Of all of the positions on the field, it is fairly easy to see cornerbacks’ flaws when they show, and so when they perform well, it is really special to see. The 25 cornerbacks listed below are the best returning to college football’s highest level for the 2025 season.
They are sorted by their PFSN College CB+ ratings, which are used to evaluate everything that a cornerback does on the field from a grade of 0 to 100.
Top 25 College Football Corners Entering the 2025 Season
25) Xavier Scott, Illinois
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 81.7
2025 will be the Senior season for Xavier Scott, and last year was the best of his career. He was voted to his first All-Big Ten First Team for his efforts. He had his first career pick-six and first career two-interception game in the same game vs #19 Kansas.
He forced three turnovers in this game, which was an incredible performance that was pivotal in the Fighting Illini’s 23-17 victory that night. Selected to the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award Watchlist.
24) Jadon Canady, Oregon
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 81.8
Jadon Canady transferred from a respectable school in Ole Miss to a powerhouse in Oregon this offseason, and his play on the field certainly earned him the move.
He was All-SEC Second Team as a redshirt junior and looks to make an impact on a team that will lean on its defense to try to take it over the hump and become champions this season. What is really impressive is that he reached this high ranking without recording a single interception.
23) Domani Jackson, Alabama
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 82.1
In Domani Jackson’s first season with the Crimson Tide, he was immediately made a starter and was extremely effective in that role. He had two interceptions, including a game-clinching one against South Carolina as time expired.
He began his career with USC and, after two years, caught the eye of one of the most storied programs in college football. He performed outstandingly.
22) Jacobie Henderson, Rutgers
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 82.2
After a great career at Marshall, Jacobie Henderson earned his way to play some really meaningful football in the Big Ten with a transfer to Rutgers. He is a cousin of two-time Pro-Bowl corner Jaire Alexander, so impressive coverage skills are in his blood clearly.
He had ten pass breakups, two interceptions, and was named Third Team All-Sun Belt, which were his first all-conference honors. Now, he should be a nice addition to a program already on the rise at Rutgers.
21) A.J. Harris, Penn State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.0
Originally a Georgia signee, A.J. Harris transferred to Penn State for the 2024 season after seeing minimal playing time, which was a good choice for his career and also for what he deserved with his skill set. Shockingly, there isn’t a single Georgia corner on this list, but that means A.J. Harris was right to feel like he deserved to be playing more.
20) Jamari Sharpe, Indiana
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.1
This former track star has his athleticism on full display as part of one of the best cornerback duos in all of college football.
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Jamari Sharpe redshirted his freshman year, and after that, he became a starter just four games into his redshirt freshman season. His first start came against a legitimate top-five team in Ohio State that year. To come out of that and never cede that spot again is impressive.
19) DJ McKinney, Colorado
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.3
Travis Hunter may have gotten a lot of attention last year, and it was well deserved, but Colorado had another great player opposite him: DJ McKinney. 2024 was his first year in Colorado after two years at Oklahoma State.
In that season, McKinney started all 13 games and was fourth in the Big 12 in both deflections and passes defended. He had three interceptions, including a pick-six against his old team, Oklahoma State.
18) Matthew McDoom, Cincinnati
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.5
Matthew McDoom was First-Team All-SBC in his last season at Coastal Carolina, which earned him the opportunity to pursue the transfer portal and end up at a program like Cincinnati.
He had earned All-SBC honors in each of his three years at Coastal Carolina, and I don’t anticipate him settling for anything less in the Big 12. Last year, he was tied for 12th in the nation in pass breakups and also had three interceptions.
17) Keith Abney II, Arizona State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.5
2025 will be the junior season for Keith Abney II, who became the starter for Arizona State going into the 2024 season. He started all 14 games, had three interceptions, and led the team with nine pass breakups. He got better as the year went on, as shown by his only allowing two touchdowns over his last ten games of the season.
16) Za’Quan Bryan, Minnesota
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.8
Cracking the top 20 of this list as a freshman is very impressive, and Za’Quan Bryan accomplished just that. He was redshirted in 2023 and played in twelve games. He showed a lot in his first full season, and I think getting him some more reps will help the defense take their game to the next level.
15) Ashton Hampton, Clemson
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.8
Ashton Hampton played the 2024 season as a true freshman and was stellar. He played in 14 games and started four of them. He played consistently well against ranked opponents, including in his debut against #1 Georgia.
NFL teams will have to wait a couple of years before getting him in-house, but I could easily see him being among the top prospects in his draft year.
14) Charles Brantley, Miami (FL)
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 83.9
It is clear that Charles Brantley chose to go to Miami to form arguably the most formidable corner duo in all of college football. “Chuck” Brantley comes into Miami with 24 career starts for Michigan State.
He had five interceptions, including two impressive pick-sixes. One was off of C.J. Stroud in 2022, and another he brought back for 100 yards. This was just the 16th time in the history of the storied Big Ten conference that an interception was returned that long.
