Six College Cornerbacks You May Not Know but Need to in 2014

By: Chad Wilson - Editor Gridironstuds.com

College Football is a big game full of a lot of players.  Many of them are very good.  With the advent of the spread offense and wide open passing games,  college football secondaries have a spotlight on them.  Many players shined in 2014 and quite a few were underclassmen who will return in 2014.  You know the major names at the major programs like Ifo Ekpre-Olomu at Oregon, Vernon Hargreaves at Florida and Quandre Diggs from Texas but I have found six cornerbacks sliding under the radar that were major playmakers for their teams in 2013.

#6 Steven Nelson - Oregon St. - 5'10 192 lbs. - Senior

With all eyes on Oregon St. senior cornerback Rashaard Reynolds in 2013,  opposing teams thought it best to try the new name on the other side of the field.  It didn't take long for them to find out that there were better strategies out there.  Not only did Nelson lock down opposing receivers with stingyness of a certified public accountant but he made plays that mattered too.  Nelson tied with Reynolds for the team lead in interceptions with six and ran one back for a touchdown.  In addition, he added 62 tackles and led the team in pass breakups with eight.  His highlight video is one to watch as you will be inspired by his high energy play. Teams may shy away from him in 2014 but when they forget,  something tells me Nelson will be eager to remind them why they didn't throw there in the first place.

#5 Greg Henderson - Colorado - 5'11" 185 lbs. - Senior 

After laying low for the first two years of his Buffalo career,  Henderson jumped to the forefront in 2013.  Playing for a Colorado team that didn't do much winning or playing defense,  Henderson was a gem in the Colorado secondary.  His exclusion from the 2014 Jim Thorpe watch list can be classified as a snub directly related to Colorado's present low stature in major college football. Henderson led the Buffs with four interceptions last season returning one of those picks for six.  He also added 58 tackles along with defending a team high 10 passes.  Henderson even addd a forced fumble making him one of the more productive defensive backs in hte entire Pac-12. The hopes is that Colorado will improve in 2014 but if Henderson can turn in a 2014 like 2013,  he will become an intruiging NFL prospect.

#4 Jordan Lucas - Penn St. 6'0" 193 lbs. - Penn St. - Junior 

Penn St. is no longer the major player in the Big 10 like they used to be but it doesn't mean they don't still play good football.  Leading the charge on that on defense is cornerback Jordan Lucas.  The 2014 Jim Thorpe Watch List member snagged three interceptions in 2013 while providing tight coverage on the top wide receivers Penn St. faced.  On top of the interceptions, Lucas had 65 tackles and 10 PBUs.  He also added a pair of forced fumbles to help Penn St. stay above .500 in 2013.  He will be a much watched player in Happy Valley this season.

#3 Kendall Fuller - Virginia Tech - 5'11" 193 - Sophomore

There are many who will line up to tell you just how hard the transition from high school to college football is but Kendall Fuller laughs at that suggestion.  This true freshman who played along side his newly NFL drafted brother at Virginia Tech in 2013, bursted on the scene in grand fashion.  Fuller was what many keen analysts thought he would be as a college football player only he did it sooner.  Making plays was Fuller's forte as he hauled down six interceptions to lead the Hokies secondary.  He also lead the team in passes defended with 11 and was one of seven Hokies to force a fumble last season.  Fuller will be lurking around the Virginia Tech secondary in 2014 ready to add to this already impressive resume of big plays in his college football career. 

#2 Lorenzo Doss - Tulane - 5'11" 175 lbs. - Junior

The Tulane Green Waves secondary is one of the best kept secrets in college football.  The unit is made up of quartet of playmakes of which Doss is the biggest creator.  Doss was the man in 2013 for the Green Wave pulling in seven interceptions for 185 return yards and taking two back to the house.  Doss was added nine pass breakups which amazingly was third on the team.  Doss has 11 career INTs for Tulane and will no doubt add to that number this upcoming season.  Enjoy watching these highlights of the Tulane secondary includes Doss wearing #6 

#1 Djoun Smith - Florida Atlantic - 5'11" 175 - Senior

Florida Atlantic didn't do a whole lot right in 2013 but Djoun Smith did.  The sophomore cornerback was a regular Johnny on the spot when it came to big plays and provided Owl fans with a quite a bit of excitement in an otherwise dull season.  Smith had a team high six interceptions which he returned for 112 yards.  Included in those six interceptions was one that he took back for a touchdown.  Smith was also the team leader,  by a wide margin, in pass breakups with 13 and added 34 tackles.  The junior cornerback also forced a fumble to help the Owls' defense.  It will be interesting to see how much opposing team go after Smith after the kind of 2013 season he was able to put together.