Covering Ground: Small School Cornerbacks

Janoris Jenkins - CB - North Alabama 5’9 ¾, 191 lbs, He is one of the best corners in the draft. Not many see Janoris as a small school player because of his mishaps in Florida. Jenkins was a starter in Florida for the Gators before being arrested for possession of marijuana. After the second time being caught with possession of marijuana he was dismissed from the team. He is a great cover cornerback who is very solid in coverage. What separates Jenkins from others is not his lock down ability because at times this year at North Alabama he was beat on numerous plays. What separates him is his play on Special Teams. He has had a couple returns for touchdowns and is a very good Special Teams player. He has blocked a field goal and played gunner on punt coverage’s. His stock is growing because he is not in the newspapers anymore. If he learned from his mistakes Janoris he should be taken as the first cornerback in the draft.

Projection: 1st Round

Josh Norman – CB – Coastal Carolina 6’0 3/8, 203 lbs, Josh Is so impressive as a cornerback because of his long arms and recovery speed. He seems to be in the right place at the right time. He broke the record in Coastal Carolina for interceptions in a career which was held by his brother. Josh is very good in coverage, he will get beat on a double move, but he has the speed to recover. As a walk on to Coastal Carolina, his intelligence on and off the field has him rocketing up boards. To me he is the second best small school cornerback, and really impressed me so much throughout the year. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and was so amazing at the East/West Shrine Game. He was invited to the Senior Bowl after an injury to another cornerback and was given a late invite.

Projection: 2nd-3rd Round

Ryan Steed – CB – Furman, 5’10 3/8, 190 lbs, Ryan is one of the most physical corners, I was able to watch this year. He is very good at tackling and probably one of the hardest hitting corners in this years draft class. He was very good against Brian Quick of Appalachian State, where he was able to hold Quick for 2 receptions and 61 yards. To me Ryan’s stock rose when he played Florida in the last game of the season. He was making it so hard for John Brantley and the Gator offense. Brantley couldn’t go his way, because Steed was all over the field. At halftime Furman was making the Gators fight for a win. It was no push over, that showed me that Ryan could play against good level of competition. He had a very strong showing at the Senior Bowl and could be a guy that sky rockets up draft boards and could be the second small school corner taken.

Projection: 2nd-3rd Round

Trumaine Johnson – CB – Montana, 6’1 205, Johnson hasn’t been talked about this year, because he hasn’t been in any all star games. Everyone talks about Janoris Jenkins off the field problems but Trumaine Johnson has been in trouble with the law as well. That is why I moved him down a little behind Steed and Norman. Johnson tried to assist his Quarterback who had swung on a police officer during a post game party. Johnson resisted to get on the ground and was tased by a policeman and taken into custody. Johnson’s skills on the field are great. He is a great corner and could easily play Free Safety as well. He is a bigger, stronger cornerback, who has good hands and can hit. He will be taken in the draft, the question is where? With a good pro day he could easily surpass both Steed and Norman but I still see him being the fourth small school corner off the board.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

Asa Jackson – CB – Cal Poly 5’9 7/8, 193 lbs, Jackson a good zone coverage cornerback, but still needs to work on the press. He looked lost at the Senior Bowl practices, because he couldn’t play on the line against the wide receivers. He was getting abused by Marvin Jones of California in practices, and could have hurt his stock. I don’t see him as a starting lockdown corner in this league, more of a zone coverage corner. He could be a good nickelback in most systems. He always seems to be around the ball, when it is in the air, and has been used on kick returns as well. He could be a special teams guy and used in nickel and dime packages right away, but won’t be a lock down corner, until he can work on his press better.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

Michah Pellerin - CB – Hampton, 6’0 3/8, 195 lbs, Micah is a very good cover corner, who has good ball skills. Micah was a transfer from Southern Mississippi where he was a well respected cover corner coming out of New Orleans, LA. Pellerin over the past couple years in the MEAC has been very good, leading the MEAC with pass break ups, and interceptions over the past three years. Pellerin seems to always be around the ball, and is hungry. He had a very good East/West Shrine game, and looked pretty good in coverage against the better players. I have watched tons of MEAC film and I am not totally sold on Pellerin but he will be drafted, that’s for sure.

Projection:4th-5th Round