USA TODAY International Edition
Corner class has star potential
As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY Sports is providing rankings for each position group. Today: cornerbacks.
1. MARSHON LATTIMORE, OHIO STATE
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 193. Last season’s film supported Lattimore’s hype as the top athlete at the position, and his performance at the NFL scouting combine backed that up. Lattimore’s 4.36- second 40- yard dash showed he has the straight- line speed to match with any receiver. Injuries have been a concern throughout his career, but Lattimore has the ideal size ( and 311⁄ 4- inch arms) and skill set to be not only the first corner taken but also an immediate contributor.
2. MARLON HUMPHREY, ALABAMA
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 197. Just like the player ahead of him, Humphrey has a tantalizing combination of size and skills. He comes from a Nick Saban defense that requires a lot from its cornerbacks, and Humphrey flashed physicality and competitiveness that NFL coaches are going to love. He can fit in right away for teams that play zone, as well as ones that need a press- man lockdown corner. Before he can become a star, though, Humphrey will need to hone his technique and not rely so much on his athleticism.
3. GAREON CONLEY, OHIO STATE
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 195. Another Buckeye cracks the top three, and with good reason. Conley has prototypical size and posted a 4.44- second 40- yard dash and a 37- inch vertical leap that will entice NFL defensive coordinators. Using that size, Conley excels at playing close to receivers at the line of scrimmage in press- man coverage. He should play early as a likely first- round pick, but he’s a liability in run support.
4. TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE, LSU
Ht., wt.: 5- 11, 192. Relative to his peers in this draft class, White has a wealth of experience and an impressive body of work. He stepped in as a starter for the Tigers in the third game of his freshman year and never looked back. He capped his career with a consensus firstteam All- American season, and he has experience playing outside and in the slot. White isn’t the tallest corner, but he has the length needed to play as a rookie. He excels in man coverage but lacks a physical presence in run support. Speed and versatility, as well as experience at LSU as a punt returner and gunner, could make him a special- teams standout, too.
5. SIDNEY JONES, WASHINGTON
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 186.
If not for an injury suffered at his pro day — a torn Achilles ligament on his left foot — Jones would be ranked second on this list. With a long road to recovery, however, there’s uncertainty about whether Jones will be ready for the start of the season, though surgeon Robert Anderson told USA TODAY Sports teams can anticipate Jones will be back on the field this season. He is a long and athletic player who thrives on competition and has excellent ball skills, but he needs to add bulk to his frame.
6. QUINCY WILSON, FLORIDA
Ht., wt.: 6- 1, 211. With prototypical size, Wilson has the build coaches love. What he might not have, however, is a natural position. Depending on which team drafts him, Wilson could end up at safety. But while with the Gators, he excelled as a cornerback with aggressive and competitive play. He disrupts the timing of routes by engaging receivers at the line of scrimmage, but he might need to tweak the way he uses his hands to avoid being flagged in the NFL. Still, Wilson has the mind- set to be a player who can step in from Day 1.
7. CHIDOBE AWUZIE, COLORADO
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 202. Awuzie not only has the confidence and swagger many coaches love in their cornerbacks, but he also backs up his bravado with elite athleticism. He might be a perfect fit in the slot but also has experience on the outside. He’s a natural athlete who does an excellent job of shadowing receivers and not letting them get too much separation. A 40- yard dash time of 4.43 seconds and broad jump of 11 feet highlight an explosiveness that should allow him to compete for playing time right away.
8. ADOREE’ JACKSON, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Ht., wt.: 5- 10, 186. Not only is Jackson a natural athlete at corner, but he also has experience as a receiver on offense and a return man on special teams. Once he became a fulltime cornerback with the Trojans, his coverage skills steadily improved. Because of his smallish size, Jackson might be best suited as a slot corner in the NFL. Still, he boasts immense potential as an ascending player. And with eight career touchdown returns on special teams, he should field punts and kickoffs as a rookie.
9. TEEZ TABOR, FLORIDA
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 199. A disappointing 40- yard dash time ( 4.62) at the NFL scouting combine likely knocked Tabor down the draft boards of a few teams. That only intensified worries that he’d struggle against speedy receivers in the NFL. Still, Tabor has the size and athleticism needed to make plays as a corner. Nine career interceptions at Florida show he has the ball skills and coverage ability to match receivers from the snap.
10. FABIAN MOREAU, UCLA
Ht., wt.: 6- 0, 206. A former running back who converted to cornerback as a freshman, Moreau steadily improved while with the Bruins. Now, he’s ready to translate his superb athleticism to the next level. A 4.35- second 40- yard dash, 38- inch vertical leap and 11- 4 broad jump at the scouting combine showed that Moreau is one of the best athletes available, not only at cornerback but also in the entire draft. Moreau has the frame to play at the next level. What he needs is some time to learn the intricacies of the position and expand his repertoire of coverages and techniques, although a torn chest muscle suffered at his pro- day workout likely will keep him on the sideline for a big chunk of his future team’s offseason program.