2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Cornerbacks

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

This page was last updated May 5, 2014. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 202.
40 Time: 4.37.
Projected Round (2014): Top-20 Pick.
4/5/14: Gilbert looks locked in as the top corner prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft and a top-16 selection. He has the skill set to be a No. 1 corner in the NFL. Gilbert is a great man-cover corner who has size, speed and athleticism. He is good in bump-and-run and also has the ability to play in off-man coverage. Gilbert is a real threat to take the ball away and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Don’t be surprised if he’s a corner who you see producing some pick-sixs on Sundays.

In 2013, Gilbert amassed seven interceptions, 42 tackles, seven passes broken up and one kick returned for a touchdown. He had an interception returned 31 yards for a touchdown against Iowa State and a 41-yard pick-six against Texas. The senior returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Kansas. Gilbert had a mixed day against West Virginia in that he batted away two passes in the end zone and grabbed an interception, but was also beaten for a 17-yard touchdown before later being ejected at the end of the game over a fight. To finish the regular season, Gilbert had good games against Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma and Missouri. He really improved his game as a senior and demonstrated more discipline.

Gilbert was superb at the NFL Scouting Combine. He had the second-longest arms of any defensive back and the second-highest bench press total among the cornerbacks – 20 reps. Gilbert also led all of the defensive backs with a 4.37-second official time in the 40-yard dash. Considering Gilbert (6-0, 202) is a big corner, that is a tremendous time. To top it off, Gilbert was excellent in the field drills. He was fluid in his backpedal and veering across the field. Gilbert had loose hips to flip to turn. He also made a great leaping hands catch.

8/17/13: Gilbert recorded 63 tackles, nine passes defensed and averaged 26 yards per kick return in 2012. He did a nice job of matching up against Baylor’s Terrance Williams late in the season. 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. In 2011, 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.

Personal: Majoring in education. Son of Iwanna Rolling and Sherman Gilbert.

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 181.
40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2014): 1.
4/5/14: Despite the rough Combine performance, Dennard looks safe as a first-round pick, but some believe that Kyle Fuller and/or Bradley Roby could be selected ahead of Dennard.

Dennard ran pretty well at the Combine, but he looked stiff in the field drills. Dennard showed that he needs a lot of work to play off-man coverage. Early in his pro career, teams will target that aspect of his game, so it needs to be improved quickly. Dennard’s skill set may make him more of a No. 2 corner in the NFL.

Dennard recorded 62 tackles with 10 passes broken up and four interceptions in 2013. The senior is a physical corner who needs to become more disciplined about his contact to avoid penalties, but he has some press-man ability and is a gritty defender. Dennard may not be the fastest corner, but he has good instincts and recognition skills.

Dennard had a lot of good games in 2013 and maintained tight coverage. He was excellent against Michigan and did a good job of covering speedy Wolverines receiver Jeremy Gallon. Dennard had a clutch performance to help Michigan State top Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.

8/17/13: While Johnny Adams was expected to lead the Spartans’ secondary last season, it was Dennard who was the most impressive defensive back. He had a good season and was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection. The junior recorded 52 tackles with three interceptions and seven passes broken up. Dennard had three interceptions, 42 tackles and three passes broken up in 2011.

Personal: Majoring in psychology. Son of Lisa Curry.

Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-0. Weight: 190.
40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2013): 1.
5/5/14: Sources from multiple teams said they really like Fuller and it looks like he could easily go as a top-32 pick. Some have him going in the middle of the first round. Fuller is a good man-cover corner who can play press man, off man and zone. He also can play some safety.

At the Combine, Fuller showed surprising speed. With his man-coverage ability, instincts and versatility, he could be a steal late in the first round or early in the second round. WalterFootball.com knows teams that are really hoping Fuller makes it to early in the second round, but that’s looking increasingly unlikely.

The 2013 season opener against Alabama gave Fuller the opportunity to be extremely impressive. He was excellent versus the Crimson Tide and did a superb job of smothering Amari Cooper in man coverage. Fuller had four tackles, an interception, at least one pass batted away, some good hits and solid play on special teams.

Fuller kept up the impressive play in games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. He had tight coverage and was superb in run defense. Tar Heels receiver Quinshad Davis beat Fuller for a touchdown on a double move, but Fuller had a pick and six tackles in the game. The senior totaled 24 tackles with two interceptions and 10 passes broken up in 2013. Injuries hurt him down the stretch and he missed a few games.

