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Pre-Combine rankings: Cornerbacks

The NFL Combine is set for the end of the month, so we are taking a look at each position and how the players rank heading into the big event. In Rivals.com tradition, we also look back at how they ranked out of high school.

Today we look at our top cornerbacks.

MORE PRE-COMBINE RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OL | DTs | DEs | LBs

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The skinny: Lattimore committed to Ohio State over Alabama, Georgia Tech and others at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He finished with 41 tackles along with four interceptions and nine pass break-ups this season.

Interesting note: Ten years after Ted Ginn Jr., another former Glenville two-way star, committed to the Buckeyes at the Army game, Lattimore followed suit. Both had tremendous careers in Columbus.

Farrell’s take: We had Lattimore as an athlete coming out of high school because we felt he could play offense or defense in college, but he struggled a bit down the stretch against top competition at the U.S. Army Bowl and was surpassed by teammate and fellow defensive back Erick Smith in the state rankings. Now Lattimore is certainly coming into his own and beginning to live up to his initial national top 50 ranking.

The skinny: The five-star defensive back committed to Arizona over Alabama and others at the Under Armour All-America Game. About a week later, Tabor flipped his commitment to Florida. Tabor totaled 33 tackles, four interceptions and six pass break-ups this season.

Interesting note: Tabor’s younger brother, Roger, gave him the nickname Teez (first Teezy) after Tabor’s friends started a MySpace page named the “Eezy Boyz.”

Farrell’s take: Tabor was one of the first eighth-grade prospects I scouted, but it wasn’t by choice. The kid just played at a higher level than he should have and made a name for himself on the 7-on-7 circuit by making huge play after huge play. Tabor's instincts are off the charts, similar to those of Tyrann Mathieu when it comes to being around the play. Tabor corrected some tackling issues by his senior year and, while he can bite on moves and be overly aggressive, his ball skills and length make up for most mistakes. He can lose focus at times and needs to work on consistency, but his size and skill combo have scouts still very enamored. I just wonder how well he will run at the combine and his pro day as he’s never been a speedster.

The skinny: White committed to LSU at its junior day and Mississippi State was his only other offer at the time. UCLA, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and others showed interest. This season, White finished with 35 tackles (four for loss) with two interceptions, 14 pass break-ups and a forced fumble on defense.

Interesting note: White is the only prospect ranked higher than a two-star in the Rivals.com era out of Shreveport (La.) Green Oaks. He was a five-star prospect and the fourth-best cornerback in the 2013 class.

Farrell’s take: It never hurts to play defensive back at LSU and we saw White as an athletic lockdown corner who could also impact on special teams as well. The five-star corner in that 2013 class that gets mentioned the least, he has played his way into the discussion as one of the top corners in the 2017 NFL Draft by staying for an additional year. He played quarterback in high school, which has helped him read offense. He’s also a special teams threat.

The skinny: Jones had been previously committed to San Jose State and Utah before making his final pledge to Washington during the last weekend before National Signing Day. He finished with 39 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles this season.

Interesting note: Despite being relatively lightly recruited in high school, Jones was part of coach Chris Petersen’s inaugural recruiting class at Washington and he started all but one game in his freshman season. He finished with 61 tackles and two interceptions that year.

Farrell’s take: We had Jones as a three-star athlete out of high school because he could do it all – offense, defense and special teams – but he didn’t make that four-star status because he was skinny and lacking strength in press coverage and run support. However, after three years in a college weight room, he is clearly stronger and better against the run, which complements his uncanny coverage instincts and skills. He was always willing to mix it up in high school; he just struggled during contact. Now all of that has changed and he’s a pure lockdown guy who can do it all.

The skinny: The four-star picked Florida over numerous national offers and almost the entire SEC except Alabama, which did not offer, in the summer before his senior season. He finished with 33 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections this season.

Interesting note: Wilson’s father, Chad, played for Miami in the early 1990s under Dennis Erickson.

Farrell’s take: Wilson was a tall, athletic cornerback who was ranked in the Rivals250 but didn’t make the cut at top 10 at his position in a loaded 2014 class. Why? Because we projected him as a guy who was recruited as a corner, wanted to play corner but might have to make the move to safety because he struggled with smaller, faster guys in space. Wilson has certainly shown that’s not a problem as he continues to rise as fast as anyone on this list. Can he push past Tabor on draft boards? He’s already ahead of him on some and he will run better in workouts.

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