Rick O'Brien: Rating the area's top cornerbacks

We're nearing the end of our position-by-position tour of the local football scene. This week, we rank the top cornerbacks in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

In compiling this top-10 list, which we cranked up to 12, we took into consideration coverage ability, open-field tackling, skill at supporting the run defense, and potential to excel at the next level.

Please note that we decided not to include players we ranked among the best at their respective positions on offense, although some of those players may wind up playing defense in college.

For cornerbacks, that group includes Cardinal O'Hara's Corey Brown, Chestnut Hill Academy's Ibraheim Campbell, and West Chester Rustin's Rondell White. All three are standout rushers and multipurpose contributors.

1. Anthony Robey, Norristown, senior, 6-0, 175. Clocked at 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Robey is able to drape receivers and close quickly on the ball. The Temple recruit intercepted five passes this season. On offense, he had 21 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns.

2. Jason Wrigley, North Penn, senior, 5-foot-11, 185. His coverage skills, anticipation and sure tackling have helped the Knights post two shutouts and limit foes to an average of 9.2 points per game.

3. Austin Kevitch, Germantown Academy, senior, 6-1, 185. Opposing quarterbacks usually threw away from this poised performer. Kevitch, who doubled as a QB, was terrific in man-to-man coverage.

4. Laquan Robinson, Chester, senior, 5-11, 180. A speedster who also plays hoops, he split time between cornerback and free safety. Always lined up against the opponent's top receiver, he notched two interceptions.

5. Kyran Kervick, Neshaminy, senior, 5-10, 160. With his gritty and aggressive play, Kervick helped the Redskins to a 9-3 record and another PIAA District 1 Class AAAA playoff berth.

6. Tommy Woodward, Downingtown West, senior, 5-11, 170. In a 26-14 win over Downingtown East on Oct. 23, Woodward intercepted four passes in the final 14 minutes. He returned the second pick 62 yards for a score.

7. Alex Nicolino, Ridley, senior, 5-8, 160. A rock-solid cover guy and tackler, he has played a key role in the Green Raiders' drive to the District 1 AAAA semifinals. Nicolino had six catches, including a 13-yard TD, in Friday's win over Unionville.

8. Vinny Migliarese, La Salle, senior, 5-11, 165. He showed his pass-coverage skills in Friday's Catholic League final versus St. Joseph's Prep, fighting off the intended receiver along the sideline while registering a third-quarter interception.

9. Wally "Boomer" Spencer, Malvern Prep, senior, 5-9, 150. A ball-hawking defender who could assist in thwarting the run, Spencer helped the Friars earn a share of the Inter-Academic League championship.

10. Aden Twer, Jenkintown, senior, 6-0, 185. Able to play cornerback, safety or outside linebacker for the Drakes, he was as versatile as they come. As a wideout, Twer had 30 catches for 715 yards.

11. Kushmir Miller, St. Joseph's Prep, senior, 5-11, 165. A first-team all-Catholic League AAAA selection, Miller, who has two interceptions this season, does not allow wideouts much free space.

12. Jackson Place, Episcopal Academy, senior, 6-0, 180. Place, also used at safety, was a consistent performer for the young Churchmen. He was a part-time running back.

Twenty others to watch (listed alphabetically): Scott Adkins, Archbishop Wood, senior, 5-9, 170; Joshua Bangura, Dobbins, senior, 6-1, 190; Angelo Berry, Pottsgrove, senior, 5-6, 185; Ryan Bond, Conwell-Egan, senior, 5-8, 175; Matt Conroy, Bishop McDevitt, junior, 6-1, 180; Andrew Coyle, Souderton, senior, 5-10, 165; Kevin Deal, Abington, senior, 5-10, 160; Adam Dempsey, Cardinal O'Hara, junior, 5-10, 185; Ben Eckroth, Hill School, senior, 6-0, 175; Mike Johnson, Unionville, senior, 6-2, 165; Lee Kurfis, West Chester Rustin, senior, 6-2, 180; Tyrell Martin, Frankford, senior, 5-8, 180; Kaleen Nash, Upper Dublin, senior, 5-9, 165; Maurice Nelson, Chester, junior, 5-9, 160; English Peay, George Washington, junior, 5-11, 155; Dennis Regan, Roman Catholic, junior, 5-11, 175; Kurt Roberts, Quakertown, senior, 5-11, 175; StephonSingleton, North Catholic, senior, 5-6, 135; Kevin Toner, Father Judge, senior, 5-10, 150; Ryan White, Marple Newtown, junior, 5-11, 175.

Omissions. In listing the area's top linebackers on Thursday, we inadvertently left out the names of two players certainly worth watching: St. Joseph's Prep senior Steve O'Hara (6-2, 195) and Chester senior Ronell Williams (6-1, 225).

O'Hara, a second-team all-Catholic selection, joined Mike Labor and freshman Jared Alwan to make up an elite-level linebacking corps. He also chipped in as a fullback.

For the Clippers, Williams posted a team-high 131 tackles, including 23 for losses. He is getting looked at by Villanova.