A look at who I believe are the top-five cornerbacks on Florida's 2024 schedule
Graham Hall
With the offseason in full swing, I'm once again taking a crack at ranking the top-5 players at each position the Gators will face on the 2024 schedule. The list continues with who I believe are the top-five cornerbacks UF will face:
No. 5: Azareye'h Thomas
Height:6-foot-2
Weight:194 pounds
Year:Junior
247Sports Ranking: No. 89 overall, No. 4-ranked athlete in the class of 2022 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings
2023 Statistics:29 tackles (21 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 10 passes defended
Overview:Thomas should be in for a breakout season after he impressed as a rotational piece throughout 2023.
He finished last season with a 78.7 coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and his athleticism and continued progression within Florida State's defensive system should enable him to play at a high level in 2024.
While there are veterans on the roster at defensive back with more experience than Thomas, including Shyheim Brown and Fentrell Cypress II, Thomas should be able to lock down a starting role at outside cornerback after he impressed throughout spring camp in Tallahassee.
Look for him to be a standout player in the secondary for the 'Noles in 2024.
No. 4: PJ Woodland, LSU
Height:5-foot-11
Weight:160 pounds
Year:Freshman
247Sports Ranking: No. 503 overall, No. 45-ranked cornerback in the class of 2024 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings
2023 Statistics:N/A
Overview:Is Woodland the SEC's best freshman cornerback in 2024? It could be a possibility considering he had emerged as a likely starter by the end of spring camp, less than four months from his enrollment at LSU.
His competitive spirit was praised throughout the spring, and he may beat out the returning players at the position for a starting role by the time the season arrives, although he'll need to continue adding weight to his frame, considering he was listed at 160 pounds upon his arrival in Baton Rouge.
While his recruiting profile wouldn't indicate he would be an instant-impact type player in 2024, all signs point to Woodland having an impressive debut season at the collegiate level.
Granted, this is one of the bolder predictions in this series, as there are plenty of rosters with more experienced players returning at cornerback.
Texas A&M, Texas and Georgia all have competitions ongoing at their programs when it comes to the cornerback position, and it's difficult to project how the depth chart will shake out for those teams, which made it feel as if Woodland is a safer bet to have an impressive season.
But there's no doubt this is a risky prediction.
No. 3: Joenel Aguero, Georgia
Height:5-foot-11
Weight:205 pounds
Year:Sophom*ore
247Sports Ranking: No. 37 overall, No. 3-ranked safety in the class of 2023 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings
2023 Statistics:7 tackles (5 solo), 1 pass defended
Overview:Aguero is another player set to have a breakout season in 2024 after he impressed in spurts as a freshman. There's a significant possibility he locks down the starting STAR position for the Bulldogs rather than at cornerback, but he has positional versatility that should allow him to see the field at a high rate this season.
Of the freshmen in 2023, Aguero saw the most action, which bodes well for his future with one of the nation's top teams in UGA, and I'm expecting him to be an impactful presence as a sophom*ore. After all, there's a reason he was a former five-star prospect in the class of 2023.
Again, he likely ends up at STAR, meaning the cornerback position could be held down by Daniel Harris, Julian Humphrey or freshman Ellis Robinson IV, yet I believe Aguero is the most talented of the bunch heading into fall camp.
No. 2: Malik Muhammad, Texas
Height:6-foot-0
Weight:191 pounds
Year:Sophom*ore
247Sports Ranking: No. 45 overall, No. 4-ranked cornerback in the class of 2023 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings
2023 Statistics:32 tackles (21 solo), 1 INT, 4 passes defended
Overview:Texas is another program with considerable options at cornerback heading into 2024, including the highly regarded Tyreek Chappell, but I'm of the opinion Malik Muhammad will emerge among the rest and be a standout in the secondary for the Longhorns this season. As for Chappell, he'll need to stay healthy this season to prove he's one of the league's best corners, but he certainly was in contention to make this list. As for Muhammad, he appeared in all 14 games last season, with a pair of starts, and he should step into a noticeably larger role as a sophom*ore. He finished 2023 with a 79.9 coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked second among all Big 12 corners. He also tallied a 20 percent forced-incompletion rate, which was good for fifth among all players in the conference. He should maintain his upward trajectory now that he's set to step into a larger role in 2024.
No. 1: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Height:6-foot-1
Weight:181 pounds
Year:Junior
247Sports Ranking: No. 952 overall, No. 79-ranked cornerback in the class of 2021 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings
2023 Statistics:66 tackles (53 solo), 1 forced fumble, 5 INT, 2 defensive TDs, 6 passes defended
Overview:Widely considered the SEC's top returning cornerback, Maxwell Hairston tallied five interceptions in 2023 despite being in a cast at times last season.
He finished the season with an83.5 overall defensive rating, good for No. 9 among all cornerbacks in the SEC, and a case could easily be made that he would have graded out higher if he was fully healthy.
Early into the 2023 season, he earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Vanderbilt, and he tied with former Alabama standout Terrion Arnold for the league's most interceptions. He also scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, making him one of the league's more dangerous defensive players.
He's the top pick on the list for a reason, despite the significant depth at cornerback in the SEC heading into 2024.
