With the season fast approaching, here is our full preview of every cornerback room in the Big Ten entering 2025.
With Big Ten media days now complete, the official countdown for the 2025 football season can begin. Only 33 days remain until opening night on Thursday, Aug. 28, when Wisconsin hosts Miami (OH), Rutgers hosts Ohio, Minnesota hosts Buffalo and Nebraska visits Cincinnati. The full conference schedule will kick off in 35 days on Saturday, Aug. 30, headlined by Ohio State vs. Texas.
We've extensively previewed every Big Ten team's offensive outlook entering the season. In a conference classically known for power running and strong offensive line play, high-powered passing offenses may again steal the show. That is specifically shown in our Big Ten quarterback rankings and wide receiver room hierarchy.
No preview of the conference's top signal-callers and premier pass-catchers is complete without a look at what they will face every Saturday. That began with our overall defensive unit rankings, then has continued with specific looks at each team's defensive line, pass-rushing group and inside linebacker room.
Position Previews: Defense -- Offense -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Line -- Defensive Line -- Pass-Rushers -- Inside Linebackers
Now, specifically with those passing offenses in mind, it's time for a focus on the Big Ten's 18 cornerback rooms.
18. Maryland Terrapins
Starters: Jamare Glasker (transfer), Dontay Joyner (transfer), La'khi Roland (nickel)
Maryland will rely on a transfer-heavy cornerback room in 2025. Glasker joins the Terrapins after totaling 37 tackles, three for loss, one interception and four pass deflections at Wake Forest in 2024. Joyner, meanwhile, transfers in from Arkansas State after a 50-tackle, two-interception, seven-pass-deflection season. Remember, tackles aren't always a good stat for cornerbacks, depending on the system in which they play.
17. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Starters: Za'Quan Bryan, Jaylen Bowden (transfer), John Nestor (nickel -- transfer)
Bryan delivered a fine season as a primary contributor in 2024, totaling 19 tackles, one for loss, one interception and five pass deflections. He'll be expected to take a big step forward as the room's leader this season. Bowden joins the Gophers from NC Central as the No. 496 overall transfer recruit and No. 70 cornerback. The position is a major question after losing defensive leaders Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson to the NFL.
16. Northwestern Wildcats
Starters: Fred Davis (transfer), Josh Fussell, Robert Fitzgerald (nickel)
Northwestern lost standout cornerback Theran Johnson to Oregon this offseason. That leaves Davis and Fussell as the room's starters on the boundary. Davis, a former top-60 recruit in the class of 2020, played for three years at Clemson (2020-22), one at UCF (2023) and one at Jacksonville State (2024). He has experience, but maybe a bit too much of it to suddenly project a breakthrough year. Fussell, meanwhile, has intriguing potential after totaling 39 tackles and five pass deflections as a redshirt freshman in 2024. Wire
15. Purdue Boilermakers
Starters: Tony Grimes (transfer), Ryan Turner (transfer), Sterling Smith (nickel)
Grimes followed head coach Barry Odom from UNLV after a strong 2024 campaign (20 tackles, six pass deflections). Turner, who began his career at Ohio State, transfers in from Boston College after totaling 13 tackles, two for loss, one sack, one interception and four pass deflections in 2024. Purdue's entire roster is big question mark due to the volume of transfers. On paper, this cornerback room could be a strength of the defense.
14. UCLA Bruins
Starters: Andre Jordan Jr. (transfer), Kanye Clark, Cole Martin (nickel -- transfer)
UCLA's cornerback room is one of the bigger questions on its defense. Jordan transfers in from Oregon State after tallying 27 tackles, two for loss and four pass deflections in 2024. He's set to lead the room. Clark and Martin (Arizona State transfer), the other projected starters, both played just two games in 2024 before missing significant time due to injury. Their play will define how this room is viewed as the season continues.
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13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Starters: Bo Mascoe, Cam Miller (transfer), Jacobie Henderson (nickel -- transfer)
Rutgers' cornerback room is a major question after it lost starters Robert Longerbeam and Eric Rogers after the 2024 season. Mascoe is set to lead the room after tallying 50 tackles, one for loss, one interception and five pass deflections as a true sophomore last season. He's a popular pick to break out in 2025. Miller, meanwhile, transfers in from Penn State after an impressive season in a reserve role, finishing with 27 tackles, four for loss, one sack and five pass deflections.
12. USC Trojans
Starters: D.J. Harvey (transfer), DeCarlos Nicholson, Prophet Brown (nickel)
San Jose State transfer Harvey is an impact addition, ranked as 247Sports' No. 181 overall transfer prospect and No. 21 cornerback. Nicholson appeared in all 13 games for the Trojans in 2024 with three starts, finishing with 27 tackles and five pass deflections. Just like every other position on the USC defense, this cornerback group has major questions.
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11. Michigan State Spartans
Starters: Chance Rucker, Joshua Eaton (transfer), Jeremiah Hughes (nickel)
Rucker is set to return to a prominent role after missing most of the 2024 season due to injury. He tallied 23 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections as a primary contributor in 2023. Eaton, meanwhile, should be the team's top cornerback in 2025. He transfers in from Texas State after totaling 27 tackles, two for loss, one sack and five pass deflections, joining the Spartans as 247Sports' No. 75 overall transfer recruit and No. 5 transfer cornerback. The room's success will likely come down to Rucker's play in his return to the lineup.
