This is the finest cornerback class since I've been doing these, going back to 2002. Let's examine, shall we?
Of the top 26 guys in this class:
*Four (4) were taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft
In addition to that, three of these guys (who WEREN'T drafted in 2016) were first-team all-conference, and surely will be taken high in the 2017 NFL Draft.
An absolutely amazing class, any way that you slice it.
Sure enough, in a class where signing star cornerbacks was akin to shooting fish in a barrel, Bo Pelini signed one (1) cornerback in this class - Boaz Joseph. And we wonder why we went through 2015 without a lockdown corner on the roster.
Taken in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft and was a 2x 1st-team All-American
1. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #2 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Florida; Taken #11 overall in the First Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers; Three-time first-team All-SEC and two-time first-team All-American.
3rd Round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2016 NFL Draft
2.) Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #9 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Maryland; Taken in the 3rd Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins; Three-year starter at cornerback for the Hokies and was a 2nd-team All-American in 2014; Missed most of 2015 with a torn meniscus.
Taken fifth-overall in the 2016 NFL Draft
3.) Jalen Ramsey, Florida State; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #10 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Tennessee; Was the 5th-overall player selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars; A three-year starter at cornerback for Florida State; Ramsey was a 2nd-team All-American in 2014 and also won the ACC Long Jump Championship with a leap of 26' 1.5" (7.96m), only 3 inches short of the automatic qualifying mark for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials; Went to the same HS (Brentwood Academy in Nashville, TN) as former Husker DE Barry Turner.
Three-year starter at corner for LSU and a Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2015
4.) Tre'Davious White, Louisiana State; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #18 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Louisiana; Second-team All-SEC in 2015 and a Thorpe Award semifinalist; Has started in 34 of 36 career games at LSU; Has 126 tackles, four interceptions and 19 PBUs in his career, and also served as LSU's primary punt returner in 2014 and 2015.
5.) Chris Hawkins, Southern Cal; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #34 on the Rivals 100, 10th-best prospect in California; USC's starting free safety in 2015, and had 70 tackles and 2 INTs on the season; Started the first four games of the 2014 season at cornerback and spent the rest of the season as a reserve; Redshirted in 2013.
6.) Cameron Burrows, Ohio State; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #39 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Ohio; Missed the 2nd half of 2015 after surgery to repair his foot; Has spent time as a key reserve at both cornerback and safety for the Buckeyes.
Taken in the 2nd Round of the 2016 NFL Draft
7.) Mackensie Alexander, Clemson; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #42 on the Rivals 100, 8th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings; Was first-team All-ACC and 3rd-team All-American in 2015.
Tenth player selected overall in the 2016 NFL Draft
8.) Eli Apple, Ohio State; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #89 on the Rivals 100, 3rd-best prospect in New Jersey; Was taken in the first round (10th-overall selection) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Giants; After red-shirting in 2013, Apple was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, and was 2nd-team All-Big ten in 2015.
9.) Antwuan Davis, Texas; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #98 on the Rivals 100, 11th-best prospect in Texas; Has played in 21 career games with five starts; Lost his starting job midway through the 2015 season; Looks like yet another overrated Longhorns recruiting bust.
First-team All-Big Ten in 2015
10.) Jourdan Lewis, Michigan; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #131 on the Rivals 250, 3rd-best prospect in Michigan; Starting cornerback for Michigan in 2015 and was first-team All-Big 10 and second-team All-American; Started 7 games in 2014, and appeared in 8 games as a true freshman in 2013 as a reserve.
11.) Cole Luke, Notre Dame; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #133 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Arizona; Two-year starter for Notre Dame; Had 41 tackles and 2 INTs in 2015.
12.) Maurice Smith, Alabama; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #143 on the Rivals 250, 18th-best prospect in Texas; Has made two starts at cornerback over the past three seasons in Tuscaloosa; Has 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in his career; Has been the backup dime back over the past two seasons and plays a lot on special teams; Has had shoulder problems.
13.) John Johnson, UCLA; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #169 on the Rivals 250, 25th-best prospect in California; Saw action in 10 games and made five starts in 2015; Did not see the field in 2013 or 2014.
14.) Tim Harris, Virginia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #179 on the Rivals 250, 11th-best prospect in Virginia; Has started 21 games at cornerback over the past 3 seasons for UVa; Missed time with a shoulder injury in 2015; Has 79 tackles and 2 INTs in his career.
First round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers
15.) Artie Burns, UMiami; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #187 on the Rivals 250, 28th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the first round (25th selection overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers; Two-year starter for the Canes and was 2nd-team All-ACC in 2015; Was also an All-American hurdler for UMiami's track team.
Recently got booted from U-La-La - his third program in three years
16.) Jeryl Brazil, Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #193 on the Rivals 250, 7th-best prospect in Louisiana; Was booted off the Louisiana-Lafayette football team last December; Spent 2014 at East Mississippi Community College; Was booted from LSU after the 2013 season after three (3) arrests in a three-month period.
Two-time All-Big Ten and one of the best return guys in the country
17.) Will Likely, Maryland; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #203 on the Rivals 250, 33rd-best prospect in Florida; Two-year starter at cornerback for the Terps; First-team All-Big Ten in both 2014 and 2015; He led the nation in combined return yards (1,197), despite playing only 11 games in 2015.
