2025 Draft: DBs have a tough act to follow
The 2024 cornerback class was one of the deepest in recent memory, with elite talent at the top of the class and unprecedented depth that followed. While it will be tough for the 2025 class to replicate that amount of talent, there are potential stars at the top of the class who are exciting.
Will Johnson (Michigan), Travis Hunter (Colorado), and Denzel Burke (Ohio State) project as my top dogs of next year's group, which is slightly different than the party line here at the Hall of Football, but it’s early. Johnson and Hunter have the ideal size teams covet with rare instincts in coverage, while Burke categorizes as a natural technician to mirror and stick with anyone in coverage.
Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Cobee Bryant (Kansas), Zemaiah Vaughn (Utah) and Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) are viewed as late-day 1 or day 2 players who will anchor the corner position next year.
Let’s take a deeper look into each of these players and what they bring to the table individually.
Will Johnson, Michigan, stakes claim to nation's best corner.
Will Johnson — CB, Michigan, Jr., 6021, 202, 4.48 40 (est). (2nd or 3rd overall player and 1st-ranked corner on Hall Of Football)
OVERVIEW
As we head into the 2024 season, Will Johnson is widely considered the top corner in the nation. He is coming off of a productive season in 2023 where he finished with 20 solo tackles (27 total), one tackle for loss, four pass deflections, four interceptions, and a touchdown.
Will Johnson attended Grosse Pointe South High School in Michigan, where he was a four-star prospect and the first four-year varsity starter in program history, before enrolling early at Michigan. In two years there, he earned accolades such as 2023 First-Team All-American, 2023 First-Team All-Big 10, Defensive MVP of the National Championship Game, Two-Time letter winner in 2022 and 2023. He also shared Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Johnson’s size and frame are special at cornerback. At 6-2, 200-plus pounds, he has the measurables to match up with just about anyone on the perimeter. At the LOS, he plays with acceptable physicality in press and quality balance in off-man and bail coverage. His match/mirror ability in off-man is exceptional. He plays with great discipline to stay balanced, has outstanding instincts to feel leverage and has satisfactory transition quickness to drop weight and get downhill well. His route recognition pops, and he has a natural ability to understand what his opponent wants to do and often runs their routes for them. Despite playing defensive back, he displays soft hands to create turnovers, along with good timing and tracking ability in coverage, which lead to pass breakups. As a tackler he has sound technique, and that includes overall as well as in space, in run support and around the LOS.
Weaknesses
When in press he tends to be overaggressive against rhythm steps, susceptible at times to double moves by polished route runners. The absence of true long speed is a major concern at the next level, where he must turn and run while in press coverage. He has adequate playmaking ability with the ball in his hands but lacks true pop and aggressiveness as a tackle. Johnson is not a guy who will set the tone with his physicality.
Two-way star Travis Hunter, Colorado
Travis Hunter —CB, Colorado, Jr., 6010, 185, 4.47 40 (est). (1st overall player and 2nd-rated corner on Hall Of Football)
OVERVIEW
It’s unclear which position Hunter will transition to, but there is no doubt he is a ballhawk and a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. He finished the 2023 season with 22 solo tackles (30 total), two tackles for loss, five pass deflections, and three interceptions in a shortened year.
Hunter was a five-star recruit at Collins Hill High School in Georgia, where he played all for years on varsity. In 2023, he won the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player, was a consensus First-Team All-American and First-Team Academic All-American, made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, and was a quarter-finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
In zone-coverage concepts, Hunter shows rare instincts to put himself in a position to make plays on the ball. He demonstrates a superb understanding of getting depth and pass-off zone responsibilities. He also has a knack for baiting/anticipating routes and shows a feel for where a play is going. Hunter has the outstanding ball skills to create turnovers. His sure hands and tracking ability as a receiver allow him to create turnovers at a high level. He can make a bid for a house call anytime he gets the ball. He shows quality route recognition in off-and-bail coverage and anticipates leverage at breakpoints and consistently stays on the opponent's hip. Aside from evident instincts, Hunter is a fantastic athlete with very fluid hips to turn and run. He can plant and easily flip his hips when mirroring in man. In man or zone coverage, Hunter’s transition quickness is explosive, a major reason he can make plays on the ball and create turnovers.