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10. Wisconsin Badgers
Starters: Ricardo Hallman, D'Yoni Hill (transfer), Geimere Latimer (nickel)
Wisconsin's cornerback room received a major blow with Nyzier Fourqurean's lawsuit not resulting in an extra year of eligibility. Hallman returns as one of the Big Ten's potential top-tier cornerbacks. He led the NCAA with seven interceptions back in 2023. While he failed to deliver the same production in 2024, that was partially due to teams entirely avoiding his side of the field. The boundary position across from Hallman is a big question. Transfers Hill (Miami) and Latimer (Jacksonville State) are the top candidates for the job. Wisconsin's cornerback room underwent major changes this offseason, headlined by star freshman Xavier Lucas' departure. Across from Hallman, the impact of that movement may become apparent when games against top-ranked passing offenses arrive.
Hybrid cornerback/safety Austin Brown is set to be one of Wisconsin's defensive leaders in 2025. For these rankings, he's considered with the team's safety group.
9. Oregon Ducks
Starters: Theran Johnson (transfer), Jahlil Florence, Daylen Austin (nickel)
Oregon gets Johnson from Northwestern as the No. 211 overall transfer prospect and No. 26 cornerback. Florence is a major breakout candidate after redshirting last season. He started nine games for the Ducks back in 2023, totaling 27 tackles, two for loss, one interception and a pass deflection. While this room has a ton of potential, its floor isn't as high as some others on the Ducks' roster.
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8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Starters: Andrew Marshall (transfer), Ceyair Wright, Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (nickel)
Wright is Nebraska's lead cornerback option after a strong 39-tackle, one-for-loss, one-sack, two-interception, six-pass-deflection season in 2024. Marshall transfers in from Idaho as 247Sports' No. 215 overall prospect and No. 27 cornerback in the portal. This room's wild card is Hartzog, who tallied 45 tackles, two for loss, four interceptions and four pass deflections last season. In all, this projects as a strong unit.
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7. Michigan Wolverines
Starters: Jyaire Hill, Caleb Anderson (transfer), Zeke Berry (nickel)
Michigan lost All-American cornerback Will Johnson to the NFL after the 2024 season. That leaves Hill as the room's top option. He's considered a major breakout candidate after totaling 35 tackles, six for loss, one sack, one interception and eight pass deflections in 2024. Anderson transfers in from Louisiana as an under-the-radar prospect -- ranked as the No. 1,256 player and No. 140 cornerback in the portal. Hill gives the Wolverines a clear top option, although questions exist on the other side of the field.
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6. Iowa Hawkeyes
Starters: T.J. Hall, Deshaun Lee
Iowa's place on this ranking shouldn't be much of a question, even with significant turnover in the room over the last few years. Hall and Lee both return after seeing regular playing time in 2024. Lee is a strong No. 1 option after a 42-tackle, one-for-loss, four-pass-deflection, one-interception 2024 campaign. Hall has a bit less experience, with seven starts in 12 appearances across from Lee. It's Iowa, so expect this room to again finish near the top of the conference.
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5. Washington Huskies
Starters: Tacario Davis (transfer), Ephesians Prysock, Rahshawn Clark (nickel)
Washington landed an impact transfer in Davis after he delivered a breakout season at Arizona. 247Sports listed him as the No. 32 overall transfer prospect and No. 2 cornerback. Prysock is a bit of a question on the other boundary after recording 45 tackles and six pass deflections last season. If he breaks out, this room's ceiling is sky-high.
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4. Indiana Hoosiers
Starters: D'Angelo Ponds, Jamari Sharpe, Devan Boykin (nickel -- transfer)
Indiana boasts the Big Ten's top cornerback in Ponds (57 tackles, five for loss, three interceptions, nine pass deflections in 2024). Sharpe is set to claim the other boundary role after three starts in nine appearances last season. While Sharpe is a moderate unknown, Ponds' top-end ability leads to the room's high ranking.
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Starters: Torrie Cox Jr., Kaleb Patterson, Xavier Scott (nickel)
Illinois returns Scott as one of the Big Ten's top cornerbacks. He tallied 49 tackles, two for loss, one sack, four interceptions and six pass deflections in 2024. Cox and Patterson both bring significant experience. Cox recorded 26 tackles, one for loss, three interceptions and four pass deflections a season ago, while Patterson finished with 31 tackles, two for loss and two pass deflections. Top-to-bottom, this has the chance to be the best cornerback room in the conference.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Starters: Jermaine Mathews Jr., Davison Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles Jr. (nickel)
No. 1 and No. 2 on this ranking are interchangeable. Ohio State returns Igbinosun (45 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions, nine pass deflections in 2024) as one of the nation's elite cornerbacks. Mathews Jr. is an easy breakout candidate after totaling 22 tackles, three for loss and one sack in 2024. Lorenzo Styles, brother of Ohio State All-Conference linebacker Sonny Styles, saw limited action for the Buckeyes last season. But it's Ohio State, so the talent in the cornerback room is guaranteed to be top-tier.
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1. Penn State Nittany Lions
Starters: Eliot Washington II, A.J. Harris, Zion Tracy (nickel)
Harris is the one player who can battle Ponds for consideration as the Big Ten's top cornerback. He delivered 48 tackles, four for loss, one interception and five pass deflections in 2024. Across from him, Washington is set for an expanded role after one start in 14 appearances last season. Tracy also recorded 35 tackles, two for loss, one sack, two interceptions and one pass deflection in 2024. Top-down, this projects to be an elite room.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Power ranking Big Ten cornerback rooms from worst to first
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