Ranking the Big Ten: Cornerback
As the 2024 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players in the Big Ten Conference.
We continue our Ranking of the Big Ten series with the top five cornerbacks in the conference. The new Big Ten is loaded with talented cornerbacks, including the top cornerback in the country.
Related: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DT | OLB |
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1. Will Johnson, Michigan
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is projected to be the best cornerback in 2024 by Lindy’s. He was the defensive MVP in Michigan’s national championship win over Washington. Running back Blake Corum, a 2024 NFL Draft third-round draft pick, was the offensive MVP. Johnson had an interception right before halftime that kept the Huskies from tying the game.
In 2023, Johnson recorded 27 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass breakups and one tackle for a loss of seven yards. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound corner was a First Team All-American and a consensus First Team All-Big Ten selection. The sky is the limit for Johnson in his third season with the Wolverines.
2. Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Another first-team All-Big Ten cornerback is returning in 2024. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke was a first-team pick by the conference coaches and a second-team selection by the media. In 2023, Burke recorded 24 tackles, three tackles for loss and nine pass breakups. He had an interception against Youngstown State and forced a fumble vs. West Kentucky.
Burke started all 35 games since he arrived at Ohio State in 2021. He is likely to surpass William White, who had 46 starts between 1984-87, for the school record for starts by a cornerback. He is also 11 pass breakups away from setting Ohio State’s PBU record.
Lindy’s selected Burke as the No. 5 cornerback in the country. He has all the tools to uphold the projections.
3. Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin
Wisconsin cornerback Ricardo Hallman led the FBS with seven interceptions in 2023. Lindy’s has selected Hallman as the No. 6 cornerback in the country in 2024. He was named on the Third Team All-Big Ten team by the conference media and an honorable mention by the coaches in 2023. However, AP selected him as a third-team All-American.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound CB will be undeniable in 2024. He has the third-highest Pro Football Focus coverage grade (84.1) of the returning Big Ten cornerbacks. Hallman also ranked third with an overall 83.5 defense grade. In 2023, he had 34 tackles, seven stops and allowed one touchdown in 880 games.
4. Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Iowa cornerback Sebastian Castro led the Big Ten in three very important PFF grades in 2023. He recorded the highest PFF coverage grade (91.3), with Nebraska’s Tommi Hill at second with an 87.1 grade. Castro also had the highest overall defense grade (91.2) of the cornerbacks last season. Additionally, The 5-foot-11, 205-pound bac had allowed 6.1 yards per reception, which was the least in the conference.
In 2023, he recorded 59 tackles, 36 stops, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. The conference media selected him for the second-team All-Big Ten, while the coaches picked him as an honorable mention. However, PFF selected him as a first-team All-American and Phil Steele picked Castro on the preseason All-Big Ten second-team.
5. Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad is at his third and final Division I school. He played three seasons at Oklahoma State, starting 11 games. Then Muhammad transferred to Washington for a breakout season.
He was selected by the conference coaches on the All-Pac-12 Second Team. AP and Phil Steele picked him on their All-Pac-12 first teams. Heading into the 2024 season, Lindy’s has him listed as the fourth-best cornerback in the country.
The DeSoto, Texas native led the Pac-12 with 12 pass breakups, tying with Arizona’s Tacario Davis. Of the 18 Big Ten teams, including the four newcomers, Muhammad led those teams in pass breakups as well. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound back recorded 44 tackles, 20 stops, three interceptions and allowed two touchdowns in 2023 at Washington.