Weaknesses
When challenged vertically, Hunter struggles against big-body receivers and can lose leverage when tracking the ball. On 50/50 throws, he can get beat at the catch point against bigger opponents with strong hands. While in bail coverage, Hunter is very good at getting downhill and closing on underneath routes, but he can get lost when challenged vertically. He has difficulty protecting his blind spot and can lose leverage, allowing his opponent to create space against him. Translation: Despite all that ability, he is human.
Denzel Burke
Denzel Burke — CB, Ohio State, Sr., 6002, 193, 4.49 40 (est). (19th overall player and 3rd-ranked corner on Hall Of Football list)
OVERVIEW
As a returning senior, Denzel Burke is a seasoned defensive back with a lot to prove as he believes he is a top pick in next year's draft. In 2023, he tallied 18 solo tackles (24 total), three tackles for loss, nine pass deflections, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Burke was a four-star recruit in high school where he attended Brophy Prep in Phoenix before transferring to Saguaro High School. During his career at Ohio State, he has earned Freshman All-American honors and Third-Team All-Big 10 in 2021, received All-Big 10 honorable mention in 2022, was named a Walter Camp Second-Team All-American in 2023, and nabbed First-Team All-Big 10 honors in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Denzel Burke plays with exceptional balance and overall technique in coverage, keeps a great pad level to mirror well in both man and zone, and displays great route recognition to anticipate routes. He plays with good physicality at the LOS in the press and shows quality technique on off-and-bail coverage. In coverage, he demonstrates a favorable tracking ability to locate and use his hands to break up passes, with solid hands to create turnovers when in position. He is smooth and quick in and out of transitions, he’s able to change direction and drop his weight fluidly. He also shows satisfactory speed to turn and run with most opponents in either press or off-man coverage. Finally, in run support, he shows a willingness as a tackler, leverages well, and uses sound technique to wrap and finish.
Weaknesses
Although over 6-0, Burke is a smaller corner who does not excel at playing above the rim and can be outmatched by bigger/more physical opponents. He can struggle to stack and shed on the perimeter in run support against quality blockers because of a smaller frame. With only two career interceptions, some observers question his ability to get in position and create turnovers.
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison — CB, Notre Dame, Jr., 6002, 185, 4.42 40 (est). (21st overall player and 4th-rated corner on Hall Of Football)
OVERVIEW
In only two seasons Morrison has proven himself as a playmaker. He had a productive year in 2023, finishing with 25 solo tackles (31 total), 3.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass deflections, and three interceptions.
He played at Brophy High School in Arizona, where he was a four-star recruit and earned First-Team All-Region Kick Returner and All-Region Cornerback honors in 2021. At Notre Dame, he earned True Freshman All-American honors in 2022 (by a number of outlets), and in 2023, he won the Notre Dame Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Engagement Award and was named a Jim Thorpe Award finalist.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
At 6-2, Morrison has the ideal height you look for, with a sizable wingspan to match up with bigger wideouts. In coverage, he shows good pad level and balance to mirror in man and has fluid hips to turn and run. He can be sticky in coverage, showing instincts and the ability to anticipate routes in man and zone coverages. His ball skills are exceptional, great at keeping his head up and finding the ball, and he has quality hands at the catch point. He has the speed to run shoulder to shoulder with the opponent downfield and provide a spark as a returner on defense and special teams. With his size and athleticism, he is versatile enough to play inside or outside and create favorable matchups for his defense.
Weaknesses
Morrison can show inconsistency in getting his head around in coverage, which leads to him initiating early contact and committing penalties downfield. He sometimes fails to get a hand in to break up passes when unable to get his head around before the ball arrives. His tackling technique can be sloppy in the open field, as he has a tendency to arm tackle and fail to wrap up.
Cobee Bryant, Kansas
Cobee Bryant — CB, Kansas, Sr., 5116, 170, 4.49 40 (est). (57th overall and 5th-rated corner on Hall Of Football)
OVERVIEW
Cobee Bryant is an under-the-radar corner with tremendous physical tools. In 2023, he posted 30 solo tackles (32 total), one sack, five pass deflections, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery that resulted in a touchdown.
