The PFF draft board was due for a refresh at the midway point of the 2022 college football season.
Quarterback-needy teams, you’re in luck: This is one heck of a quarterback class, with five signal-callers making the top 50. It’s also a strong class at edge defender, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and tight end.
Here are the class’ top cornerbacks and safeties.
1. CB Cam Smith, South Carolina (RS Junior)
Big board rank: 12
After producing three picks and nine pass breakups last season, Smith is simply being avoided by quarterbacks this season. He’s allowed only six catches on 13 targets for 38 yards in five games — less than eight yards a game.
2. CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia (RS Sophomore)
Big board rank: 15
Ringo had a bit of a slow start to the season but has rebounded nicely, allowing only four catches on 13 targets for 86 yards over his last four games. He looks like a walked-out linebacker at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and he plays with that kind of physicality on the outside.
3. CB Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M (Junior)
Big board rank: 20
One of the biggest risers this season, Jones has shown a very mature playstyle through four games. He’s allowed only four catches on seven targets for 44 yards. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he has ideal size for the position in the NFL.
4. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon (Junior)
Big board rank: 32
At 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, Gonzalez has the kind of size everyone is looking for in a boundary corner. He’s already had a career year in terms of ball production, with his first career pick and four pass breakups.
5. CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State (RS Junior)
Big board rank: 34
Porter is a long, physical outside corner who’s in the middle of a career year. Through six games, he’s broken up eight passes and allowed only 11 catches and 100 yards across 24 targets.
6. CB Clark Phillips, Utah (Junior)
Big board rank: 36
Phillips currently owns the eighth-highest coverage grade in all of college football (86.1). He always seems to be around the football and already has five picks on 41 targets this season. At only 5-foot-10, 183 pounds, his size will be his biggest concern coming out.
7. CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse (Junior)
Big board rank: 38
Williams has been starting ever since he was a true freshman for the Orange and has played nothing but quality football over that span. He’s racked up 14 career pass breakups and four picks in two and a half seasons.
8. CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri (RS Sophomore)
Big board rank: 39
Abrams-Draine is a former wide receiver turned cornerback. After playing primarily in the slot in 2021, Abrams-Draine has been solely an outside corner this season and is still excelling. Through five games, he’s allowed only nine catches from 25 targets for 104 yards with three pass breakups.
1. S Brian Branch, Alabama (Junior)
Big board rank: 16
Branch is just a football player. He’s sound in every facet of the game and fills the ever-valuable slot role in Alabama’s defense. You want him around the ball with how lights-out he is as a tackler. On 125 career tackle attempts, Branch has missed only two.
2. S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (Junior)
Big board rank: 26
Johnson is a unique safety at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. He’s a long, rangy tackler who operates out of the slot for the Aggies. He may not be the best pure coverage safety, but he knows how to find ball carriers in space and already has 14 defensive stops.
