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2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Cornerbacks

The top 2014 cornerback prospects available for the 2013 NFL Draft. * - denotes 2015 prospect. ** - denotes 2016 prospect.

This page was last updated Sept. 18, 2012. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2012 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2013 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2014 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | 3-4 DE | NT | 3-4 OLB | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 194.
Projected 40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round (2014): Top-10 Pick.
9/18/12: Amerson has a special skill set with size, speed and ball skills. He was simply phenomenal in 2011. Amerson totaled 13 interceptions to lead the nation. That set both school and ACC records since it was the second-highest total in FBS history. He also had 59 tackles with five passes broken up. The All-American started nine games as a true freshman in 2010 and had zero interceptions with 57 tackles and a forced fumble.

Amerson is extremely aggressive when the ball is in the air. He looks like a natural wide receiver with his hands and body control. Meanwhile, his innate ball skills are extremely rare.

Amerson played some safety in high school and should be able to play the position in the NFL if a team wants to move him there. That may be considered if he fills out his frame and gets bigger as he ages.

Teams will avoid throwing in Amerson's direction this season, so it will be hard for him to lead the nation in interceptions again. If he plays well in his best matchups against talented receivers (Tennessee and Clemson) that should help offset the drop in interceptions.

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round (2014): Top 25.
9/18/12: Rhodes was consistent as a cover corner last year, so teams threw away from him. The sophomore had 43 tackles with an interception and four passes broken up.

Rhodes had an interesting conclusion to 2011. He was matched up against Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd and put together a phenomenal tape for NFL evaluators.

While providing blanket coverage against Floyd, one of the best receivers in the nation, Rhodes went down in a multi-player collision in the second half. He sustained a knee strain and was held out of the end of the game. Prior to Rhodes' injury, Floyd had only three catches for 22 yards.

Rhodes made an immediate impact for Florida State breaking into the lineup as a redshirt freshman. He recorded 58 tackles, four interceptions and 12 passes broken up, along with being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Rhodes is a big cornerback who is very physical with receivers. He does a good job in press man-coverage. Off the snap, Rhodes limits the release with a strong jam and rerouting skills. He has the speed and athletic ability to run with receivers after the jam.

Against Floyd, Rhodes showed the ability to match up with an elite receiver. Floyd couldn't beat Rhodes with speed or size. He is a good run defender who is capable of putting on some nice hits on ball-carriers.

DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama
Height: 6-1. Weight: 182.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.
9/18/12: Milliner really played well in 2011 and did a good job as teams threw his direction more to avoid cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. With Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie in the NFL, Milliner will take on a bigger role in 2012 as a full-time starter. He had 27 tackles with three interceptions and nine pases broken up last season. Milliner led the Crimson Tide defense in interceptions, and he played extremely well overall as the nickelback.

Milliner had 55 tackles with four tackles for a loss, seven passes broken up, one forced fumble and one interception as a freshman. He has good size and speed like all of the recent Alabama defensive backs. Milliner could have a breakout season in college football and rise high in the cornerback rankings.

Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 180.
Projected 40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
9/18/12: Byndom had a very good sophomore season with 53 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 15 passes broken up and two interceptions. One interception, against Ryan Tannehill, Byndom returned 58 yards for a touchdown. He did not play well a week later in a loss to Baylor and that was really the only blemish on his season. Byndom has a starting NFL skill set and was a First-Team All-Big XII selection in 2011 by many media outlets.

Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-0. Weight: 193.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2014): 1-3.
9/18/12: Fuller has some upside and is still developing. He made six starts with 32 tackles and six passes broken up as a freshman in 2010. Fuller improved his play last year and started every game. He totaled 65 tackles with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and seven passes broken up. Fuller was a Second-Team All-ACC selection.

The 6-foot, 193-pounder has some quickness to go along with his size, and could easily push his stock into the first round in the next year or two. Virginia Tech has been a factory for defensive backs, and he should enter the NFL with plus preparation. If Fuller can improve his interception totals and splash plays, his stock will rise.

Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 194.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2014): 1-3.
9/18/12: Gilbert had an excellent 2011 campaign with 59 tackles, 10 passes broken up and five interceptions. He averaged 27 yards per kick return the past two seasons.

Gilbert has size and ball skills. He had interceptions against the top three quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft; Stanford's Andrew Luck, Baylor's Robert Griffin and Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill. Gilbert plays in a pass happy conference so he should enter the NFL battle-tested and ready to start quickly.

Marcus Roberson*, CB, Florida
Height: 6-0. Weight: 184.
Projected 40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round (2014): 1-3.
9/18/12: Roberson, a true freshman last season, beat out a number of highly-touted prospects for a starting job. He played well and showed some natural man-cover skills when going against elite receivers. Roberson injured his neck and missed the final three games of the season. Still, he recorded 22 tackles and an interception last year.

Roberson is the latest in line of talented Gators cornerbacks like Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins to start quickly for Florida. Roberson has big upside to be man-cover corner.

Quandre Diggs*, CB, Texas
Height: 5-10. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2014): 1-3.
9/18/12: Diggs was the Big XII Freshman of the Year in 2011 and was named a Freshman All-American by many media outlets. He started 11 games and led the Longhorns with four interceptions. Diggs also had 51 tackles, 15 passes broken up and two forced fumbles.

