The Speed Demons: Evaluating the Fastest Cornerbacks in College Football

The modern game of college football places a premium on speed, especially at the cornerback position. This article delves into the evaluation of cornerback prospects, focusing on speed and athletic traits while considering other crucial factors that determine success at the highest level.

The Era of Speed

It's safe to say that college football cornerbacks, taken as a whole, possesse as much speed as ever before. Speed has become a defining characteristic, with a significant number of top prospects clocking impressive times in the 40-yard dash. Scouts are paying close attention to these numbers, recognizing the importance of raw speed in today's pass-heavy offenses.

Beyond the 40-Yard Dash: A Comprehensive Evaluation

While the 40-yard dash is a valuable metric, it's crucial to understand that it's just one piece of the puzzle. NFL evaluators emphasize that speed alone doesn't guarantee success. Other factors, such as technique, instincts, ball skills, and physicality, are equally important.

The McGinn System for Timing

To ensure consistency, it's important to note the system for determining a 40 time for each player. The electronic times at the combine are disregarded. The times of a player’s first 40, the average of his second 40 (most run two) and then average the two averages for the number that is assigned for posterity. If a player runs a 40 or two at a pro day, those are averaged as best as possible with his averages at the combine.

The Importance of Explosiveness

Beyond pure speed, explosiveness is also a key trait for cornerbacks. Drills like the broad jump and vertical jump reflect a player's ability to generate power and accelerate quickly.

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Top Cornerback Prospects: A Deep Dive

Here's a closer look at some of the top cornerback prospects, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and overall potential:

Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Measurements: 6-1 ½, 199, 4.39
Strengths: Prototype height-weight-speed, smooth athleticism, confident demeanor.
Weaknesses: Needs to display a little more physicality in his play.
Scouting Report: Gonzalez is a wonderful athlete and a good kid and is a really talented player.

Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Measurements: 5-11 ½, 183, 4.45
Strengths: Presence to him. You know he’s locked in, he’s all about ball.
Weaknesses: Borderline height-weight.
Scouting Report: Witherspoon had a sensational senior season. He contested everything. He’s got a lot of fight.

Joey Porter, Penn State

Measurements: 6-2 ½, 196, 4.41
Strengths: Got all the height-weight-speed you want to be in a first-round corner but his instincts are off.
Weaknesses: Soft.
Scouting Report: He’s one of these guys that you would hope would be a better pro than he was in college.

Deonte Banks, Maryland

Measurements: 6-0, 200, 4.31
Strengths: Talented guy with all the height-weight-speed.
Weaknesses: When his back’s turned to the ball, can he find it?
Scouting Report: Banks has incredible upside. He does not have natural ball skills.

Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Measurements: 6-0 ½, 170, 4.38
Strengths: Incredible ball skills. He is a ball magnet.
Weaknesses: So skinny and narrow.
Scouting Report: Forbes is quick, sudden and a loose athlete. He can mirror guys as well. He’s got a second gear.

Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

McCoy blossomed during his sophomore season. "He's fluid and fast with pretty good results shielding targets." His 11 overall forced incompletions are the most of any returning SEC DB. Specializing as a zone cover corner, only two returning CBs top his 87.5 PFF grade spot dropping.

Julian Humphrey, Texas A&M

A former four-star prospect who spent his first two seasons in Athens. After seeing limited action in a rotational role, the Houston native chose to return to his home state and suit up for the Aggies.

Other Notable Cornerbacks

Leonard Moore
D'Angelo Ponds
Mansoor Delane
Avieon Terrell
Chris Johnson
Josh Moten
Keionte Scott
Malik Muhammad
Tacario Davis
Chandler Rivers
Davison Igbinosun
Jontez Williams
Keith Abney II
Treydan Stukes
Daylen Everette
Domani Jackson
Jeremiah Cooper
Xavier Scott
Ashton Stamps
Ricardo Hallman
Will Lee III
A.J.

The PFF Grading System: A Deeper Dive

PFF assigns a grade for every play to each player during a football game. The benefits of this style of grading are numerous. Taking every play into consideration allows for a larger sample size of data to tell the proper story rather than just a highlight reel of plays that we tend to remember, for better or worse. PFF grades the play, not its result. The plus-minus grades are then converted to a 0-100 scale at the game and season level. This makes it easier to compare players across positions relative to their peers.

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