{"id":22061,"date":"2019-07-03T09:00:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-03T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=22061"},"modified":"2019-06-28T14:22:32","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T18:22:32","slug":"big-xiis-best-returning-cornerbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2019\/07\/03\/big-xiis-best-returning-cornerbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Big XII\u2019s Best Returning Cornerbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we count down the days to the 2019 College Football Season\u2019s opening kickoff, we have given our thoughts on the best players in the Big XII at several positions.\u00a0 So far, we have offered our thoughts on quarterback<\/a>, running back<\/a>, wide receiver<\/a>, defensive line<\/a>, and linebacker<\/a>.\u00a0 Now, we keep our focus on the defensive side of the ball and present our picks for the Big XII\u2019s best returning cornerbacks.<\/p>\n

Big XII’s Best Returning Cornerbacks<\/h1>\n

Honorable Mentions<\/h2>\n

Only a few of our selections really stood firmly above the rest, so we had a tough task in selecting the final two on our list of the Big XII’s best-returning cornerbacks.\u00a0 Our two honorable mentions at this list just missed the cutoff.\u00a0 Justus Parker<\/strong><\/a> from Texas Tech offers a lot to the position.\u00a0In the first instance, Parker represents a heart-warming story.\u00a0 Parker held no offers out of high school and enrolled at Texas Lutheran to play football his freshman season.\u00a0 He decided to walk on at Texas Tech and did not even earn a scholarship until a surprise presentation by Kliff Kingsbury<\/strong> late in his redshirt sophomore season.\u00a0Parker broke out in a big way in 2017, racking up four interceptions and four forced fumbles.\u00a0 He led the conference in both categories.\u00a0 And he also returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.\u00a0 This season earned him a second-team All-Conference nod.\u00a0 Parker regressed somewhat in 2018, but look for Parker to reestablish himself as the dominant ball hawk he was two years ago in 2019.<\/p>\n

Our second honorable mention hails from Oklahoma. Tre Norwood<\/strong><\/a> barely edges out his teammate Tre Brown<\/strong><\/a> for this final spot on our list.\u00a0But we really could have gone either way.\u00a0 Norwood and Brown each had 58 tackles.\u00a0 And while Brown found his way into the backfield a few more times than his teammate, Norwood simply performed slightly better in coverage overall and netted an interception in 2018. Brown could certainly find himself on anybody\u2019s list as top returning specialists, as he is dangerous in the return game.\u00a0 But Norwood has produced more consistently in his two seasons at cornerback.\u00a0 Expect him to take a big step forward in Alex Grinch\u2019s<\/strong> revamped defense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Keith Washington<\/h2>\n

We could have just as easily picked Josh Norwood<\/strong><\/a> here, but word around the Mountaineers locker room is that the coaching staff may slide Norwood back over to his natural position at safety to help offset the Mountaineers\u2019 recent losses at that position group<\/a>. \u00a0Keith Washington<\/strong><\/a> had a solid season in his first with the Mountaineers, and the former Michigan recruit yielded 40 tackles, two-and-a-half for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, to complement his two interceptions (with one for a touchdown), and one forced fumble.\u00a0 Washington also tallied nine pass breakups (PBUs).\u00a0 He received an honorable mention for last year\u2019s All-Conference team, and there is no reason to believe he won\u2019t improve significantly in his final season.<\/p>\n

AJ Parker<\/h2>\n

Kansas State\u2019s AJ Parker<\/strong><\/a> has been a steady force on the Wildcats\u2019 defense since earning his first starting nod late in 2017.\u00a0 Last season, Parker recorded 53 tackles, including one tackle for loss.\u00a0 Parker also broke up six passes and intercepted two passes.\u00a0Parker even shined on special teams, blocking a punt against Texas.\u00a0 Expect Parker to improve significantly in his redshirt junior season.\u00a0 He should provide balance and a steady hand for a Wildcats team in transition.<\/p>\n

A.J. Green<\/h2>\n

Oklahoma State\u2019s A.J. Green\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> 2018 season concluded with a spot on the All-Conference Second Team, and he certainly earned the accolades.\u00a0 Green enters 2019 having started each game in the last two seasons.\u00a0As a result, Green is one of the more veteran cornerbacks in the league.\u00a0 In 2018, Green racked up 49 tackles and 11 PBUs and added an interception and forced a fumble to his totals.\u00a0 Expect him to carry this strong performance forward into his senior season.<\/p>\n

Jeff Gladney<\/h2>\n

TCU arguably has the best cornerback duo in the conference going into 2019, though we think they finish in a close second.\u00a0 The Horned Frogs\u2019 Jeff Gladney<\/strong><\/a> has performed exceptionally for two straight seasons, earning himself an honorable mention for the All-Conference team in 2017, and also on the All-Conference Second Team by both the Associated Press and the Big XII coaches last season.\u00a0 Pro Football Focus even named Gladney to the All-Conference First Team.\u00a0 There is good reason for that, too.\u00a0 Gladney finished second in the conference with 13 PBUs, and he surrendered the fewest receptions per coverage snaps of any member of the conference.\u00a0 Gladney added 41 tackles, four for loss, a sack, two interceptions, and a forced fumble to those impressive totals.\u00a0 The senior has been a buoy for Gary Patterson\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> defense over the past two years.\u00a0 Expect that to continue into 2019.<\/p>\n

Adrian Frye<\/h2>\n

Perhaps to the surprise of many, the best returning cornerback in the Big XII hails from Texas Tech.\u00a0 The Red Raiders\u2019 Adrian Frye<\/strong><\/a> put up a monster season in a much-maligned secondary bereft of many bright spots.\u00a0 Just a freshman in 2018, Frye appeared in all 12 games while starting in four.\u00a0 He led the conference with 18 PBUs, and Frye also led the conference with five interceptions.\u00a0 He finished seventh in the nation in the first category and tenth in the nation in the second.\u00a0 Simply, he played well for anybody, but he played like a superstar for a freshman.\u00a0This performance earned Frye Freshman All-American honors by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).\u00a0And both the AP and conference coaches selected Frye to represent the All-Conference First Team.\u00a0 And it seems Frye has only just scratched the surface of his potential.\u00a0 As a result, Frye earns the number one spot on our list of Big XII\u2019s best returning cornerbacks for 2019.<\/p>\n

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