Top 10 Cornerbacks in College Football in 2023

In today’s version of college football with spread offenses proliferating, having a good lockdown cornerback can be the difference between winning and losing. We’re here to reveal the top 10 cornerbacks in college football.

Our ranking includes both veterans and younger players, but rest assured all of these players have proven their skill already.

Below are the top 10 cornerbacks ahead of the 2023 season, according to On3.

Top 10 Cornerbacks in College Football

1. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama: McKinstry’s sophomore season in 2022 was every bit as good as his freshman season, with the elite athlete showing off his skills both on defense and on special teams. As a cornerback, McKinstry tallied 34 tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception last season. He also averaged 15.8 yards per punt return.

2. Travis Hunter, Colorado: After playing the 2022 season at Jackson State, Hunter followed head coach Deion Sanders over to Colorado. So his skill will be on display on the big stage in the Pac-12. And there are some serious skills. Teams were reluctant to throw at Hunter last season for good reason. He finished the year with 20 tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

3. Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas: After transferring from LSU to Arkansas last season, McGlothern was one of the few veterans who stayed mostly healthy in Arkansas’ secondary. He was elite, too. McGlothern totaled 52 tackles, a tackle for a loss, four interceptions, 14 passes defended and two forced fumbles.

4. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame: One of the true freshmen who found his way onto this list, Morrison had a knack for getting the ball off the opponent. He led the Fighting Irish in the secondary, tallying 33 tackles, six interceptions and 10 passes defended. His six interceptions were tied for seventh nationally.

5. Kalen King, Penn State: King had a big impact at Penn State in his second season, and he’ll go into his junior year looked at as one of the leaders on defense. King recorded 30 tackles last season, while also picking off three passes, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble.

6. Will Johnson, Michigan: Another freshman to make the list, Johnson should only get better going into his sophomore season. The 6-foot-2 cornerback has great length and used it to his advantage last fall. He recorded 27 tackles, two tackles for a loss, three interceptions and six passes defended.

7. Fentrell Cypress, Florida State: One of the cornerbacks on the move, Cypress transferred to Florida State this offseason after starring at Virginia in 2022. During his 2022 campaign, Cypress recorded a career-high 39 tackles, while also logging an impressive 14 pass breakups on the year.

8. Josh Newton, TCU: After transferring from UL-Monroe to TCU, Newton picked up playing at a high level. With the Horned Frogs he recorded 35 tackles, while also breaking up 15 passes and picking off three more. He ran one of his interceptions back for a touchdown and had 114 return yards off his three interceptions, showing his elite athleticism and skill.

9. Marcellas Dial, South Carolina: One of the most all-around productive players on this top 10 cornerbacks list, Dial did it all for South Carolina last fall. He recorded 45 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions for the Gamecocks last fall.

10. Aydan White, NC State: The final entry in our list, White was a productive third-year player for NC State. He had a lot of success taking the ball off opponents and he even managed to hit paydirt on one interception. He finished his 2022 campaign with 46 tackles, a sack, four interceptions and nine passes defended.