2012 NFL Draft cornerback rankings: Dre Kirkpatrick ahead of decent class

by Dan Kadar on Sep 16, 2011 10:15 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

It's still early in the college football season, but now is as good of a time to update individual position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.

A lot of the cornerback rankings remain the same – Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick is No. 1 – but the overall feelings on this class are lessened. Kirkpatrick hasn't been great, Virginia's Chase Minniefield has been decent, Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard hasn't played and Janoris Jenkins and Cliff Harris have serious character red flags.

Of course it's early and a lot will change. For now, this is only a start.

Note: The position rankings aren't currently in line with the site's top 200. After each position ranking is released, a new top 200 will be published.

1. Dre Kirkpatrick | 6'2, 190 pounds | CB | Alabama * - Prospect notes

2. Chase Minniefield | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | Virginia - Prospect notes

3. Alfonzo Dennard | 5'10, 205 pounds | CB | Nebraska - Prospect notes

4. Janoris Jenkins | 5'11, 186 pounds | CB | North Alabama - Prospect notes | Red Flag Alert

5. Morris Claiborne | 6'0, 177 pounds | CB | LSU *

6. Stephon Gilmore | 6'1, 190 pounds | CB | South Carolina *- Prospect notes

7. Brandon Boykin | 5'10, 184 pounds | CB | Georgia - Prospect notes

8. Jayron Hosley | 5'10, 170 pounds | CB | Virginia Tech *

9. Cliff Harris | 5'11, 165 pounds | CB | Oregon * - Prospect notes | Red Flag Alert

10. Donnie Fletcher | 6'1, 200 pounds | CB | Boston College

11. Coryell Judie | 5'11, 188 pounds | CB | Texas A&M

12. Casey Hayward | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | Vanderbilt

13. Greg Reid | 5'9, 175 pounds | CB | Florida State *

14. Charles Brown | 5'9, 205 pounds | CB | North Carolina

15. Jamell Fleming | 5'11, 192 pounds | CB | Oklahoma

16. Desmond Trufant | 6'0, 178 pounds | CB | Washington *

17. Keith Tandy | 5'10, 198 pounds | CB | West Virginia

18. Shaun Prater | 5'11, 180 pounds | CB | Iowa

19. De'Quan Menzie | 6'0, 198 pounds | CB | Alabama

20. Josh Robinson | 5'10, 192 pounds | CB | Central Florida *

21. Omar Bolden | 5'10, 195 pounds | CB | Arizona State

22. Brandon McGee | 6'0, 190 pounds | CB | Miami *

23. Isaiah Frey | 6'0, 190 pounds | CB | Nevada

24. Trumaine Johnson | 6'2, 197 pounds | CB | Montana

25. Leonard Johnson | 5'10, 202 pounds | CB | Iowa State

* denotes underclassman

QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | MLB | CB | FS | SS

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Comments

Kirkpatrick

is a tall man. I think he can be a dominant corner at NFL level. Imo, Patrick Peterson had too much attention and altough he is a stud corner, he is not the next Darrelle Revis as many painted him. The same for Kirkpatrick…. who has a chance of becoming a Bronco next draft.

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by Fabio Broncos on Sep 16, 2011 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

From a physical standpoint, yeah Kirkpatrick is a great athlete but he is basically a reincarnation of the Cromartie-s. Great athlete who should shut down players but loses focus and doesn’t have great awareness. And Dre can be out muscled by bigger receivers, check out what Greg Childs did to him last year at some points. He sometimes struggles to find the ball in the air and he’ll lose track of his man (he was beaten a few times in week 1) and he’ll do stupid things like commit pass interference penalties down the field when he doesn’t have to or gamble when he shouldn’t. Plus he is a pretty bad tackler, not a bad hitter, a bad wrap up tackler.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Do you guys think Harris could play FS?

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by manraj7 on Sep 17, 2011 1:51 AM EDT reply actions

That would be like playing Asante Samuel at FS, it just isn’t a fit.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

From a purely on field stand point I don’t think there is any way that Janoris Jenkins shouldn’t be #1. His on the field performance was stellar, he was quick, fluid, instinctive and shut down. I get the feeling that he is going to be the guy that slips and then blows up the NFL if he keeps his head on straight ala DeSean Jackson, Randy Moss and Dez Bryant. He is just supremely talented.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 2:43 AM EDT reply actions

The trouble is the field he’s doing it on this year and why he’s there.

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by Dan Kadar on Sep 17, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Morris Claiborne

Claiborne has been the CB that has impressed me the most so far this season. I know its early and I havent seen all the CBs play but will be keeping my eye on how he performs as the season progresses.

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by SteveUK on Sep 17, 2011 3:03 AM EDT reply actions

The top nine is more tightly packed that people think.

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by Dan Kadar on Sep 17, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

the lack of LSU DBs in the safety and CB prospects is surprising(one in each)

tho it probably means they’re mostly fresh and sophs, which is scary for the SEC.

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by Rorschach44 on Sep 17, 2011 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

LSU’s other corner is a sophomore, and I didn’t include them anywhere.

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by Dan Kadar on Sep 17, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with SteveUK that Claiborne has been the best corner so far

I have been watching him very closely early in the year and he has been a lock down corner who also made an awesome INT on Thursday.

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by seton hall and steelers on Sep 17, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Don't sleep on Texas CBs

Byndom, Phillips, and Diggs are sophomores and a freshman, but they are coming on strong. I expect to see at least two of them on this ranking next year.

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by TexasGarcia37 on Sep 17, 2011 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh,

Nebraska deends Fonzo back desperately. Our young guys are both getting burned. The defense has been pretty soft so far, and not Pelini-like at all. And that’s because we are missing Dennard.