Top cornerback signees in the 2025 class

All but one of the top 50 cornerbacks in the 2025 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking — have signed with a college program.

The 37 blue-chip signees at the position have landed among 23 schools. LSU, Oregon, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Auburn, Oklahoma, Georgia and Miami each signed multiple four or five-star corners.

Below are where the top 10 cornerback prospects in the 2025 cycle signed earlier this month:

1. Devin Sanchez — Ohio State

School: Houston North Shore
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 7 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Tall, athletic cornerback who boasts the most refined coverage skill set among top defensive backs in the 2025 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with 32-inch arms at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Touts a strong size and speed combination, running 10.69 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. A lockdown defender while playing for the top high school program in Houston. Not targeted often, but makes plays on the ball at a very high rate. Finished with 11 pass breakups and five interceptions as a junior. Comfortable in working on an island in man coverage. Has smooth and technical footwork.

…Shows instincts and ball skills. Does a great job staying attached on vertical routes. Even when he gives up a catch, still manages to be in good position. A one-way, specialized cornerback prospect. Will need to add physicality to his game as he tends to shy away from contact as a tackler. High-end traits and polish make him the safest bet in coverage in the cycle with his ceiling likely to be determined by his development as a run defender and open field tackler.”

2. DJ Pickett — LSU

School: Zephyrhills (Fla.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 10 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Dynamic, explosive two-way playmaker who looks like one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2025 cycle, with the highest upside coming as a cornerback. A big-time two-way player as a receiver and defensive back. Tall and long with a thinner build, measuring at 6-foot-4, 179 pounds at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Has elite length for the position with 33 ⅝-inch arms. An extremely twitchy athlete who also excels in track and field. Turned in sensational marks in the 100 meters (10.62 seconds) and 200 meters (21.69 seconds) as a sophomore. A natural playmaker on Friday nights. Pairs his plus athleticism and easy movement skills with high level instincts and ball skills. Worked as a safety as an underclassman before playing corner as a senior. High-level ball production with at least four interceptions as a senior.

…Has rare fluidity in his backpedal and hips for such a tall corner. Reads and jumps routes to make plays on the ball. Showed the ability to fly downhill and deliver big hits on ball carriers while playing as a safety in his junior year. Doubles as a game-breaking receiver with the ability to take the top off of defenses and come down with acrobatic contested catches. Finished his junior season with 1,033 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception. Was ranked as a safety early on, but projects as a legitimate high-end cornerback prospect and is talented enough to be considered a blue-chip wide receiver. Will need to gain experience if he converts to corner, primarily having been a safety at the high school level. A bit older for the cycle, with a May birthday. Will need to continue adding good mass to his leaner frame once in college. Has significant upside as a potential early contributor and high NFL Draft pick.”

3. Na’eem Offord — Oregon

School: Birmingham (Ala.) Parker
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Twitchy, coordinated, physical three-phase playmaker who projects as one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2025 cycle. Checked in at 6-foot-1.25, 181-pounds with 31.5-inch arms at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Registered as one of the top athletes on the spring camp circuit prior to his junior season. A three-phase playmaker on Friday nights, making plays as a corner, return man and offense as a receiver and ball carrier. Flashes instincts and ball skills at corner. Effective at triggering and jumping passes to make plays on the ball. Very loose in his lower body, making for high-level change of direction. Excellent ball tracker as a defensive back, showing the ability to locate the football over his shoulder. Closes quickly as a tackler in the flats.

…Arguably the most physical top cornerback prospect in the 2025 cycle, driving through ball carriers on contact. Has a playmaking element to his game, which can be seen as a punt returner, taking back multiple punts for touchdowns as a junior. Has outstanding balance with the ball in his hands. Turned in a strong junior season, picking off five passes and scoring 12 total touchdowns, scoring five different ways. Speed is good, but not elite at the position, so will need to continue improving his top gear. Posted an 11.09 second time in the 100 meters and went 21.97 in the 200 meters as a junior. Pure football player who should continue improving with more time spent focused on working as a defensive back.”

4. Dijon Lee — Alabama

School: Mission Viejo (Calif.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 23 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Dijon Lee is a tall, nimble cover corner. He’s a guy who is one of the tallest corners in this cycle. We measured him at over 6-foot-3, 187 pounds at the On3 Elite Series a month ago. I think at that size, he has solid length for the position with 32-inch arms. He’s a guy who has played a lot of very competitive, high-level football at Mission Viejo. Faced a lot of top teams and Power 4-level receivers. He has shown high-level feet at that size. Instinctive in coverage, and good at reading receivers and understanding route concepts. Generally finds himself in a good position to make plays on the ball. Had two interceptions as a junior, and we saw him get his hands on a lot of passes in coverage. He’s a guy who I think projects as a boundary cover corner long-term just given his size and skill set.”