The sophomore has natural ball skills and should be very productive in 2012 as Texas features a strong pass rush to help force errant passes. Diggs looks like he will develop into a prospect with the skill set to be a starting cover corner in the NFL.

Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
Height: 6-0. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
9/18/12: Ryan broke into the starting lineup last season and impressed with 67 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and 14 passes broken up. The sophomore was third on the team in tackles. He should only get better as he gains experience.

Tyrann Mathieu*, CB/S, LSU
Height: 5-9. Weight: 175.
Projected 40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.
9/18/12: Mathieu is sitting out football this season. LSU kicked him off the team and he decided to check into a rehab facility for substance abuse issues rather than transferring down a level to play this season. Mathieu may seek to return to the Tigers for the 2013 season.

Mathieu was one of the best defensive players in college football during the 2011 season. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and had a massive impact for LSU. Mathieu plays much bigger than his measurements, and anyone who watched the team the past two seasons can't help but see that he is a pure football player with off-the-charts instinct.

Mathieu led LSU in tackles with 76 last year. The sophomore also had 7.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and nine passes broken up. The Tigers lined him up as an outside corner, slot corner and safety. He was very dangerous in the slot. Additionally, Mathieu served as a punt returner in 2011, averaging 16 yards per return with two brought back for touchdowns.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder was been a dynamic playmaker for LSU since Day 1. Mathieu compiled 57 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, seven passes broken up and two interceptions as a freshman.

Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue
Height: 5-9. Weight: 186.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
9/18/12: Allen has been a starter for the Boilermakers since his true freshman season in 2010. He totaled 83 tackles with three interceptions. Allen had nearly identical production as a sophomore with 81 tackles and three interceptions. He is a quick corner with some ball skills. Allen projects best as a slot corner.

Nickell Robey, CB, USC
Height: 5-8. Weight: 165.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
9/18/12: Robey is very short, but he is a gritty defender. Robey is entering his third season as a starter and has been a quality cover corner for the Trojans. It was a serious accomplishment on his part that he won a starting position as a true freshman in 2010 and then put up 48 tackles and four interceptions.

Robey had 63 tackles, two interceptions and nine passes broken up last season. He is a interesting cover corner, but his size is a real concern for the NFL. Because of that, Robey probably projects best as nickel/slot cornerback.

Devan Drane, CB, Cincinnati
Height: 5-11. Weight: 186.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): 5-6.
9/18/12: Drane was pressed into starting duty in 2011 and played reasonably well. He recorded 42 tackles with three interceptions and eight passes broken up.

Drane looks like he has a starting spot locked down and should be better in this season, having gained some experience. Drane also could stand to add some more strength.

Cody Riggs, CB, Florida
Height: 5-9. Weight: 179.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2014): 7-FA.
9/18/12: Riggs made his debut for the Gators in 2010 and started three games while playing mostly special teams. The true freshman had 18 tackles and an interception.

Riggs won a starting spot as a sophomore and had 31 stops with two passes broken up last year. He could improve as a junior but needs to become a mainstay on the field and produce more.

Eric Gordon, CB, Tennessee
Height: 5-9. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2014): FA.
9/18/12: Gordon is a speedy, undersized cornerback who saw his first game action in 2010. The redshirt freshman recorded 47 tackles with two interceptions and three passes broken up. The 5-foot-9, 197-pounder also contributes as a punt and kick returner.

Gordon had two interceptions in 2011, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown against Vanderbilt. He needs to improve over the next year or two to make sure he gets drafted.

Ciante Evans, CB, Nebraska
Height: 5-11. Weight: 185.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): FA.
9/18/12: Evans was a disappointment in 2011 with seven starts and 13 games played. He was expected to be the complement across from Alfonzo Dennard, but was moved to the nickel position during the season. The sophomore had 33 tackles on the season with zero interceptions and three passes broken up.

Evans was Nebraska's third cornerback in 2010 behind Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard. Evans showed quality coverage skills in his limited opportunities, but did not continue an upward trend last year. He needs to show big improvement in 2012.

J 05-02-2013 03:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.108 (total posts: 1)

Your Missing Marcus Williams NDSU

Mass S 04-30-2013 06:28 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.17 (total posts: 1)

Bennett Jackson?

Everett Lervik 01-15-2013 01:09 am xxx.xxx.xxx.220 (total posts: 1)

Marcus Williams- North Dakota State

Randy Ponder 11-19-2012 11:40 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.84 (total posts: 1)

Where is Randy Ponder from Mizzou?

11-02-2012 08:10 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.107 (total posts: 2)

11-02-2012 08:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.107 (total posts: 2)

Football Fan 10-16-2012 08:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.95 (total posts: 1)

How about Phillip Gaines from Rice for 2014. He is #1 in college football with 14 pass breakups. He has 22 tackles...2 for losses and a TD on a forced fumble. He is 6'1" 185 and runs the 40 in the high 4.3s. He is worth consideration.

Missouri Cornerback Randy Ponder 09-27-2012 03:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.239 (total posts: 1)

I looked for Randy Ponder for 2013 and 2014 Draft did not see his name mentioned.

He had a good season last year and is having a good season this year.

Pages: 1

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Cornerbacks

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