Younger brother of former LSU QB Jordan Jefferson
18.) Rickey Jefferson; Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #205 on the Rivals 250, 8th-best prospect in Louisiana; Starter at free safety in 2015 while Jalen Mills was out with injury; In 31 career games, has 60 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 sack, and 7 PBUs; Younger brother of former LSU QB Jordan Jefferson.
19.) Noel Ellis, Texas A&M; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #215 on the Rivals 250, 9th-best prospect in Louisiana; Appeared in 12 games in 2015, registering 17 tackles and a sack; Redshirted in 2014 and was a reserve in 2013.
20.) Jermaine Kelly, Washington; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #225 on the Rivals 250, 27th-best prospect in California; Now at San Jose State; Started two games at CB for Washington in 2014 before suffering a season-ending injury; Redshirted in 2013.
Now at FCS Lamar University in Texas
21.) Brendan Langley, Georgia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #233 on the Rivals 250, 16th-best prospect in Georgia; Now at FCS Lamar University, where he is a starting CB; Did not play in 2014 and appeared in 9 games for UGa in 2013.
22.) Ross Douglas, Michigan; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #241 on the Rivals 250, 14th-best prospect in Ohio; Transferred to Rutgers this past winter; Douglas appeared in 16 games during his Michigan career. In 2015 he ran the ball 10 times for a total of 18 yards; He switched back and forth from DB to running back, but never managed to make a dent in the depth chart.
23.) Reggie Wilkerson, Georgia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 41st-best prospect in Florida; Reserve CB for UGa in 2015 and had 11 tackles and 1 INT; Blew out his ACL in the summer of 2013 and missed all of 2013 and all but one game of 2014.
Starting corner for Cal in 2015
24.) Darius Allensworth, Cal; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 30th-best prospect in California; Starting corner for Cal in 2015; Had 41 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1 INT in 2015; Was a reserve in 2014 and redshirted in 2013.
25.) Dashon Hunt, Oregon State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 38th-best prospect in California; Was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis; Was plagued by injuries during his two seasons in Corvallis.
Taken in the 4th Round of the 2016 NFL Draft, despite having been suspended for the past 18 months
26.) Rashard Robinson, Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 45th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the 4th Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers; Started eight games, all at cornerback for LSU; Finished career with 33 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups; Suspended from team the week of the Alabama game in 2014 and never returned to the squad.
Of the top 26 guys in this class:
*Four (4) were taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft
*One was taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft
In addition to that, three of these guys (who WEREN'T drafted in 2016) were first-team all-conference, and surely will be taken high in the 2017 NFL Draft.
An absolutely amazing class, any way that you slice it.
Sure enough, in a class where signing star cornerbacks was akin to shooting fish in a barrel, Bo Pelini signed one (1) cornerback in this class - Boaz Joseph. And we wonder why we went through 2015 without a lockdown corner on the roster.
Taken in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft and was a 2x 1st-team All-American
1. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #2 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Florida; Taken #11 overall in the First Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers; Three-time first-team All-SEC and two-time first-team All-American.
3rd Round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2016 NFL Draft
2.) Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #9 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Maryland; Taken in the 3rd Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins; Three-year starter at cornerback for the Hokies and was a 2nd-team All-American in 2014; Missed most of 2015 with a torn meniscus.
Taken fifth-overall in the 2016 NFL Draft
3.) Jalen Ramsey, Florida State; 5-star, 6.1 RR, #10 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Tennessee; Was the 5th-overall player selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars; A three-year starter at cornerback for Florida State; Ramsey was a 2nd-team All-American in 2014 and also won the ACC Long Jump Championship with a leap of 26' 1.5" (7.96m), only 3 inches short of the automatic qualifying mark for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials; Went to the same HS (Brentwood Academy in Nashville, TN) as former Husker DE Barry Turner.
Three-year starter at corner for LSU and a Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2015
4.) Tre'Davious White, Louisiana State; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #18 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Louisiana; Second-team All-SEC in 2015 and a Thorpe Award semifinalist; Has started in 34 of 36 career games at LSU; Has 126 tackles, four interceptions and 19 PBUs in his career, and also served as LSU's primary punt returner in 2014 and 2015.
5.) Chris Hawkins, Southern Cal; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #34 on the Rivals 100, 10th-best prospect in California; USC's starting free safety in 2015, and had 70 tackles and 2 INTs on the season; Started the first four games of the 2014 season at cornerback and spent the rest of the season as a reserve; Redshirted in 2013.
6.) Cameron Burrows, Ohio State; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #39 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Ohio; Missed the 2nd half of 2015 after surgery to repair his foot; Has spent time as a key reserve at both cornerback and safety for the Buckeyes.
Taken in the 2nd Round of the 2016 NFL Draft
7.) Mackensie Alexander, Clemson; 4-star, 6.0 RR, #42 on the Rivals 100, 8th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings; Was first-team All-ACC and 3rd-team All-American in 2015.