5. Kade Phillips — Texas

School: Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 34 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “One of the top physical talents at cornerback in the 2025 cycle with unique dimensions, athleticism and ball skills. Measured in at 6-foot-0.5, 180 pounds with elite length (33.5-inch arms) and massive 10.5-inch hands. A top track athlete who was a state finalist in the long jump as a junior. Shows his high-end physical traits on Friday nights. A two-way standout for his high school team, lining up at wide receiver and corner. Shows excellent ball skills, coming down with contested catches with regularity. The ball skills manifest in high end ball production with several receiving touchdowns and interceptions as a senior. Able to stay in phase and uses his burst to close cushions quickly. Draws on his experience as a safety to provide a physical presence in run support. Will need to continue adding technical polish to his cover skills. Owns one of the highest upsides at cornerback in the 2025 cycle.”

6. Brandon Finney — Oregon

School: Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 37 NATL.

Finney on his commitment: “Before Oregon, I was kind of set on Penn State,” Finney told On3. “During the visit, through meetings with Coach Tosh (Lupoi) and Coach (Chris) Hampton and Coach (Cody) Wadood, seeing how they would use me, how they don’t have too many people at corner and then with Coach (Kyle) Bolton, meeting him kinda influenced the decision.”

“It was obviously a very hard choice,” he added. “Realistically the only reason for me not to go to Oregon was really the distance. That was the one thing I had to get over, and I’m fine with that.”

7. Dorian Brew — Oregon

School: Conroe (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 60 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Corner with translatable size, athleticism and ball skills. Measured at 6-foot-0.25, 202 pounds with 30.5-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Initially came on recruiting radars as a wide receiver before becoming a cornerback prospect. Transferred high schools mid-season as a junior, moving from Ohio to Texas. Has the speed and movement skills to stick with receivers on vertical routes, though he wasn’t tested much vertically as a junior. A physical player who can reroute receivers. Also a willing tackler and doesn’t shy away from contact. History as a receiver gives him well above average ball skills for the position. Has a very strong athletic pedigree with both parents being top track athletes, including a father who was an Olympic sprinter. Had a disjointed junior season after changing schools mid-year. Saw a dip in track times, Running over 11.0 seconds in the 100 meters on 75% of his races as a junior. Length is average for the position. Has physical and athletic upside, but will need to get back on track as a senior.”

8. Shamari Earls — Michigan

School: Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 62 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “One of the most physically-gifted cornerback prospects in the 2025 cycle, who touts a high-end combination of size, athleticism and ball skills. Measured in at a shade under 6-foot-2, 205 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length, with arms that measure 32.75 inches. A two-way standout at the high school level, working as a wide receiver and cornerback. Uses his length and instincts to make plays in coverage. Does a nice job staying in-phase, especially on broken plays. Can use his strength and length to disrupt receivers within the route. Active and willing in run support. Came down with a few difficult interceptions as a junior.

…Flashes his athleticism as a receiver, showing the ability to take the top off of defenses and pull away in the open field. Finished his junior season with 25 tackles and 2 interceptions to go with 720 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. A top athlete in track and field, running a 10.80 second 100 meters as a junior. Also won a state title in indoor long jump with a 23-10.75 foot leap. Missed the majority of his senior season with injury. Will need to continue honing his technical skill in coverage as a corner and should make strides once he fully focuses on the position.”

9. Adonyss Currie — Texas A&M

School: Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 66 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Adonyss Currie blanketed receivers throughout day one of the OT7 Championship. His ability to stay in every receiver’s hip pocket in coverage consistently shows up in the 7-on-7 setting. Currie’s foot speed and hip fluidity allow him to mirror would-be pass catchers with ease. He also has the top-end speed to run vertically with virtually anyone who lines up across from him. The Aggie pledge put in a clean performance at corner on day one of the OT7 Championship.”

10. Graceson Littleton — Texas

School: Tampa Wiregrass Ranch
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 67 NATL.

Insider’s Take: “Adequate height and a good frame to build on. Longish arms. Great acceleration and change of direction. Gets up to speed quickly. Top end speed is well above average and will run down most ball carriers at the high school level on pure speed. Several highlights in press man. Establishes good leverage on the receiver and consistently lands the jam. Man turns are fluid and no visible false steps in transition. Makes excellent use of the boundary and will establish position forcing the receiver to fight to stay in bounds. Will consistently stay in phase and track the ball well. Contests the catch zone effectively and lower body explosiveness helps him attack the ball in the air. Good judge of the ball in flight. Catch motion is pretty fluid. A threat to score from anywhere with the ball in his hands. Good kick return highlights showing good vision and decisive cuts.” — InsideTexas’ Charlie Williams