8/17/13: Fuller played well last year with 46 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and three passes broken up. However, there were expectations for a big season and he was never really dominant.

Fuller made six starts with 32 tackles and six passes broken up as a freshman in 2010. He improved his play in 2011 and started every game. The sophomore totaled 65 tackles with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and seven passes broken up. He was a Second-Team All-ACC selection.

Fuller has some quickness to go along with his size, and could easily push his stock higher in the next year. 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.

Personal: Finance major. Son of Vincent and Nina Dorsey-Fuller. Older brothers include former Tennessee Titan Vincent Fuller and current Lions wide receiver Corey Fuller. Younger brother Kendall was a top recruit for Virginia Tech.

Bradley Roby*, CB, Ohio State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 194.
40 Time: 4.39.
Projected Round (2014): 1.
5/5/14: At the Combine, Roby put his great skill set on display. He has the physical talent to be a No. 1 corner if he lands with good coaching, but his bad tape from the 2013 season is holding him back from being a sure-fire first-round pick. Still, WalterFootball.com knows there are a lot of teams that believe they can fix Roby’s flaws, and thus, he could easily go in the first round. Some believe that Roby could even go as early as the middle of the first round. He didn’t help himself with a run in with the police in April, but there are disputed sides to that story.

In 2013, Roby had 62 tackles, 13 passes broken up and three interceptions. It was an ugly season that hurt his draft stock significantly, but he still entered the 2014 NFL Draft.

Roby was ejected against Iowa for targeting and had a mixed outing against Northwestern. Roby blocked a punt in the end zone for an Ohio State touchdown versus the Wildcats, but also was burned for 41-yard and 67-yard pass plays. That was the third game in 2013 that he had problems in pass coverage.

A week earlier, Roby was torched by Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis. Abbrederis kept the Badgers in the game as he went over 200 yards receiving, including one touchdown at Roby’s expense. Abbrederis would’ve beaten Roby for more points, but Joel Stave couldn’t get him the ball. Stave had a terribly thrown pass intercepted by Roby. In the ground game, Roby had some tackles and slapped away a couple of quick slants. It was still an ugly outing that hurts his draft stock significantly.

Roby was suspended for the Week-1 game against Buffalo because of some legal trouble in the offseason. Week 3 against California may have hurt Roby’s stock even more than his off-the-field issues. He was beaten on a number of receptions, including on a touchdown. Roby dropped an interception and was nearly beaten for another touchdown, but got lucky that Golden Bears wide receiver Bryce Treggs dropped the pass.

8/17/13: Roby was a real play-maker for the Ohio State defense in 2012. The junior made big improvements as a second-year starter. Roby totaled 63 tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, 17 passes broken up and two interceptions. He is fast and very instinctive.

Roby broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt sophomore in 2011. He totaled 47 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble. Roby is an instinctive cover corner who has a knack for big plays.

The senior hurt his draft stock with an arrest in the summer for a bar fight. There is the possibility that Roby could have a suspension at some point during the 2014 season. In the past two drafts cornerbacks, Janoris Jenkins and Tyrann Mathieu, with off-the-field issues have fallen to the second day of the draft. Roby doesn’t have as bad of a history as either of those two, but character red flags will be something Roby has to repeatedly address in the lead up to the 2014 NFL Draft.

Personal: Majoring in communications. Son of Betty and James Roby.

Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Height: 5-9. Weight: 189.
40 Time: 4.38.
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.
5/5/14: Verrett could be ranked first if he weren’t so undersized. Some scouts told WalterFootball.com they couldn’t draft Verrett in the first round because they feel he’s going to get pushed around by NFL receivers. WalterFootball.com knows one playoff team that needs help at corner but won’t draft Verrett at all because of his height – despite acknowledging that he’s a good player. Sources say Verrett’s received some second-round grades, though some analysts project him to the first round.

To start 2013, Verrett was impressive against LSU. The Tigers didn’t do well when they threw his direction as he provided sound coverage. Verrett broke up passes and didn’t allow separation. He recorded seven tackles and a sack in that contest. Verrett maintained a high level of play throughout the year. He totaled 38 tackles with 14 passes defended and two interceptions in 2013. Verrett thrived at the Combine in the events that illustrate his strengths and hide his weaknesses.

