Elijah Molden leads a stacked group of Pac-12 Corners this Fall
Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times
Note: Jevon Holland plays a mixture of Corner/Safety but projects as a Safety in the NFL so we did not include him on this list.
1. Elijah Molden - Washington
Elijah Molden is the next NFL CB at Washington in a long line of talented defensive backs in the Jimmy Lake era. Lake has become known as arguably the top developer of DB talent in the country while producing 7 NFL Draft picks since 2015 with 6 of those going in the 1st or 2nd round. Molden is the top rated corner returning to the Pac-12 in 2020 after posting a PFF grade of 90.9 in 2019. Last season Molden earned 1st team All-Pac-12 while producing 5.5 TFL, 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles.
2. Paulson Adebo - Stanford
Adebo is a 2x All-Pac-12 1st Team selection who features elite NFL size at 6-1. Adebo is projected as a 1st round pick and might be the best NFL DB prospect in the Pac-12 if he can return to form after an injury in 2019.
3. Trent McDuffie - Washington
McDuffie dominated the Pac-12 in a way that you don't see very often from Freshmen. McDuffie registered the 2nd best PFF grade among returning Pac-12 corners while starting the last 11 games of 2019. McDuffie boasts plenty of speed while running a 4.47 40 yard dash in high school and projects as a top NFL Draft pick once he is eligible in 2022.
4. Thomas Graham Jr - Oregon
Graham enters his senior season as the FBS leader in passes defended (40) and pass breakups (32). The talented corner has been productive for years with 182 career tackles, 10.5 TFL and 8 interceptions. We expect Graham to make another jump as a senior and lock down Pac-12 receivers.
5. Deommodore Lenoir - Oregon
Lenoir is a name to watch that could rise up draft boards with a stellar combine. Lenoir possesses blazing speed with a 4.43 40 yard dash out of high school and came to Oregon ranked 64th nationally as a recruit and has lived up to the hype entering his senior season.
6. Camryn Bynum - Cal
We debated including Bynum on this list as he most likely projects as a safety in the NFL and will play both corner and safety in 2020 for the Bears but for the time being we will leave him here. Bynum is projected as a 2020 1st Team All-Pac-12 selection by both Jon Wilner and Lindy's College Football Preview.
7. Mykael Wright - Oregon
Wright played limited snaps in 2019 due to the incumbent talent at Oregon but dominated in his appearances while allowing just 8 catches on 23 yards according to PFF. PFF is very high on the talented sophomore as he was ranked their 4th best overall returning player in the Pac-12 for 2020. He could rise up our list quickly but we will wait to see more from him in an expanded role. Wright is also a stud return man with 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns last season.
8. Jack Jones - ASU
Jones is a former 5 star recruit that started out at USC before transferring to the Sun Devils. He was productive in 2019 with 16 passes defended and 3 interceptions. He possesses a ton of raw talent and could shoot up draft boards with an elite season in 2020.
9. Olaijah Griffin - USC
Griffin was a 3rd team All-Pac-12 selection by Phil Steele in 2019 and impressed despite suffering a back injury that caused him to miss a few games. Griffin was a former 5 star recruit and should have a breakout season in 2020.
10. Chase Lucas - ASU
Chase Lucas is one of the most underrated Pac-12 players over the past few seasons. 2020 will be his 4th year starting and during his career he has 171 tackles, 11 TFL, 6 interceptions and 23 passes defended. We expect a big season from the Senior.