College cornerbacks to watch in 2012

Kansas State's Nigel Malone

With veterans Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason both in the final years of their contracts, and sophomores Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright still huge question marks at this point in their careers, one could say the cornerback position may be the San Diego Chargers’ biggest need heading into next offseason. This year’s crop of college cornerbacks appears to be deep with talent, so San Diego general manager A.J. Smith should definitely keep both of his eyes on the following prospects:

1.      North Carolina State’s David Amerson: At 6-3, 194 pounds, there’s little doubt he’s going into this fall, his junior year, as the best cornerback prospect in the nation. He had a monster year in 2011, putting up the astounding number of 13 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Unsurprisingly, he was named a first-team All-American by both ESPN and Walter Camp and made first-team All-ACC. What was surprising was how he was wasn’t a Heisman Trophy candidate, although he did capture the Jack Tatum Award, which is given to the country’s top defensive back. If he produces another stellar season, he should be a top-five pick next April.

2.      Kansas State’s Nigel Malone: This 5-10, 185-pound senior was named a Walter Camp second-team All-American and voted first-team All-Big 12 by the coaches in 2011 after posting 58 tackles, 17 passes defended, seven interceptions, and a fumble recovery. That was outstanding work for a player who transferred to Kansas State from City College of San Francisco last year. It will be interesting to see if he pulls off a repeat performance or even improves in 2012.

3.      Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu: He was just kicked off the Tigers’ football team for violating team rules recently. Yet, given his athletic prowess, I assume he’ll be playing somewhere this fall, as any lower-level school would be lucky to have him transfer into its program.

Very much undersized at 5-9, 182 pounds, this dynamic talent was perhaps the best and most exciting player in all of college football last season. Nicknamed “The Honey Badger”, he had 76 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, a sack, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries (two of which he returned for touchdowns), and two interceptions. In addition, he returned two punts for scores. Although some will be turned off by his lack of ideal height, Mathieu, who was a Heisman candidate last season, is clearly among the top cornerbacks in the nation heading into his junior year.   

4.      Alabama’s DeMarcus Milliner: A 6-1, 199-pound junior, he had 27 tackles, 12 passes defended, and three interceptions last year. Some believe he has more natural talent than former teammate Dre Kirkpatrick, who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of this past April’s draft. If Millner’s talent translates to the field this season, perhaps he’ll be yet another Crimson Tide defensive back to go in the first round.

5.      Mississippi State’s Jonathan Banks: At 6-2, 185 pounds, he’s considered a first-round talent with nice speed for his size. A senior, he’s about to enter his fourth year as a starter. He has 12 interceptions, three pick-sixes, and 19 pass breakups thus far in his college career. He’s also unafraid to take down ball-carriers, as evidenced with his 71 tackles in 2011.

6.      Michigan State’s Johnny Adams: About to be a third-year starter, this 5-11, 175-pound senior had 51 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, and six pass breakups last season. He has eight interceptions thus far in his college career, turning those thefts into 219 return yards while showing the ability to make big plays.

7.      Texas’s Carrington Byndom: A physical corner at 6-0, 180 pounds, Byndom, a junior, had 58 tackles, eight tackles for losses, two interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and a forced fumble last season. His effort led to him making the All-Big 12 first team.

8.      Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller: A junior, he played a nickelback/linebacker position for the Hokies last season and produced 65 tackles, 14.5 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He’s expected to play cornerback full time in 2012.

9.      Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes: At 6-2, 209 pounds, he has the ideal size to play cornerback in the NFL. In 2010 he had a dominant freshman season, collecting four interceptions and breaking up 12 passes. He fell back a bit last year, though, as he had just one interception and four pass breakups. He’ll look to bounce back this fall as a junior.

10.  San Diego State’s Leon McFadden: This 5-10, 190-pound senior was named first-team All-Mountain West in 2011 after posting an outstanding 17 passes defended. He also produced 46 tackles, three tackles for losses, a sack, and two interceptions. He’s one of the more underrated players in the nation.

11.  Miami’s Brandon McGee: At 6-0, 190 pounds, this senior is considered a very good cover man and strong tackler. In 2011 he had 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for losses, a sack, and an interception.

"I'm excited about him," Miami head coach Al Golden said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "He started to develop a little more confidence and comfort level with the defense. He's being a more physical player, not just with his jams [at the line of scrimmage but with being a better tackler."

12.  Washington’s Desmond Trufant: This 6-0, 185-pound senior is going into his fourth year as a starter and led the Huskies’ defense with 16 passes defended in 2011. He also had 64 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. All that production led to him earning All-PAC-12 honorable mention.

13.  Iowa’s Micah Hyde: This 6-1, 190-pound senior has also seen time at free safety, and he has seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups in his college career. Going into this third year as a starter, he’s also shown he can take ball-carriers to the ground, as evidenced with his 154 tackles over the last two seasons.

14.  Mississippi State’s Corey Broomfield: At 5-10, 180 pounds this senior is going into his third year as a starter. He didn’t record an interception last season, but he has nine picks and 14 pass breakups thus far in his college career.

15.  Vanderbilt’s Trey Wilson: This 5-11, 195-pound senior had 30 tackles, 11 passes defended, and three interceptions last season. Two of those interceptions were pick-sixes.

16.  South Florida’s Kayvon Webster: Entering his fourth season as a starter, this 5-11, 198-pound senior had 49 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions in 2011.

17.  Oregon State’s Jordan Poyer: This 6-0, 190-pound senior is about to go into his third year as a starter and was named a team captain by head coach Mike Riley (remember him?). Poyer had 57 tackles, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups last season.

18.  Purdue’s Ricardo Allen: A bit undersized at 5-9, 186 pounds, he was voted second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches last season after collecting 81 tackles, three tackles for losses, seven passes defended, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. As a junior, he’s entering his third year as a starter.

19.  Connecticut’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson: A team captain, this 6-2, 190-pound redshirt senior had 37 tackles, two tackles for losses, a half-a-sack, nine passes defended, and two interceptions last season.

20.  Houston’s D.J. Hayden: A 6-0, 190-pound senior, he had 66 tackles, eight tackles for losses, a sack, 13 passes defended, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His versatility led him to earning second-team All-Conference USA.

21.  Northern Illinois’ Jimmie Ward: A second-team All-MAC selection, this 5-11, 192-pound junior had 100 tackles, 2.5 tackles for losses, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick last year. He also blocked a school-record three punts as a freshman in 2010.

22.  UCLA’s Aaron Hester and Sheldon Price: The 6-1, 207-pound Hester, a senior, is a strong tackler, as he finished fourth on the team last season, with 57. He also had two tackles for losses, eight passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble. At 6-2, 180 pounds, Price, also a senior, is heading into his fourth year a starter. In 2011 he had 47 tackles, a tackle for loss, eight passes defended, an interception, and two forced fumbles.

23.  Florida Atlantic’s Keith Reaser: A 6-0, 190-pound redshirt junior, he had 61 tackles, 2.5 tackles for losses, nine passes defended, and two interceptions in 2011. He also has experience returning kicks.

Since the Chargers appear to be very thin at cornerback right now, and considering Cason and Jammer may not return to San Diego next season, it’s not a stretch to state that Smith will have to either spend big money on a free agent when the signing period begins next spring or select a corner sometime in the first two rounds in April. It appears he’ll have plenty of talent to choose from at the position.