13) A’Marion McCoy, Boise State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 84.4
After two years at Laney College, A’Marion McCoy got the opportunity to transfer to Boise State and has been great since he arrived. In his first year on campus, he played in all 14 games, starting in seven of them and leading the team in interceptions with three.
In his second year, he was a member of the Phil Steele All-Mountain West Second Team for his efforts. This season, he’s been selected to the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award Watchlist, as many on this list were.
12) Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 84.8
Thaddeus Dixon impressed at Washington enough to get legendary coach Bill Belichick’s attention. As a result, Dixon will be playing a key role in North Carolina’s defense this upcoming season.
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He earned honorable mention honors in the Big Ten last season and had a game to remember against Oregon with eight tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble, showing he is ready for the big moments.
11) Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 84.9
Jermod McCoy transferred from Oregon State to Tennessee after an impressive season as a true freshman. He made an immediate impact, being named to the All-SEC First Team and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in college football.
This is an impressive achievement, given that there are over 130 schools in Division I and at least four players starting at each defensive back position.
10) Elliot Washington II, Penn State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 85.2
Elliot Washington came to Penn State in 2023 and appeared in ten games with a combined defensive and special teams role as a true freshman. He climbed up the depth chart to get into 14 games and made the most of his time for sure. He is now atop the depth chart for Penn State at the corner, and they should once again have an elite defense.
9) Brent Austin, California
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 85.7
Brent Austin is now at his third and final school in a strong career. His best season came last year with USF, where he had a team-best ten pass breakups, two interceptions, and 48 total tackles in 13 games. It seems like Cal is building something as they look to improve from their 6-7 season last year.
8) Malik Muhammad, Texas
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 85.7
After starting just two games as a freshman in 2023, Malik Muhammad burst onto the scene last year to start all 16 games for the Longhorns. He was a huge reason for the team’s success, and he played great in both the CFP Quarterfinal and Semifinal.
If he has anything close to the year he had last year, he will be among the first defensive backs drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
7) Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 86
Leonard Moore already has an impressive resume going into his sophomore season. He was named to the Freshman All-America Team and Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
He played in all 16 games and became a starter after just six games. Based on his placement on this list, he continued his stellar play. He has all of the makings of an elite cornerback prospect, and now teams want to see if he can do it again.
6) Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 87.1
Davison Igbinosun’s performance helped Ohio State get over the hump to win the CFP National Championship last season. He transferred from Ole Miss after the 2022 season and has been the top corner for the Buckeyes since he arrived. I think that his combination of sheer talent and experience will help him continue to the next level.
5) Avieon Terrell, Clemson
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 87.5
Younger brother of Atlanta’s AJ Terrell, who is an All-Pro at the corner position, Avieon Terrell is looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps. He started all 14 games last year and was extremely impressive.
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He had two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 4.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. He was a top-five corner for a reason, and one that pro scouts are excited about for his own work, not just because of his name.
4) Jontez Williams, Iowa State
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 88.2
Jontez Williams had four interceptions this season, ranking among the top-25 nationally in that category. His rating is not so high just because of that, though. H
e has a nose for the ball, exhibited in his season-high 11-tackle game against North Dakota and his eight tackles against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This is an elite prospect who started 12 of 14 games last year and was voted to the Second Team all-Big 12.
3) D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 88.4
Another James Madison transfer on this list, D’Angelo Ponds took his game to the next level in his sophomore season at Indiana.
Highest Graded Big Ten Cornerback:
🔴 D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana: 85.4@IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/6YOUoNvO87
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 7, 2024
He played in all 13 games and held it down as the top corner. He was the best cornerback in the Big Ten, was First Team All-Big Ten, and was Second Team All-America at defensive back.
2) OJ Frederique Jr., Miami (FL)
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 88.7
OJ Frederique Jr. has NFL scouts salivating. He comes in as our second-ranked returning corner and did that as a true freshman.
THE FUTURE IS NOW: OJ FREDERIQUE #GOCANES pic.twitter.com/nOlPV1TNpz
— Florida Boy Corey 🌴🍊🌊☀️ (@floridaboycorey) February 4, 2025
A three-star prospect coming in and playing this well is a testament to his hard work and the amazing coaching he received in Miami. I have him as a future top-five pick, and the sky is the limit for this kid.
1) Michael Coats Jr., West Virginia
2025 PFSN College SAF+ Grade: 89.1
Coming in at the top spot is Michael Coats Jr., who earned All-American recognition, was named to the All-Mountain West First Team, started for a Big 12 team, and was voted a Preseason All-Big 12 First Teamer.
— Michael Coats Jr (@Mike5oats) December 14, 2024
He started all 13 games and led the team with 17 passes defended and four interceptions. If he can repeat this season against better competition, he will be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
