 5.8 Rivals rank while being 13th at his position and sixth overall in the state of Arizona. Steven finished his junior year totaling 83 tackles, two TFLs, and one interception.
Immediately what jumps out watching Ortiz’s tape is his willingness and aggression in the run game. AT 5’11/6’0”, Ortiz has the physical size to matchup with receivers and does a phenomenal job getting into receiver’s bodies at the line of scrimmage. His instincts to fill in the run game at a big plus as he constantly is aware of potential screens and is more than willing to insert himself.
From watching his sophomore film, he looks a bit more natural at safety in my opinion given his free-range ball abilities and tackling in space. Not to say he can’t become a big-time corner, but from the film that I’ve watched it appears safety or slot corner would be a more natural position for him.
This is a huge get for the Gophers program this early in the recruiting period. Ortiz only virtually visited the campus and has yet to step foot on but was willing to get in the boat. With his network, this will only surely set the stage for other recruits to follow. Steven projects as a multiple year starter and with the loss of Coney Durr and potentially Benjamin St. Juste he will have an opportunity to get playing time day one.
Weaknesses: turnover production as a corner
Steven Ortiz is a 5’11”, 175-pound defensive back from Goodyear, AZ. Ortiz committed to the Gophers over offers from Oregon, Penn State, Washington, and Washington State. He carries a 5.8 Rivals rank while being 13th at his position and sixth overall in the state of Arizona. Steven finished his junior year totaling 83 tackles, two TFLs, and one interception.
Immediately what jumps out watching Ortiz’s tape is his willingness and aggression in the run game. AT 5’11/6’0”, Ortiz has the physical size to matchup with receivers and does a phenomenal job getting into receiver’s bodies at the line of scrimmage. His instincts to fill in the run game at a big plus as he constantly is aware of potential screens and is more than willing to insert himself.
From watching his sophomore film, he looks a bit more natural at safety in my opinion given his free-range ball abilities and tackling in space. Not to say he can’t become a big-time corner, but from the film that I’ve watched it appears safety or slot corner would be a more natural position for him.
This is a huge get for the Gophers program this early in the recruiting period. Ortiz only virtually visited the campus and has yet to step foot on but was willing to get in the boat. With his network, this will only surely set the stage for other recruits to follow. Steven projects as a multiple year starter and with the loss of Coney Durr and potentially Benjamin St. Juste he will have an opportunity to get playing time day one.
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