2025 Ourlads' Draft Preview: Corners

Jon Cooper

Ourlads Associate General Manager

02/04/2025 6:14PM ET

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

* Denotes Underclassmen

1. Johnson, Will*

Michigan - HT: 6020 | WT: 202

Two year starter, Detroit MI. First team All-Big Ten and first team All-America in 2023. Former five star recruit with a remarkable combination of size, length, and athletic skill. Johnson is experienced in multiple coverage and technique and is polished in all aspects of corner play. He’s adept at outside corner in zone concepts along with hard corner and press and off-man. In off coverage he shows a smooth pedal with ability to maintain cushion and time lateral and turn and run to stay in phase through the entire route tree. Has the speed to cover deep. Excellent vision to see threats and the quarterback, he easily reads and adjusts to route concepts. He’s rarely out of position. As a hard corner shows a flat foot read into a two hand jam to re-route a wide receiver. Can be physical and ride a receiver to the sideline. Quick to plant and drive with the ball in the air, he shows ball skills at the catch point and wins most 50/50 battles. Physical in press he can jam, trail and mirror route cuts with smooth reactions to stay in phase. Tackles well but will miss on occasion. A little inconsistent with ball locate in phase and at times will sneak a peek trailing and lose a step.

2. Morrison, Benjamin*

Notre Dame - HT: 6000 | WT: 186

Three year starter, Phoenix, AZ. Freshman All-America in 2022 and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2023. Athletic corner with fluid hips and stop-start quickness. Solid length and a tough demeanor on the outside. Played boundary corner in cover two and three concepts along with various man coverage. In off-coverage often used a press and bail into a lateral run. Quick feet allowed him to stay in phase up the field with an easy turn and run versus a deep route. As a hard corner shows a stiff jam and flips his hips to stay under intermediate routes and break up on the flat. Good awareness to see multiple threats. In press man can ride a receiver and lock him out on the sideline with a physical off-hand jam. Excellent mirror ability he reacts to cuts and rarely gets out of step. In trail technique he’s disciplined to keep his focus on the receiver and stay with multiple cuts. He can get his hand in the basket from a trail and gives very little window to throw in. Sudden reacting with the ball in the air. Run support is an area to improve.

3. Hunter, Travis*

Colorado - HT: 6001 | WT: 181

Two year starter, Suwanee, GA. Transferred from Jackson State after his freshman year in 2022. First team All Pac 12, and first team consensus All-America at multiple positions in 2023. Former five star recruit who's an incredible two way athlete playing elite wide receiver and corner. Polished zone corner playing outside he shows awareness seeing multiple threats and the quarterback. Plays hard corner or deep outside with ability to close out overlapping zones and break on the throw from a distance. Effective hard corner technique playing up to flat while underneath intermediate routes. Excellent ball skills he can get to the ball with a burst, closing a tight window. Can be physical with two or off hand jam depending on release. In press man his stiff off-hand jam can ride and disrupt a receiver on an outside release. He will overextend at times. He also shows a soft reactive press and has discipline to keep his focus on the receiver. In off coverage shows a shuffle pedal to maintain cushion and can easily flip his hips to stay in phase on vertical routes. Can be physical in run support and doesn't miss a lot of tackles but will occasionally give up yards after contact.

4. Burke, Denzel

Ohio State - HT: 5112 | WT: 193

Four year starter, Phoenix, AZ. First team All-Big Ten and second team All-America in 2023. Freshman All-America in 2021. Has been a starter since his first game as a freshman in 2021. Battled through injuries in 2022 and came back strong in 2023. Has ideal size, speed and a physical presence on the field. Experienced in multiple coverage he is equally skilled in man and zone concepts. As a zone defender balances multiple routes and closes voids quickly in overlapping zones. Sees the quarterback and route progressions and is sudden to break with the ball in the air. As a man defender keeps his focus on the receiver and shows fluid movements reacting to route breaks. Easy turn and run he times transitions to stay in phase up the field. Usually plays a soft press in man coverage and has solid mirror skill. Can get a little grabby at times if beaten. Solid in run support he can take on stalk blocks and rarely misses tackles. Has had some trouble locating the ball in phase and ball production has been lacking. That said he’s shown improvement in playing the ball in the early going in 2024.

5. Revel Jr., Shavon (INJ)

East Carolina - HT: 6020 | WT: 188

Two year starter, Winston-Salem, NC. Transferred from Louisburg CC in 2022. Second team All-ACC in 2023. Tall somewhat high cut corner with length and athletic skill. Played multiple concepts including outside zone, hard corner cover two, press and off man. Adept at press man disrupting route various jam techniques at different levels. Will use a reactive press sometimes using a late jam on a vertical release. Also effective with an off-hand jam on an outside release or two hand jam to maintain leverage on inside release. In off coverage gives a big cushion but maintains position with an aggressive man turn as the route goes vertical. Has the speed to cover deep. Disciplined to keep focus on the receiver with mirror ability throughout the route. Is quick to plant and drive on balls in front of him. In zone concepts has good route recognition and can close voids in overlapping zones. Willing and aggressive in run support he makes some big hits and can defeat stalk blocks with strong hands. Will occasionally bounce off a tackle by not wrapping. Has some trouble in phase locating the ball and has given up some plays as a result. Suffered an ACL injury in practice and will miss the remainder of the season.