Bryant was a three-star recruit out of high school and attended Hillcrest High in Alabama where he earned All-State First Team honors in football, along with All-Region honors in basketball in 2018. He has earned several accolades at Kansas, including All-Big 12 First and Second-Team honors in 2022. He made the Chuck Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists. He was a preseason All-Big 12 First-Team and preseason All-Big 12 First-Team in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Cobee Bryant has a frame rare for his position. With his size and length he can line up 1v1 against virtually anyone on the outside. Even though his frame is slight, his wingspan makes it difficult for opponents to make contested catches. He displays good timing with his hands to break up passes and has the ball skills to track and make plays. His hip fluidity and overall balance to mirror in man is satisfactory, he stays patient and feels leverage well to stay on am opponent's hip. In both man and zone coverage, he shows a quality ability to recognize and in anticipate both in-breaking and vertical routes. While his overall speed isn’t anything special, it is favorable enough that he can stick with most receivers downfield.
Weaknesses
Despite his size, his physicality at the LOS to jam in press is adequate, allowing free releases often in those situations. Technique in Bail coverage is decent, but has trouble protecting blind spots and breaking on underneath routes. His tackling technique in open field is sloppy, as he at times does not square up properly, allowing ball carriers to run through his arm tackles with ease. Bryant also displays questionable effort when action flows away from him, and will give up often instead of following the play.
Zemaiah Vaugh, Utah
Zemaiah Vaughn — CB, Utah, rSr, 6002, 185, 4.46 40 (est). (63rd overall and 6th-rated corner on Hall Of Football)
OVERVIEW
Zemaiah Vaughn is heading into the 2024 season as a sixth-year senior for the Utes. In 2023 he recorded 35 solo tackles (53 total), five tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and one interception in 13 games.
Vaughn played high school ball at Beaumont United High in Texas, where he made First-Team All-District as a senior and finished top 3 in district MVP voting. He proceeded to walk on at Utah in 2020 and make the team and earn a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
From a traits standpoint, Vaughn will catch your eye. At 6-2, he has the prototypical height you look for along with a plus wingspan that shrinks throwing windows. As an athlete, he displays the fluidity to flip his hips in coverage and the transition quickness to get downhill and close on the ball. Downfield in coverage, Vaughn consistently gets his head around and tracks the ball well. He has good hand technique on PBU attempts. He is ultra-productive in run support for a corner, shows a willingness to come downhill and tackle, and uses sound technique to finish in space. He also plays with physicality at the LOS in press and in off-coverage, and jams well at the line to make the receiver uncomfortable downfield.
Weaknesses
Vaughn does not have a great feel for zone coverage, can get caught sleeping, and fails to get proper depth in Cover 3, which opens vertical lanes. He lacks the instincts to feel for leverage in the zone, or to anticipate where the ball is going and jump routes. His ball skills to create turnovers are subpar. Even when in position, he does not show great instincts to attack and make plays on the ball.
Hairston celebrates turnover for Kentucky defense.
Maxwell Hairston — CB, Kentucky, rJr., 6005, 181, 4.5 40 (est). (75th Overall and 7th-ranked corner on Hall Of Football list)
OVERVIEW
Hairston will be in his third season with Kentucky as a redshirt junior in 2024. He finished his 2023 campaign with 55 solo tackles (68 total), six pass deflections, five interceptions, two pick sixes and one forced fumble.
Hairston was a three-star prospect out of West Bloomfield High School in Michigan, where he lettered in football and basketball. In 2023, at Kentucky, he earned SEC Fall Academic honors, Second-Team Midseason All-America honors, All-America honorable mention, and Second-Team All-SEC honors.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Hairston displays polished technique in coverage and keeps low pad level with proper footwork to stay balanced. He shows a comfortable feel for zone and keeps the play in front of him. He is a very smooth athlete and shows superb ability to get depth and pass off zones underneath or downfield. He has sharp instincts to anticipate routes and read the QB’s eyes, and has excellent short-area quickness to change direction and break toward the ball. When in a position to make a play, he has quality hands to secure turnovers, and with the playmaking ability and speed, he makes a bid for a big return also. He is technically polished as a tackler in run support, both in space and around the LOS.
