Summer Simmer: Five Best Returning SEC Cornerbacks
Five Best Returning SEC Cornerbacks
Life can be lonely for cornerbacks. They are often one-on-one with no one in support against an opponent’s top playmaker. That is, of course, why they are so important. Cornerbacks must be able to prevent the big play. They must have the speed to get deep, the size to get up, and the mental toughness to live on that island. The Southeastern Conference is full of great athletes, and some of the best are at the cornerback position. So who are the five best returning SEC cornerbacks? Scroll through to find out.
Read our other positional top five here:
Five Best Returning Safeties
Five Best Returning Receivers
And check out our discussion on the five best returning SEC cornerbacks with Mark Rogers of Mark Rogers TV here: Mark Rogers TV
Anthony Averett, Senior, Alabama
What do you call a quarterback with a 43% completion rate? Either “back-up” or “the guy playing against Anthony Averett.” The embarrassment of riches in Tuscaloosa this season is in the defensive backfield. Nick Saban returns three starters, including Anthony Averett at cornerback. Averett had plenty of action last season, playing opposite of All-SEC CB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Averett’s numbers weren’t as good as Fitzpatricks, but were still solid. He had 48 tackles, three tackles-for-loss (TFL), and a sack to go along with his eight pass break ups (PBU). More impressive, Averett had a 43% pass completion-against rate. That mark led the league last season.
Averett will have to learn patience and fill into the primary cornerback role. He won’t have Fitzpatrick opposite of him in 2017.
With Alabama losing five defensive players to the NFL and only returning two of the front seven, Averett’s versatility will be key. His ability to set the corner against the run and defend the pass is critical to the Tide. With Fitzpatrick moving to safety, Averett can expect to see less action on his side.
Malkom Parrish, Senior, Georgia
There’s a quite confidence between the hedges this summer. Most of that confidence centers around the Bulldog defense, which returns ten of eleven starters. Malkom Parrish is one of the many standouts expected to have Georgia‘s defense among the top in the nation. Parrish is coming off a stellar 2016 campaign. He recorded 49 tackles, two interceptions, and nine pass break ups in 2016. The three year starter has over 100 career tackles and four career interceptions.
At 5’10”, and 185, Parrish is a little undersized, particularly in red zone defense. He’ll have to play larger than his frame against bigger, stronger receivers like Calvin Ridley or Jauan Jennings.
With one of the top five returning safeties, Dominick Sanders, playing behind him, and a stout front seven, Parrish is looking to put in a shut-down corner type of season. Parrish and the Georgia defense are looking to propel the Bulldogs to an East Division championship and challenge Alabama for SEC supremacy.
Ryan Pulley, Junior, Arkansas
Ryan Pulley is in a similar situation as Anthony Averett. Except he plays at Arkansas and not Alabama. The Razorback defense returns only one starter in the front seven. Bret Bielema‘s defense will rely on the secondary to set the tone for a successful 2017. Pulley is one of three returning starters in the secondary. Pully recorded 47 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and 13 PBUs in 2016.
Pulley might be the most complete player on this list. Good size, great instincts, and excellent statistics from last season. Unfortunately, most teams will probably avoid him in 2017 and attack different positions against the Razorback defense.
After the sudden retirement of Rawleigh Williams after the spring session, Arkansas faces an uncertain 2017 campaign. The Razorbacks haven’t been able to crack the top of the SEC West since Beilema’s arrival five years ago. If Arkansas wants to challenge Alabama, Auburn, and LSU atop the Division, Pulley will have to do even more than he did in 2016. It will certainly be a tall task for the Junior out of Fort Myers, Florida.
Donte Jackson, Junior, LSU
Is Donte Jackson the next great LSU Defensive Back? Tigers fans certainly hope so. Only Anthony Averett (43%) had a better pass completion-against rate last season than Jackson (44%). On an LSU defense returning only four starters, coupled with a continuing disappointing offense, the Tigers will have to rely on Jackson shutting down an entire side of the passing field. With 2016 production of 39 tackles, two interceptions, and eight PBUs, Jackson is certainly capable of doing that. He is also a threat in the return game.
While Jackson’s athleticism and ability are undeniable, he must improve his consistency. Jackson made several noticeable mistakes last season — most importantly in the Florida game. Jackson’s mental game will have to match his physical game in 2017 if the Bayou Bengals want to hang with Alabama and Auburn atop the SEC West.
Carlton Davis, Junior, Auburn
There’s a lot of positive signs coming from the Plains this summer. The Auburn offense, masterminded by the magician Gus Malzahn, adds Jarrett Stidham and returns Kamryn Pettway. But the real excitement is with Kevin Steele‘s defense. Leading the charge on that side of the ball is Carlton Davis. Teams stayed away from Davis last season, but he still recorded ten PBUs and 46 tackles. Teams will continue to avoid the long-armed Davis in 2017.
Davis is more than his numbers. His physical build and his intangibles are what make him the top returning cornerback in the SEC. At 6’1″, 195, he has the prototypical build for the modern cornerback. His leadership and locker room presence match his physical build.
If the Tigers make the run for the East title that many fans think they will, Davis must live up to the bill as the best of the five best returning SEC cornerbacks.
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