Top 25 cornerback rankings entering Week 5 of college football
The 2023 season continues to wear on and with it the impressive performances from some of college football’s top stars. That’s also been true in the secondary, where our cornerback rankings continue to shift.
Our top cornerback was held out again after suffering an injury, but several others in the top 10 managed to shift around with impressive play.
Let’s take a look at all the action from our top 10 cornerbacks over the weekend as we rerank our entire list of the top 25 cornerbacks in the country through Week 4.
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
The Colorado star missed the Oregon game as a result of a hit he sustained a week earlier that caused a lacerated liver. Hunter is expected to be out for at least a few weeks recovering from the injury.
Given what he has already shown in limited action, sitting out a bit isn’t likely to impact what people think of him. Hunter can flat-out play.
2. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The Alabama defensive back came up big in a key SEC West showdown with Ole Miss. McKinstry cobbled together two pass breakups in the contest, helping the Crimson Tide tame an otherwise prolific Rebels offense.
Ole Miss scored just 10 in the contest, as the Alabama secondary proved its mettle.
3. Kalen King, Penn State
King remains in the No. 3 spot, just behind our consistent top two pairing from the last couple weeks. He did everything he needed to do in a quiet outing in a dominant win over Iowa.
Penn State managed to record a 31-0 shutout, which is usually indicative of a solid showing in the secondary.
4. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
DeJean’s team came up on the wrong end of the matchup with King and the Nittany Lions, but the talented cornerback managed to stand out all the same.
He allowed just 28 yards against him in the game, limiting Penn State for most of the contest to short-yardage throws on his side of the field.
5. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
In the big showdown of the weekend, Morrison was up to the task against Ohio State. He recorded two pass breakups, while allowing just 39 yards in nine targets against him.
That’s a solid showing against what might be the nation’s top receiving corps at Ohio State.
6. Mike Sainristil, Michigan
So far this season Michigan has picked up right where it left off after back-to-back playoff appearances. The Wolverines took on Rutgers this weekend and made short work of it, holding the Scarlett Knights to just seven points in the contest.
Sainristil recorded a 71-yard pick-six in the game, helping Michigan open up the lead in the third quarter.
7. Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Like Morrison, Burke had a very strong showing in the game of the week. He was a lockdown presence against the Fighting Irish, showing the ability to stick with his men and yield nothing.
He didn’t show up on the state sheet in the game but had a strong all-around performance.
8. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Abrams-Draine posted another terrific outing, fresh off the heels of a fantastic showing against Kansas State. He recorded seven tackles against Memphis, while also picking off a pass and breaking up another.
On the season he has 18 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups, moving into the top 10 of our cornerback rankings this week.
9. DJ James, Auburn
In a bit of a defensive tussle with Texas A&M, James held his own and only gave up one catch for 26 yards in the contest. He also recorded two tackles in the game.
On the year, James has accounted for 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, an interception and two pass breakups.
10. Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
McGlothern recorded his second interception of the season in a narrow loss to LSU, entering the top 10 of the cornerback rankings. He also recorded three tackles and a pass breakup while in action against the Tigers.
On the season McGlothern has seven tackles, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Top 25 Cornerbacks 11-25
11. TJ Tampa, Iowa State
12. Khyree Jackson, Oregon
13. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
14. Willie Roberts, LA Tech
15. Jahdae Barron, Texas
16. Jaylin Davies, UCLA
17. Micah Abraham, Marshall
18. Josh Newton, TCU
19. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
20. Nate Wiggins, Clemson
21. Malik Fleming, Houston
22. Terrion Arnold, Alabama
23. Deantre Prince, Ole Miss
24. Will Johnson, Michigan
25. Fentrell Cypress, Florida State
The big addition to the top 25 this week is Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, who managed to record a pair of pick-sixes against Vanderbilt this weekend. But there were some other impressive performances, too. Tampa had an interception, as did Newton and Arnold. A handful of top cornerbacks are beginning to separate themselves from the pack with their interception totals, so be sure to come back for next week’s edition of the cornerback rankings.