Top 25 cornerback rankings entering Week 10 of college football

Last weekend in college football provided some memorable games and some quality upsets, enough to shake up the weekly cornerback rankings toward the bottom quite a bit. A few of the top stars were on byes this week.

Still, there was plenty of overall shuffling in this week’s edition looking at the top 25 cornerbacks in the country.

Without wasting too much time let’s jump in and see who is making waves in the most recent games, justifying moves up the list this week. Here we go.

1. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

With no game last weekend there was no reason to move Abrams-Draine out of the top spot, so he remains here for another week. It’s well-deserved, too. Abrams-Draine has been one of the most productive cornerbacks in the country.

Through the first eight games of the season he has recorded 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. That’s excellent production for an SEC cornerback.

2. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Speaking of SEC cornerbacks, McKinstry was also on a bye this week, ahead of a pivotal SEC West contest against LSU. He’ll need to be at his best if the Crimson Tide are going to take back the division and return to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.

In the first eight games this season, McKinstry has logged 20 tackles, a tackle for a loss and five pass breakups. The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but McKinstry is also a veteran team leader that adds value that way as well.

3. Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Iowa was also on its bye week on Saturday, getting a much-needed breather after a heartbreaking close loss to Minnesota. DeJean’s been as active as anyone in these cornerback rankings and will likely benefit from the extra time off over the last week.

Right now DeJean has accounted for 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups in eight games. He’ll be looking to add to those figures down the stretch this season.

4. Travis Hunter, Colorado

After the midseason injury, Hunter has been back in form for the Colorado Buffaloes. He’s played each of the last two weeks, making a considerable impact. Last week he picked off a pair of passes against UCLA, keeping his team in the contest.

Hunter has been remarkably effective on both sides of the ball in limited action. Defensively he has 18 tackles, three interceptions and two pass breakups while playing in only five games (and in one of them he was injured early in the game).

5. Denzel Burke, Ohio State

Burke missed the Penn State game due to injury but was back this week against Wisconsin and had a pretty good showing. He allowed two catches on four targets, but he also turned in a pass breakup in the win.

That pass breakup was Burke’s eighth on the season, moving him near the top of the country in passes defended. On the season Burke has nine tackles, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, an interception and the eight pass breakups.

6. Mike Sainristil, Michigan

Another player in the top 10 of our cornerback rankings that was on a bye this week, Sainristil has earned the time off. He’s been a key cog in a very good Michigan secondary all season long.

Through the first eight games of the season, Sainristil has accounted for 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, three interceptions, four pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. He’s been quite productive.

7. Willie Roberts, LA Tech

Roberts just has a knack for getting his hands on passes, and he continues to display that as he holds onto a spot in the top 10. On Tuesday against New Mexico State, Roberts logged another pass breakup, his fourth straight game with one.

The talented Louisiana Tech defender has now racked up 33 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and 10 pass breakups on the season. He’s been consistent across the board.

8. TJ Tampa, Iowa State

Tampa was very good in a game against Baylor, managing to play almost lockdown football. He gave up one completion on one attempt, but for just 13 yards in the contest, mostly doing his job on his side of the field.

The Iowa State standout has been quite good through the first eight games. He has 31 tackles, a tackle for a loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

9. Josh Newton, TCU

The fifth player in the top 10 of the cornerback rankings with a bye last week, Newton has emerged as one of the Big 12’s best in the secondary. He hasn’t necessarily put up monster numbers but has shown quality coverage skills every single week.

Newton currently has 19 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups to his name. He’s not quite as productive as some others on this list, but he’s been vital to TCU’s success when it has come.

10. Khyree Jackson, Oregon

Jackson got involved in some unconventional ways in a big win over Utah, a significant Pac-12 matchup that put Oregon in tremendous position in the Pac-12 title race. He made an impact in the backfield.

During the game against Utah, Jackson logged five tackles, including two tackles for a loss and a sack. That kind of versatility showed what he can do. On the season Jackson has 20 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

Top 25 Cornerbacks 11-25

11. DJ James, Auburn
12. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
13. Jahdae Barron, Texas
14. Kalen King, Penn State
15. Christian Roland-Wallace, USC
16. Terrion Arnold, Alabama
17. Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
18. Kamal Hadden, Tennessee
19. Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State
20. Sebastian Castro, Iowa
21. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
22. Kamari Lassitter, Georgia
23. Beanie Bishop, West Virginia
24. Jayvion Cole, San Jose State
25. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

There were a handful of byes among the rest of the cornerback rankings, as well as one player, Kamal Hadden, that was lost for the season. Some of the standout performances from the last week included a two-interception day by Bishop, as well as Cole snagging an interception for the third straight game. Those players worked their way onto the list for the first time. Stay tuned to see if anyone else can do the same next week.