2007 CFN All-Americans
Cornerbacks
CFN 2007 All-Americans and Top 25 Players
2007 Preview |
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2007 CFN Preseason First Team All-Americans
1.
Antoine Cason, Sr. Arizona
2. Jack Ikegwuonu, Jr. Wisconsin
3. Brandon Flowers, Jr. Va Tech
4. Trae Williams, Sr. South Florida
5. Aqib Talib, Jr. Kansas
6. Malcolm Jenkins, Jr. Ohio State
7. Reggie Smith, Jr. Oklahoma
8. Terrence Wheatley, Sr. Colorado
9. Chevis Jackson, Sr. LSU
10. DeJuan Tribble, Sr. Boston Coll
11. Simeon Castille, Sr. Alabama
12. Mike Mickens, Jr. Cincinnati
13. Tracy Porter, Sr. Indiana
14. Terrell Thomas, Sr. USC
15. Trey Brown, Sr. UCLA
16. Justin King, Jr. Penn State
17. Dwight Lowery, Sr. San Jose St
18. Marcus Walker, Sr. Oklahoma
19. Mike Jenkins, Sr. South Florida
20. Justin Tryon, Sr. Arizona State
21. Jack Williams, Sr. Kent State
22. Lionell Singleton, Sr. FIU
23. Jarius Byrd, Soph. Oregon
24. Stanley Franks, Sr. Idaho
25. Alphonso Smith, Jr. Wake Forest |
Antoine
Cason, Sr. Arizona
Cason's a bona fide
lock-down corner and one of the premier defensive backs in the country.
A three-time member of the All-Pac-10 team, his decision to put off the
NFL for one more year was one of the biggest off-season developments for
the program. With Cason roaming the secondary, it basically cuts off
half the field for opposing quarterbacks. He's been one of the league's
most productive defenders from day one, and now will force every
quarterback to know where he is at all times.
Jack
Ikegwuonu, Jr. Wisconsin
He's big,
physical, and very, very fast making 41 tackles on the year with two
interceptions and 11 broken up passes. He made a national name for
himself by chasing down Arkansas star running back Darren McFadden, and
now the spotlight will be on him all season long when he matches up
against the top receivers in the league. He'll also be one of the Big
Ten's premier tackling corners.
2007 CFN Preseason Second Team All-Americans
Brandon Flowers, Jr. Virginia Tech
There's been
some sensational corners at Virginia Tech over the years, but the 5-10,
190-pound Flowers could be the best of the bunch. A good tackler with 51
stops last season, he was a rock when the ball was in the air with three
interceptions and 18 broken up passes. While he doesn't have the raw
speed of DeAngelo Hall, and he's not as big and physical as Jimmy
Williams, he has the potential to be a first round draft pick and grow
into a truly special corner if he keeps working.
Trae Williams,
Sr. South Florida
Now a third-year
starter in the secondary, the converted running back has blossomed into
the proverbial lockdown corner and one of the premier defensive backs in
the Big East. He led the league with seven interceptions in 2006, but
could have had more if opposing quarterbacks weren’t so timid about
throwing to his side of the field.
2007 CFN Honorable Mention All-Americans
(in alphabetical order)
Malcolm Jenkins, Jr. Ohio State
The
Buckeyes secondary will start with the 6-1, 202-pound junior and go from
there. One of the nation's best all-around defensive backs, and an
almost certain top 50 draft pick whenever he comes out, he has size, 4.3
speed, and plenty of production with 55 tackles and four interceptions
last season. He's the lock down corner everyone's looking for, and there
isn't a more sure open field tackling defensive back in the Big Ten.
Don't expect the stats to be that great; everyone will stay away from
him.
Chevis Jackson, Sr. LSU
The
star of the great LSU secondary, Jackson's a great hitter who came up
with 46 tackles last year to go along with 14 broken up passes and two
interceptions. Unlike Zenon, Jackson has NFL written all over him, but
first, he might earn a few All-America honors with the speed, size, and
technique to be a lock-down defender on anyone's number one.
Reggie Smith, Jr. Oklahoma
Considering the OU secondary is among the best in the nation with
several all-star candidates and NFL prospects, the coaching staff did a
lot of shuffling this spring. The biggest move was taking the 6-1,
197-pound Smith, a first-team All-Big 12 safety who made 41 tackles,
three interceptions and broke up eight passes, and moving him to corner.
Originally a corner, starting the first three games there in 2006 before
moving to strong safety, Smith should be fine, but not as good. He's not
a blazer, but he can get to the ball in a hurry with good functional
speed. As big a year as he had last season, he didn't do enough against
the run.
Aqib Talib, Jr. Kansas
The
secondary might have stunk last year, but don't blame Talib, one of the
Big 12's best corners. While he got beat his share of times, he also won
several battles with six interceptions and 22 broken up passes. At 6-2
and 180 pounds, he's big and physical with 39 of his 42 tackles
unassisted, and 76 total stops over the last two years. He's an All-Big
12 performer who'll be the star of the defense, even though no one's
going to throw his way
DeJuan Tribble, Sr. Boston College
Tribble isn't all that big at 5-9 and 190 pounds, but he's one of the
ACC's premier cover corners with nine interceptions and 11 broken up
passes over the last two years, stepping up his game last season with
seven picks. With 106 tackles over the last two season, 89 of them solo,
he's a tough tackler who doesn't miss a play. Everyone will stay away
from him if possible.
Terrence Wheatley, Sr. Colorado
The
secondary struggled last season, but it wasn't necessarily the fault
Wheatley, one of the Big 12's best all-around corners earning first-team
honors last year making 57 tackles, five interceptions and 11 broken up
passes. While he's not all that big at 5-10 and 175 pounds, he has 4.4
speed and is terrific at making up ground when the ball is in the air.
The question mark is his health. He was fine throughout last year, but
he's had problems in the past with his hamstring as well as a wrist
injury that cost him all of 2005.