Tenth player selected overall in the 2016 NFL Draft
8.) Eli Apple, Ohio State; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #89 on the Rivals 100, 3rd-best prospect in New Jersey; Was taken in the first round (10th-overall selection) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Giants; After red-shirting in 2013, Apple was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, and was 2nd-team All-Big ten in 2015.
9.) Antwuan Davis, Texas; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #98 on the Rivals 100, 11th-best prospect in Texas; Has played in 21 career games with five starts; Lost his starting job midway through the 2015 season; Looks like yet another overrated Longhorns recruiting bust.
First-team All-Big Ten in 2015
10.) Jourdan Lewis, Michigan; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #131 on the Rivals 250, 3rd-best prospect in Michigan; Starting cornerback for Michigan in 2015 and was first-team All-Big 10 and second-team All-American; Started 7 games in 2014, and appeared in 8 games as a true freshman in 2013 as a reserve.
11.) Cole Luke, Notre Dame; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #133 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Arizona; Two-year starter for Notre Dame; Had 41 tackles and 2 INTs in 2015.
12.) Maurice Smith, Alabama; 4-star, 5.9 RR, #143 on the Rivals 250, 18th-best prospect in Texas; Has made two starts at cornerback over the past three seasons in Tuscaloosa; Has 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in his career; Has been the backup dime back over the past two seasons and plays a lot on special teams; Has had shoulder problems.
13.) John Johnson, UCLA; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #169 on the Rivals 250, 25th-best prospect in California; Saw action in 10 games and made five starts in 2015; Did not see the field in 2013 or 2014.
14.) Tim Harris, Virginia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #179 on the Rivals 250, 11th-best prospect in Virginia; Has started 21 games at cornerback over the past 3 seasons for UVa; Missed time with a shoulder injury in 2015; Has 79 tackles and 2 INTs in his career.
First round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers
15.) Artie Burns, UMiami; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #187 on the Rivals 250, 28th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the first round (25th selection overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers; Two-year starter for the Canes and was 2nd-team All-ACC in 2015; Was also an All-American hurdler for UMiami's track team.
Recently got booted from U-La-La - his third program in three years
16.) Jeryl Brazil, Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #193 on the Rivals 250, 7th-best prospect in Louisiana; Was booted off the Louisiana-Lafayette football team last December; Spent 2014 at East Mississippi Community College; Was booted from LSU after the 2013 season after three (3) arrests in a three-month period.
Two-time All-Big Ten and one of the best return guys in the country
17.) Will Likely, Maryland; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #203 on the Rivals 250, 33rd-best prospect in Florida; Two-year starter at cornerback for the Terps; First-team All-Big Ten in both 2014 and 2015; He led the nation in combined return yards (1,197), despite playing only 11 games in 2015.
Younger brother of former LSU QB Jordan Jefferson
18.) Rickey Jefferson; Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #205 on the Rivals 250, 8th-best prospect in Louisiana; Starter at free safety in 2015 while Jalen Mills was out with injury; In 31 career games, has 60 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 sack, and 7 PBUs; Younger brother of former LSU QB Jordan Jefferson.
19.) Noel Ellis, Texas A&M; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #215 on the Rivals 250, 9th-best prospect in Louisiana; Appeared in 12 games in 2015, registering 17 tackles and a sack; Redshirted in 2014 and was a reserve in 2013.
20.) Jermaine Kelly, Washington; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #225 on the Rivals 250, 27th-best prospect in California; Now at San Jose State; Started two games at CB for Washington in 2014 before suffering a season-ending injury; Redshirted in 2013.
Now at FCS Lamar University in Texas
21.) Brendan Langley, Georgia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #233 on the Rivals 250, 16th-best prospect in Georgia; Now at FCS Lamar University, where he is a starting CB; Did not play in 2014 and appeared in 9 games for UGa in 2013.
22.) Ross Douglas, Michigan; 4-star, 5.8 RR, #241 on the Rivals 250, 14th-best prospect in Ohio; Transferred to Rutgers this past winter; Douglas appeared in 16 games during his Michigan career. In 2015 he ran the ball 10 times for a total of 18 yards; He switched back and forth from DB to running back, but never managed to make a dent in the depth chart.
23.) Reggie Wilkerson, Georgia; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 41st-best prospect in Florida; Reserve CB for UGa in 2015 and had 11 tackles and 1 INT; Blew out his ACL in the summer of 2013 and missed all of 2013 and all but one game of 2014.
Starting corner for Cal in 2015
24.) Darius Allensworth, Cal; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 30th-best prospect in California; Starting corner for Cal in 2015; Had 41 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1 INT in 2015; Was a reserve in 2014 and redshirted in 2013.
25.) Dashon Hunt, Oregon State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 38th-best prospect in California; Was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis; Was plagued by injuries during his two seasons in Corvallis.
Taken in the 4th Round of the 2016 NFL Draft, despite having been suspended for the past 18 months
26.) Rashard Robinson, Louisiana State; 4-star, 5.8 RR, 45th-best prospect in Florida; Taken in the 4th Round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers; Started eight games, all at cornerback for LSU; Finished career with 33 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups; Suspended from team the week of the Alabama game in 2014 and never returned to the squad.
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