2025: Secondary

Travis Hunter – WR/CB – Colorado – 98

It’s rare to do two write-ups for one prospect, but here goes. Hunter has good size for cornerback and his ball skills can make him a game wrecker. He is best suited to zone defense where his football intelligence can make the most impact. I love that he’s a willing tackler and believe he could be a great centerfielder on defense as well. I was prepared for him to be a better corner prospect than receiver, but at this point I can’t decide. Either way, take him high and be happy.

Jahdae Barron – CB - Michigan – 93

Asante Samuel is a perfect comparison. Small quick corner that cuts on a dime and has a nose for the football. Zone coverage is his bread and butter where he can wait and pounce. I’d love to see him more in man coverage situations because he’s clearly got the athletic ability to handle it, but Texas didn’t ask him to man up often. Barron led the Longhorns in tackles for a loss in 2022 and won the Jim Thorpe Award for best DB in 2024. He can play at all 3 levels and should be a stand out coverage man.

Malaki Starks – S – Georgia – 92

He’s played everywhere, nickle corner, in the box linebacker, outside press man corner, and of course, off the ball safety. In that sense, there’s a Minkah Fitzpatrick component to his game, where you can place him where you need help the most. Starks has good size and quicks and enough speed for safety or nickleback. He tackles and pursues well. I just wonder if he doesn’t have that one differentiating trait. You could’ve said the same for Minkah Fitzpatrick (which I did, stupidly), but we’re not going to make that mistake here. Some people have him in the second, I have Malaki firmly in the first round as a difference maker in all defensive areas.

Will Johnson – CB – Michigan – 88

Taller cornerback with shorter legs and arms. He plays smaller than his 6’2” frame which allows him to downshift and change directions better, but limits his physicality and top end speed. I see him as a second rounder because of those limitations, but it should be noted that he takes the ball away and has a nose for the endzone. Johnson may turn out to be a Trevon Diggs type with his aggressive pursuit of takeaways.

Billy Bowman Jr. - S – Oklahoma – 87

Look, you never want to compare someone to the Honey Badger. But I have to say, Bowman looks like him. I know he’s short, and too light to consistently tackle tight ends and big backs, but he makes plays. He plays faster than he timed, and he has a feel for the game and a nose for the ball. The size issue drops him to round 2, but no further. Bowman can be a plus player on defense, especially from the robber position.

Nick Emmanwori – S – South Carolina- 86

I have a fascination with safeties like this. Six foot three, 220lbs, ran a 4.38 in the forty and tacked on 20 reps at 225lbs and a 43 inch vertical leap. Taylor Mays laid the foundation, Jeremy Chinn carried the torch, and Kyle Hamilton finally showed how it can translate into winning football. As you might expect with his size, Nick is better in the run game than the pass game, and is one helluva tackler for a safety. Tight hips limit his coverage ability and his on field burst does not match his timed speed. I’d like to believe he has Kyle Hamilton’s instincts, but I don’t see it on tape. Nick is going to be best suited moving forward, blitzing, and attacking the short passing game. I’m fascinated to see how this turns out, but I have him as a second round value.

Xavier Watts – S – Notre Dame – 80

Enormously productive for the Irish, Watts won the Nagurski trophy as the top defender in 2023 and followed it up with another All-American season as a senior captain. That being said, I think he lacks the athletic traits to be an above average starter at the next level. He’ll play and play pretty well, but I think Kyle Dugger is his upper limit and I’m not sure he’ll reach that height.