8/17/13: Verrett had an impressive 2012 season with six interceptions, 16 passes broken up, 63 tackles and a blocked kick. Numerous publications listed the junior as a First-Team All-American. He started 10 games in 2011 and had a solid debut, totaling 58 tackles with one interception and four passes broken up.

Verrett spent the 2010 season playing in junior college. He definitely needs to add some weight for the NFL. If Verrett is shorter than his listed height, he may end up being a slot corner.

Personal: Majoring in sports broadcasting. Son of Warren and Cynthia Verrett.

Keith McGill, CB, Utah
Height: 6-3. Weight: 211.
40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
5/5/14: McGill used the Senior Bowl to show that he has the movement skills to remain at cornerback. During the practices, McGill really performed well in the receiving one-on-ones as he was able to maintain coverage with receivers in and out of their breaks. McGill demonstrated the hip flexibility to turn to run with receivers downfield.

McGill continued that impressive display at the Combine. He ran well and showed loose hips in the field work. In 2013, McGill notched 37 tackles with 12 passes broken up and an interception. He missed the 2012 season with a shoulder injury. McGill started out in the junior college ranks and will enter the NFL as a 25 year-old rookie. His stock has climbed in the lead up to the 2014 NFL Draft, and he looks likely to go in the second round.

Personal: Son of Keith McGill, Sr. and Shoundelle Paxton. Majoring in sociology.

Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson
Height: 5-11. Weight: 197.
40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
5/5/14: Breeland is one of many players who entered the 2014 NFL Draft when they shouldn’t have. In 2013, Breeland had 74 tackles, five tackles for a loss, 10 passes broken up and four interceptions. He improved as the season progressed and could have gone earlier in the future with further improvement for Clemson. Breeland started five games as a sophomore and played in 10 games total. He had 32 tackles with three passes broken up. Breeland was slightly disappointing at the Combine, but he could still end up going on the second day of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska
Height: 6-3. Weight: 218.
40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
5/5/14: Jean-Baptiste fits the mold of the big corners who are becoming the rage in the NFL. He used the Senior Bowl to answer some questions since many wondered if Jean-Baptiste had the movement skills to stay cornerback or would he have to be moved to safety. Jean-Baptiste proved in Mobile that he does; he showed the potential to be more than a press-man cover. Jean-Baptiste illustrated the quickness and agility to play some off-man and zone coverage at the Senior Bowl. He was solid at the Combine. If Jean-Baptiste can’t stay at corner in the NFL, he could be moved to safety.

Jean-Baptiste had four interceptions with 12 passes batted and 41 tackles in 2013. His performance at the Senior Bowl shows that he is worthy of second-day consideration.

Personal: Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. Son of Pierre and Yanick Jean-Baptiste. Stanely Jean-Baptiste has participated in charity work.

Dontae Johnson, CB, N.C. State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
5/5/14: Johnson picked up 82 tackles with two passes broken up and three interceptions in 2013. He was improved over his previous two seasons. For teams looking for tall and long cornerbacks a la the Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks, Johnson will be on their radar. He landed a spot in the Senior Bowl and had a decent week. At the Combine, Johnson ran faster than expected. He is a sleeper worth watching. Sources told WalterFootball.com they don’t believe that Johnson will make it to Day 3, while others think he’ll be fourth-rounder.

Johnson got on the field as a sophomore when he played nickel and linebacker. He had 58 tackles. In 2012, he moved to cornerback and totaled 70 tackles with eight passes broken up, one sack and a forced fumble.

Philip Gaines, CB, Rice
Height: 6-0. Weight: 193.
40 Time: 4.38.
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.
5/5/14: Gaines was another star of the Combine who used the opportunity to really help his draft stock. He blistered the 40-yard dash and did well in the field drills, so he used the Combine to his advantage to command more attention from teams. The senior recorded 36 tackles with four interceptions and nine passes broken up in 2013. In 2012, he had 33 tackles with 18 passes defended.

Gaines clearly has a nice combination of size and speed. It isn’t surprising that his stock has climbed in the lead up to the 2014 NFL Draft. Gaines may go earlier than most projections; the second round isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Personal: Son of Susan McFarland and Bill Gaines.

