Highest-graded cornerbacks in man protection
BJ ADAMS, UCF
Man-coverage grade: 86.4
Adams missed three video games in 2024 with a again damage, which helps clarify the smaller pattern dimension, however he nonetheless stood out when tasked with man protection. On 80 man-coverage snaps, he was focused 12 occasions and allowed simply three catches for 45 yards with out surrendering a single landing. He additionally compelled six incompletions, together with three move breakups and one interception.
JAYLIN SMITH, USC
Man-coverage grade: 83.9
USC leaned closely on man protection in 2024, and Jaylin Smith was a key a part of that strategy on the skin. He lined up in man on 38.2% of his protection snaps and was focused 24 occasions, permitting 13 catches for simply 117 yards and nil touchdowns. Smith additionally added one move breakup and two interceptions, serving to maintain opposing quarterbacks to a 32.8 passer ranking when concentrating on him in man protection.
TRAVIS HUNTER, COLORADO
Man-coverage grade: 83.0
Colorado leaned closely on man protection in 2024, and with Travis Hunter locking down one facet of the sector, it’s straightforward to see why. Hunter performed man on 51.4% of his protection snaps, a remarkably excessive price for a university nook. Throughout 220 man protection snaps, he was focused 24 occasions and allowed simply 11 catches for 94 yards with no touchdowns. He additionally compelled an incompletion on 21% of these targets, ending with 5 move breakups, two interceptions and an absurdly low 21.9 passer ranking allowed.
O’DONNELL FORTUNE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Man-coverage grade: 79.5
Whereas South Carolina primarily ran zone protection in 2024, they blended in man appears to be like typically sufficient to guage their corners in each settings. Fortune performed man protection on 29.2% of his snaps and held his personal when examined. On 13 targets in man, he allowed eight catches for 178 yards but in addition got here away with a move breakup and an interception. The passer ranking into his man protection was a modest 73.4.
TREY AMOS, MISSISSIPPI
Man-coverage grade: 75.4
Whereas Mississippi leaned closely on zone ideas in 2024, they nonetheless ran Cowl-1 typically sufficient to showcase Trey Amos’ man protection potential. Amos lined up in man on 35.5% of his protection snaps and impressed when examined. On 25 targets, he allowed simply 9 receptions for 87 yards and one landing whereas forcing incompletions on 20% of these makes an attempt. He notched three move breakups, an interception and held opposing quarterbacks to a 43.2 passer ranking when throwing his method in man protection.
Highest-graded cornerbacks in zone protection
JAHDAE BARRON, TEXAS
Zone-coverage grade: 91.5
Texas leaned on zone protection in 2024, notably Cowl-3, and Jahdae Barron thrived in that position. Aligned largely as a large cornerback, Barron performed zone on 75% of his protection snaps and was focused 52 occasions, permitting simply 31 catches for 235 yards and no touchdowns. He compelled incompletions on 15% of these targets, ending with seven move breakups and three interceptions. Quarterbacks throwing into his zone managed only a 46.6 passer ranking.
DARIEN PORTER, IOWA STATE
Zone-coverage grade: 91.1
The Cyclones closely relied on zone protection in 2024, with Cowl-4 (32.6%) and Cowl-3 (24.3%) as their most well-liked coverages. Porter lined up nearly completely at large nook and was in zone protection on 45.3% of his protection snaps. He was focused simply 10 occasions in zone, permitting two receptions for 13 yards and no touchdowns. He additionally compelled incompletions on 30% of his zone targets, and quarterbacks posted an NFL passer ranking of 0.0 when throwing his method.
O’DONNELL FORTUNE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Zone-coverage grade: 87.5
Fortune had a powerful yr in protection, displaying up on this record for each man and zone. South Carolina’s most well-liked coverages in 2024 have been Cowl-4 (26.8%) and Cowl-3 (23.0%), with Fortune in zone protection on 59% of his snaps, largely at proper outdoors cornerback. He was focused 34 occasions in zone, permitting 19 receptions for 146 yards and no touchdowns. He added one move breakup and two interceptions, with quarterbacks posting only a 42.0 passer ranking when concentrating on him in zone protection.
TRAVIS HUNTER, COLORADO
Zone-coverage grade: 86.8
Hunter was elite in each man and zone protection in 2024, posting an 83.0 grade in man and an 86.8 grade in zone. He performed zone protection on 44.6% of his snaps and was focused 15 occasions, permitting 11 receptions for 113 yards and one landing. The 4 incompletions included two move breakups and two interceptions, showcasing his potential to make game-changing performs no matter scheme.
DENZEL BURKE, OHIO STATE
Zone-coverage grade: 81.0
Ohio State’s protection employed a balanced strategy in protection, mixing man and zone with out leaning closely on anybody scheme. Burke performed zone on 53.9% of his protection snaps in 2024 and was focused 18 occasions, permitting 12 catches for 132 yards and no touchdowns. He additionally tallied two move breakups, two interceptions, and held opposing quarterbacks to only a 48.6 NFL passer ranking when focused in zone.
