Rival Views: Who should be No. 1 CB in class of 2017?

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate the cornerback rankings for 2017 and whether Lamont Wade should be No. 1 at his position.

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There is something about Wade and his energy, high motor and drive to be great in addition to his skills that has him No. 1 on my personal rankings board at cornerback despite some taller, longer guys out there. I don’t think Wade will allow himself to fail and in that respect, he reminds me a bit of Derwin James and Jamal Adams. I know those guys are safeties, but they were always hustling and running down every play in high school, and also had natural leadership skills.

Mr. Gorney says it’s a “fact” that Wade will have trouble defending taller receivers on the outside, but I don’t believe that. I may sound hypocritical because of my critique of Vernon Hargreaves this past draft cycle because of his height, but it was also because I didn’t think he was overly physical and aggressive in run support. Wade has neither of those issues. Of course, Hargreaves is off to the best start of any rookie cornerback in the NFL preseason, so I could be way off there and maybe I’m off about Wade.

A.J. Terrell and Shaun Wade have a higher ceiling, but there’s something about Lamont Wade that makes me feel he will be a great one. That being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s surpassed by one of the taller guys by the end of the cycle as our team of analysts gravitates toward size, like most do. But remember, we overlooked the size issue with FSU signee Levonta Taylor last season and Hargreaves was No. 2 overall his year.

My answer might sound a little counterintuitive because I thought Lamont Wade was fantastic at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour this summer, but his height is a major concern.

If we’re talking about the Clairton, Pa., standout in terms of NFL potential, there is no question it will be a concern that he's just 5-foot-9. That will be analyzed and discussed and debated his entire time in college as he prepares for a possible future in the league.

Wade is a tremendous talent, a physical specimen, he has a lot of “dog” in his game where he wants to prove he’s the best. Even when he was banged up and sore at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge, he still competed and went after everybody. I love that about him. But in college and especially the NFL, he will have issues defending taller receivers on the outside. That’s just a fact.

Two other five-star cornerbacks have an argument for being No. 1 at the position and that’s A.J. Terrell and Darnay Holmes. Shaun Wade is also a five-star, but he’s a notch behind the other three at this juncture.

Terrell is a tremendous athlete, long, has the size and speed to be super special, maybe a Jalen Ramsey-type if he continues to develop. NFL teams will love this kid’s athletic ability and length. Holmes is a slightly taller, smoother version of Wade, but not as physically developed. He locks down everybody at corner and his athleticism is off the charts, too.

I’m not ripping Lamont Wade at all. I love his game and his fire and fight. But a handful of years down the road, my bet is that his height will be a concern for NFL teams where Terrell, Holmes and even possibly Shaun Wade will move up even higher in the draft.