Lamarcus Joyner, CB/S, Florida State
Height: 5-8. Weight: 184.
40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/5/14: In 2013, Joyner had 69 tackles with seven tackles for a loss, two interceptions, four passes broken up, three forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks. He put together a huge game against Clemson with a forced fumble and interception to help Florida State open up a big lead. The senior also had a big game against Duke in the ACC Championship. He played well against Auburn in the title game.

Joyner has some Tyrann Mathieu to his game. In the NFL, his best fit will probably be as a hybrid defender who gets moved around from slot corner to safety and a returner. Sources said they graded Joyner as a third-round pick. His height and speed are concerns.

8/18/13: Joyner is a very undersized defensive back who is also a special teams contributor. He had 51 tackles, five passes broken up and an interception in 2012. Joyner has averaged 25 yards per kick return in his career, so there is no doubt that he is very fast and explosive. The senior would be a lot higher in these rankings if he weren’t so undersized.

Joyner played well in 2011 with four interceptions, three passes broken up and 54 tackles. He was an All-ACC selection the past two seasons. However, Joyner asked the coaching staff to move him to cornerback for the 2013 season. It will be interesting to see how Joyner performs. He may have a better shot at sticking at safety as a pro.

Marcus Roberson*, CB, Florida
Height: 6-0. Weight: 191.
40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/5/14: While Roberson didn’t have a big statistical year, his man-coverage skills could make him a steal. Roberson had an ugly performance at the Combine with a surprisingly slow 40 time. He followed that up with a rough pro-day performance. Roberson made a big mistake entering the 2014 NFL Draft, and some sources said that he has had one of the worst leadups to the draft of any prospect they can remember.

The junior recorded 11 tackles with three passes broken up in 2013. Roberson missed three games with a PCL strain and was very rusty in his return against LSU. He had a mixed outing against Georgia, too. Roberson was excellent in coverage versus Miami, but he got banged up during the game. Roberson had three tackles with four punts returned for 72 yards in Week 1. He then landed a suspension late in the season. Entering 2013, Roberson was viewed as a potential first-rounder. He should have gone back to Florida to rehab his draft stock as a senior.

8/17/13: Roberson formed a good cornerback tandem with Purifoy last year. Roberson excelled in man coverage and was a key part of a tough Florida defense. He totaled 23 tackles with 12 passes broken up, a forced fumble and two interceptions.

Roberson, a true freshman in 2011, 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 his first season. Still, he recorded 22 tackles and an interception.

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

Jaylen Watkins, CB, Florida
Height: 5-11. Weight: 194.
40 Time: 4.41.
Projected Round (2015): 3-4.
5/5/14: Watkins recorded 54 tackles with seven passes broken up in 2013. The senior had some miscues against Miami, but generally played well. He would have been starting for most teams in the country and did well filling in while Marcus Roberson was injured. Watkins is a sleeper prospect who has a good athletic skill set – it runs in his family – and could be a mid-round steal. He showed that at the Senior Bowl when he had a very strong week playing man-to-man in the one-on-ones.

At the Combine, Watkins was impressive as he put up a solid total on the bench press (22 reps) and ran a fast time in the 40. Unlike his Gator cornerback teammates, Watkins’ stock has been on the rise leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft.

9/10/13: Watkins is the Gators’ nickel back but would be a starter on most teams. As a junior Watkins totaled 39 tackles with eight passes broken up, three interceptions. In 2011 he had 34 tackles and five passes broken up as a backup. Watkins also is a good special teams player. Watkins has some size, speed and athletic ability but needs to be more consistent in his coverage. He would probably best as a nickel corner that is a valuable contributor on fourth down in the NFL. Personal: Jaylen Watkins is the brother of Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty
Height: 6-0. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/5/14: Aikens stood out at the Senior Bowl and showed some man-coverage skills. Teams that like big cornerbacks will be intrigued with him. At Liberty, he had seven interceptions and 15 passes broken up across four seasons. Aikens didn’t participate in the Combine, but a lot of teams showed interest in Aikens and brought him in for pre-draft visits.

Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood
Height: 6-1. Weight: 198.
40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/5/14: Desir did his job at the Senior Bowl and was able to hang with the higher level of competition. It started a week earlier at the East-West Shrine where his quality performance landed him a spot in Mobile. At Lindenwood (Division II), Desir had 25 interceptions. He has good size but will need some developmental time.