Weaknesses
Being a smaller corner means Harrison faces mismatches against bigger targets who can stack him relatively easily on vertical routes. Players with big catch radiuses are able to beat him downfield on 50/50 balls. He struggles getting his head around and locating the ball downfield, and struggles to time his hands to break up passes. He also displays so-so route recognition in man to anticipate and jump routes in coverage.
Starks has Bulldog and championship pedigree.
Malaki Starks — S, Georgia, Jr, 6006, 205, 4.47 40 (est). (1st-ranked safety and 15th overall player on Hall of Football list)
OVERVIEW
Malaki Starks, who in 2024 will be playing his third season at the University of Georgia, is widely viewed as the top safety prospect of the 2025 class. In 2023, he finished with 31 solo tackles (52 total), three interceptions, and seven pass deflections in 14 games.
Coming out of Jefferson High School in Georgia, Starks was a five-star prospect and viewed as the No. 1 ranked athlete prospect in the nation. During his time at Georgia, he earned numerous accolades such as First-Team Freshman All-America in 2022, finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award in 2022, AP Preseason All-America First-Team in 2023. In 2023, he was also on the Bronko Nagurski watch list in 2023, named Pre-Season Media Days All-SEC First-Team in 2023, Midseason All-America and a semi-finalist for the Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Awards. He also garnered All-SEC First-Team and First-Team All-American honors in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Malaki Starks has the ideal height for the safety position, along with plus wingspan to match up with a larger-framed opponent. He shows exceptional pre-snap recognition and overall IQ, and, in coverage, he communicates with his teammates, making sure everyone knows their assignments. He shows satisfactory ability and technique to mirror in man, and he knows how to pass off in zone. He displays quality range when playing single high and has acceptable speed to cover ground sideline to sideline. When the play is in front of him, he has good timing with his hands to jar the ball loose in tight coverage. He also displays in coverage the quality transition quickness to plant and get downhill when attempting to make a play on the ball. In run support, he is decent at securing tackles around the LOS, where he can square the opponent up.
Weaknesses
Starks shows tight hips in coverage and can struggle flipping them when the opponent crosses his face. When covering receivers downfield, he shows adequate ability to get his head around and locate the ball, but he can show bad body control and mistime his jump when attempting to make a play. In the open field, his tackling technique can be lazy, as he fails to break down and wrap up consistently.
Oklahoma's standout safety Billy Bowman Jr.
Billy Bowman Jr. — S, Oklahoma, Sr, 5095, 194, 4.42 40 (est). (2nd-ranked safety and 70th overall on Hall of Football list)
OVERVIEW
Billy Bowman Jr. has been a staple of the Sooners' defense for a few years and is coming off of two productive seasons. In 13 games in 2023, he tallied 37 solo tackles (63 total), three tackles for loss, six interceptions, three touchdowns, and four pass deflections.
Bowman was a four-star recruit and a top 100 national recruit out of Ryan High School in Texas where he was a big part of a 15-0 state championship team. Some awards he has earned at Oklahoma to this point of his career include All Big-12 honorable mention in 2022, First-Team All-American and All Big-12 First Team in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Strengths
In zone coverage, Bowman’s ability to mirror is favorable, as he gets good depth and passes off well. He also shows quality instincts to read the QB’s eyes and flow to where the ball is going. He is great at tracking the ball downfield in coverage, able to keep his body control and locate the ball effectively. When the ball is in the air he has plus ball skills and hands to take the ball away. His short-area quickness and ability to change direction are excellent, and he showcases quick click-close speed when getting downhill. He has a sneaky burst when the ball is in his hands, and he’s explosive enough in space to make quality returns after taking the ball away. Bowman is productive in run support and shows the ability to fight off blocks and serve as a reliable tackler around the LOS and in space.
Weaknesses
Bowman’s overall length is inferior compared to other players at his position, and he will struggle to make a play on the ball against bigger, more physical opponents. Very tight-hipped in man coverage, he can struggle to turn and run and stick with nuanced route runners. His route recognition in man coverage is just adequate, and he often plays on heels, meaning that he has problems anticipating leverage vertically and on in-breaking routes.
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There is legitimate talent in this crop of corners for next year’s class. With the unique blend of prototypes in these players, teams will have plenty of options to choose from based on their preferences. If all these players declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, we may be in for another excellent year of NFL rookies in 2025.