Top 10 cornerbacks in the On3 College Football Impact 300

The On3 Impact 300 ranks the best players in college football entering the 2022 season, with a full release coming in the next few weeks. Prior to the release of the inaugural list – which also factors into the calculation of the On3 NIL Valuation – On3 has revealed the Top 10 returning cornerbacks.

South Carolina stud Cam Smith tops the list after showing out as a redshirt sophomore. He’s back for the Gamecocks and will look to prove his ranking at the top of his position group.

These are the 10 most impactful cornerbacks with less than three months until the 2022 season kicks off.

On3 Impact 300’s Cornerbacks

1. Cam Smith, South Carolina

Smith finished his redshirt sophomore season with three interceptions, but he had a far bigger impact than those numbers would suggest. He allowed only 15 catches on 32 targets, leading the Gamecocks with 14 passes defended. His current NIL valuation is a whopping $547,000, good for No. 44 on the NIL 100 ranking.

2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M

A very active tackler, Johnson finished his sophomore season with 79 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and six passes defended. He stated 12 games. His current NIL valuation is $544,000.

3. Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Ringo made the Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team after starting the final 12 games of the season for the eventual national champions. He finished with 34 tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack, two interceptions and 10 passes defended. He has the highest NIL valuation among cornerbacks at $668,000.

4. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

The fourth straight player at the top of the ranking from the SEC, Abrams-Draine moved to defensive back from receiver in 2021. He then started 10 games, recording three interceptions, breaking up 10 passes and ending with 37 tackles. Current NIL valuation: $522,000.

5. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

A two-year starter now for the Nittany Lions, Porter Jr. earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by the league’s coaches in 2021. He had 51 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. The son of former Steelers star Joey Porter, Porter Jr. carries an NIL valuation of $549,000, the second-highest for a cornerback.

6. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Playing in Alabama’s secondary as a freshman it didn’t take long for McKinstry to turn some heads. He finished on the SEC All-Freshman Team, notching 25 tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack, an interception and two passes defended in his first year.

7. Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M

Another player who made the SEC All-Freshman-Team last year, Chappelle made eight starts and finished Top 5 in the SEC with 10 pass breakups. He also added 41 tackles and three tackles for a loss. His current NIL valuation is $342,000.

8. Eli Ricks, Alabama

After transferring in from LSU this offseason, Ricks will help keep the Alabama secondary strong. Ricks’ 2021 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury, and he tallied just 11 tackles, one pass defended and an interception. But he’s a ballhawk when he’s healthy.

9. Josh DeBerry, Boston College

DeBerry has had back-to-back excellent seasons for the Eagles, racking up a combined 93 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three interceptions and eight passes defended since the start of 2020. He has an NIL valuation estimated at $315,000.

10. DJ Turner, Michigan

A first-time starter in 2021, Turner earned an honorable mention nod from the Big Ten. He made eight starts and recorded 33 tackles, while breaking up nine passes and picking off two more. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on different occasions last year.

Check out On3’s Top 10 quarterbacks , Top 10 running backs, Top 10 wide receivers, Top 10 tight ends, Top 10 offensive tackles, Top 10 interior offensive linemen , Top 10 edge rushers, Top 10 defensive tackles, and Top 10 linebackers for 2022.