Terrance Mitchell, CB, Oregon
Height: 5-11. Weight: 192.
40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2014): 3-5.
5/5/14: Mitchell was a 3-year contributor for Oregon. In 2011, he had two interceptions with 10 passes broken up. Mitchell recorded 40 tackles and zero interceptions in 2012. 2013 was Mitchell’s best season. The junior had 59 tackles with seven passes broken up and five interceptions for the year. He has a skill set to develop.

Personal: Son of Terrance and Kepta Mitchell.

Victor Hampton, CB, South Carolina
Height: 5-9. Weight: 197.
40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2014): 3-5.
4/5/14: Hampton is a physical defender who displayed some cover skills with South Carolina. He broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and totaled 40 tackles, six passes broken up and an interception. Hampton totaled 39 tackles with one pass broken up and zero interceptions in 2013. The junior shouldn’t have entered the 2014 NFL Draft. There are a lot of off-the-field concerns about Hampton that are pushing him lower despite him having second-day talent. He ran very slow at the Combine as well.

E.J. Gaines, CB, Missouri
Height: 5-10. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2014): 3-5.
5/5/14: Gaines played well for Missouri in 2013 with 68 tackles with five interceptions and three passes defended. Late in the regular season, he came up with some huge games. Gaines held Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans to only four catches for eight yards and had a fumble return for a touchdown in the SEC Championship game. Gaines followed it up with a good game against Oklahoma State in his bowl game. He was unable to work out at the Combine outside of a low total on the bench press (11 reps).

Gaines has a nice mix of coverage ability and ball skills. He had 74 tackles with 11 passes broken up and two interceptions in 2012. In 2011, Gaines was an All-Big XII selection with 69 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, 16 passes broken up and two interceptions.

Personal: Son of Edwin Gaines and Alta Bailey.

Loucheiz Purifoy*, CB, Florida
Height: 5-11. Weight: 190.
40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2014): 4-5.
5/5/14: Throughout the draft process, Purifoy has shown that he should have stayed in school. Purifoy had an awful performance at the Combine. He was significantly smaller than his previous listing of 6-foot-1, had the worst performance of any defensive back in the bench press and ran a slow 40. Purifoy did a lot of damage to his draft stock and continued that with a disappointing pro day.

Purifoy notched 24 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defended in 2013. He started out well against Florida State with an interception and a pass breakup before he was burned repeatedly by Kelvin Benjamin for multiple long completions and touchdowns.

Purifoy had a mixed performance against LSU’s dangerous passing attack. His coverage was generally sound, but he had a costly missed tackle. Purifoy picked up two tackles against Missouri and recovered a fumble on special teams. He had a sack for a safety against Georgia.

Purifoy was an animal against Arkansas. Early in the first quarter, he came on a blind-side cornerback blitz to sack Brandon Allen. Purifoy did a great job of slapping the ball out while knocking Allen to the ground. That gave Florida a field goal. After the Razorbacks took a 7-3 lead, Purifoy put the Gators up for good. Allen tried to throw a short pass to the flat and Purifoy jumped the route for the interception. He exploded down the field for the 42-yard score. Purifoy had four tackles with the strip-sack and pick-six versus Arkansas.

The junior was playing well against Tennessee before leaving the game with an injury. He took a helmet in the thigh on a kick return in the second half and was done for the day. Purifoy played offense on the first play of the game and ran the ball for over 10 yards, but that was his only attempt.

Purifoy missed the kickoff game versus Toledo because he was serving a suspension for violating team rules. Against Miami, Purifoy had good coverage all day and blocked a punt, but he did miss a few tackles in run support that came at bad times.

8/17/13: Purifoy has an elite combination of size and speed to be a potential man corner in the NFL. He is also extremely physical and plays with a swagger.

Purifoy had a breakout season in 2012, recording 51 tackles, five passes broken up and three forced fumbles. The Gators’ defensive scheme largely left him on an island in man coverage, yet he maintained good defense. The sophomore was also excellent on special teams. Purifoy was a backup corner and special teams contributor in 2011. The freshman chipped in 27 tackles and a forced fumbles, too.

Purifoy is so fast and such a dangerous play-maker, the Gators are planning on playing on offense at wide receiver as well as at cornerback in 2013. Florida says he will play more corner than anything, but if the team’s young receivers don’t step up, Purifoy will be prepared for double duty.

Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
Height: 5-11. Weight: 177.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2014): 4-6.
5/5/14: Colvin totaled 55 tackles with five tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and three passes broken up in 2013. He stepped up with a big game against Texas Tech. Colvin had excellent coverage all day and grabbed an interception to take points away from the Red Raiders. He also caused an interception against Notre Dame with a deflected pass.

Sources have said that Colvin is being projected by many to the third day. After blowing out his knee at Senior Bowl, he will likely start his NFL career on the PUP list, and the injury could rob him of his rookie season. Still, for a team with depth and extra picks, the organization could store Colvin on injured reserve for his first season and have a nice value ready to compete for playing time in 2015.

8/17/13: Colvin had a very good 2012 season for Oklahoma. The junior recorded four interceptions, 11 passes broken up, 61 tackles and two sacks. He stood out against Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

Colvin has nice man-coverage ability with the quickness and flexibility to turn and run with receivers downfield. He also does a nice job of playing the ball. Another good season could send him into the first round.

Colvin had 84 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss and six passes broken up in 2011. If the senior does well this season, he could contend for the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Personal: Son of Bryant and Lisa Colvin.

Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 195.
40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2014): 4-6.
5/5/14: Benwikere had a good senior year and followed it up with a nice week of practice at the East-West Shrine. In 2013, he totaled 55 tackles with 16 passes broken up and five interceptions. Benwikere had a strong junior year with 67 tackles and seven interceptions. He ran slowly at the Combine and struggled in the bench press.

Personal: Majoring in sociology. Cousin of Cleveland Browns cornerback Christopher Owens.

Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State
Height: 5-10. Weight: 189.
40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2014): 4-6.
5/5/14: Reynolds is a gritty cornerback with the instincts to make some big plays. He had 61 tackles with six interceptions, four passes broken up and two forced fumbles in 2013. Reynolds could be a better fit as a slot corner in the NFL. He didn’t stand out at the East-West Shrine or the Combine. In 2012, Reynolds had 75 tackles with 13 passes broken up, three interceptions and a forced fumble playing across from Jordan Poyer.

Personal: Majoring in human development and family sciences. Son of Charles Reynolds and Mora Pyburn.

Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt
Height: 5-10. Weight: 188.
40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2014): 4-6.
5/5/14: Hal had an impressive 2013 debut against Ole Miss. He had very good coverage on wide receiver Donte Moncrief and caused a number of incompletions. Hal finished his career with an interception and three passes broken up against Houston. He had 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions and 15 passes broken up in 2013.

8/17/13: Hal is considered to be one of the top cornerbacks in the SEC this season. The junior registered 48 tackles, 14 passes broken up and two interceptions last year. He had 21 tackles and an interception as a sophomore. Vanderbilt has been producing good defensive back talent in recent years and Hal has been groomed well for the NFL.

Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue
Height: 5-9. Weight: 187.
40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/5/14: In 2013, Allen recorded 50 tackles, six interceptions, three passes broken up and four tackles for a loss. He is a nice sleeper corner to be a special teams player and could potentially develop into a nickel. Allen was solid at the East-West Shrine but didn’t stand out at the Combine.

8/17/13: Allen has been a starter for the Boilermakers since his true freshman season in 2010 when he totaled 83 tackles with three interceptions. Allen had nearly identical production as a sophomore with 81 tackles and three interceptions. The junior totaled 45 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up last season.

Allen is a quick corner with some ball skills and a gritty style of play. He projects best as a slot corner.

Chris Davis, CB, Auburn
Height: 5-10. Weight: 202.
Projected 40 Time: 4.40.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/5/14: Davis became part of college football history with his 109-yard field goal return for a touchdown to knock off undefeated Alabama and send Auburn to the SEC Championship. Florida State had success throwing against Davis in the National Championship. He struggled at the Senior Bowl and was all over receivers. If Davis doesn’t change that, he’ll be flagged often in the NFL. Davis didn’t run at the Combine. Davis had 74 tackles with 15 passes broken up and zero interceptions in 2013. He averaged 20 yards per punt return, including a score against Tennessee.

In 2012, Davis had 46 tackles with three tackles broken up. He became a starter as a sophomore and totaled 60 tackles with four passes broken up and a forced fumble. While Davis is dangerous with the ball in his hands, he didn’t show ball skills during his collegiate career.

Personal: Son of Janice Brown. Majoring in public administration.

Bennett Jackson, CB, Notre Dame
Height: 6-0. Weight: 195.
40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/5/14: In 2013, Jackson recorded 64 tackles with three passes broken up and two interceptions. He’s a corner-safety tweener.

8/17/13: Jackson spent his first two seasons as backup and special teams contributor, but started every game during last year. The junior had an impressive debut. He finished third on the team in tackles with 65 and was second on the team with four interceptions. Jackson also had four passes defensed. He could be better now that he has a year of starting experience.

Personal: Business major. Son of Grace and Bennett Jackson, Sr.

Jemea Thomas, CB, Georgia Tech
Height: 5-9. Weight: 192.
40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/5/14: Thomas had a decent performance at the Combine after a senior season in which he was a solid corner for the Yellow Jackets. Thomas totaled 88 tackles with eight passes broken up and two interceptions in 2013. He was a 3-year contributor for Georgia Tech with four interceptions in 2012 and three the year before that. For the NFL, Thomas projects as a slot corner.

Ciante Evans, CB, Nebraska
Height: 5-11. Weight: 185.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2014): 6-FA.
5/5/14: Evans started the 2013 season strongly with three interceptions in two games against Wyoming and Southern Miss. He had six passes broken up, 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and three sacks to go along with four interceptions in 2013. Evans didn’t take part in the Combine.

8/17/13: Evans totaled 56 tackles, one interception, two sacks and eight passes broken up last year, but was torched in the Big Ten Championship Game. Returning for his senior season was the smart idea.

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. Evans had 33 tackles on the season with zero interceptions and three passes broken up.

Behind Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard, Evans was Nebraska’s third cornerback in 2010. He showed quality coverage skills in his limited opportunities that season, but did not continue an upward trend in 2011. Evans needs to show more improvement in 2013.

Deion Belue, CB, Alabama
Height: 5-11. Weight: 182.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2014): 6-FA.
5/5/14: Belue totaled three passes broken up, one interception and 20 tackles in 2013. He had some mixed outings. Belue didn’t run well at the Combine.

8/17/13: Belue won a starting job opposite Dee Milliner in 2012, in spite of it being his first year at Alabama, and turned in an impressive season. Belue totaled 36 tackles, two interceptions, six passes broken up and a forced fumble. He should be even better as a senior now that he has a year of experience.

Belue started out his collegiate career with two seasons in the junior college ranks. It wouldn’t be surprising if his draft stock improves enough for him to follow the line of first-round cornerbacks from the Crimson Tide like Milliner, Kareem Jackson and Dre Kirkpatrick.

Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 180.
Projected 40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round (2014): 7-FA.
5/5/14: Byndom recorded 53 tackles, seven passes broken up and zero interceptions this year. He was solid, but not impressive. Sources at the East-West Shrine told WalterFootball.com that Byndom was grading out as a late-rounder or undrafted free agent. He didn’t participate in the Combine.

8/17/13: Byndom’s 2012 season was going well until he played West Virginia. The Mountaineers beat him for three touchdowns. He had four tackles and a blocked kick in that contest, but struggled to prevent separation against wide receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin.

Byndom bounced back the next week with a pick-six against Oklahoma and a good game overall. He totaled 50 tackles, three interceptions and six passes broken up last year. Byndom made a good decision to return for his senior year.

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 2011 First-Team All-Big XII selection.

Devan Drane, CB, Cincinnati
Height: 5-11. Weight: 186.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2014): 7-FA.
5/5/14: Drane had 30 tackles, three interceptions and five passes broken up in 2013. He didn’t attend the Combine.

8/17/13: Drane notched 35 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes broken up last season. He was pressed into starting duty in 2011 and played reasonably well, recording 42 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes broken up.

Drane looks like he has a starting spot locked down and should be better this year with even more experience. Drane also could stand to add some more strength.

Personal: Son of Vickie and Dwight Drane. His father played eight seasons for the Buffalo Bills.

Eric Gordon, CB, Tennessee
Height: 5-9. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2014): FA.
5/5/14: Gordon left the team to deal with a personal issue.

8/17/13: Gordon had 41 tackles, four passes broken up and two interceptions in 2012. He will have to be a slot corner in the NFL, but was wise to return for his senior year.

Gordon is a speedy, undersized cornerback who saw his first game action in 2010 as a redshirt freshman. He 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 as well, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown against Vanderbilt. He needs to improve more this season to make sure he gets drafted.

Personal: Majoring in sociology. Son of Jovonda Gordon.