2015 DB Recruits Most Likely to Be Future Shutdown Corners

With the emergence of bigger receivers and freakishly athletic tight ends, finding corners who can lock down one side of the field has become increasingly difficult.

For the nation's top college football coaches, that puts a premium on finding athletic corners on the recruiting trail with size and range who can keep up with shifty and explosive pass-catchers. 

However, the 2015 class has a deep group of corners—as evidenced by the fact that there are five players at the position who have earned the coveted 5-star designation.

Which cover corners are the best candidates to become future shutdown corners?

*Players listed in alphabetical order.

Frank Buncom IV

The state of California is a breeding ground for elite athletes, and there are a handful of corner prospects who project to be among the nation’s best in the 2015 class.

Included in that group of Golden State studs is 4-star corner Frank Buncom IV.

As Chris Smith of Vandy247 notes, the 6’1”, 190-pounder, who recorded 14 pass breakups as a sophomore, has also played receiver and linebacker for St. Augustine High School in San Diego. 

With that type of athleticism and a pro-caliber build, the rangy Buncom—who is considering Notre Dame, Stanford and UCLA, among others—is a candidate to develop into a lockdown cover man at the next level.

Davante Davis

Credit: 247Sports

Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School is no stranger to producing big-time college prospects.

This year, one of the standouts for the Tornadoes is 4-star corner Davante Davis.

The 6’3”, 200-pound Davis is built like a towering safety, but he’s got the athleticism and short-range quickness to play on an island against bigger receivers on the outside.

With suitors such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Florida State, Davis is an intriguing talent who possesses the potential to become a dominant corner in college.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

In recent years, no school has turned out more pro-caliber defensive backs than Alabama.

Nick Saban’s reputation for molding elite defensive backs has helped him land his share of top-flight cover corners.

One year after landing a pair of 5-star corners in Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey, Saban and his staff earned a pledge from 5-star corner Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The 6’1”, 198-pound New Jersey native recorded combined totals of six interceptions and 33 pass breakups during his sophomore and junior seasons. 

Fitzpatrick—who has also starred as a wideout at the prep level—has the size and physical attributes necessary to make an early impact in the SEC. However, it’s his instincts and nose for finding the ball in coverage that will benefit him the most in his transition to college.

Holton Hill

Texas is loaded with talented senior corners, with 5-star Kendall Sheffield and 4-star Kris Boyd among the top standouts in the Lone Star State.

However, at 6’2” and 184 pounds with sub-4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash, Holton Hill may be the top cover man in terms of projecting to be a dominant player at the college level.

According to Colt Barber of Horns247, Hill snared eight interceptions through the first eight games of the season.

Given his size, athleticism and playmaking ability, Hill—who is favoring schools such as Baylor, Florida State, Texas and Texas A&M—has tremendous upside and all the tools necessary to develop into a shutdown corner.

Iman Marshall

While this class of corners is loaded, Iman Marshall appeared to separate himself from the class with a standout showing at The Opening this summer, as noted by Scott Schrader of FightOn247. 

What set the 6’1”, 190-pounder apart is his aggressive mentality and the competitive fire that he plays with. 

As Luke Stampini of 247Sports noted, Marshall checked off every box that would define a top-flight cover corner.

In the process, Marshall—who is still considering Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame and USC, among others—proved his lofty ranking has been rightfully earned.

Tarvarus McFadden

At 6’3”, 198 pounds, Tarvarus McFadden has a package of traits that allow him to be the rare corner with size and ability to match up against big wideouts. 

As Barton Simmons of 247Sports notes, McFadden has displayed the ability to flip his hips and flashed his athleticism with a dominant showing at The Opening.

McFadden, who committed to Florida State last week, even drew a comparison from Simmons to former Seminole great and current Cardinals standout Antonio Cromartie.

Considering the possibility that FSU’s starting corners P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby could both test the NFL draft waters, McFadden has a great opportunity to find the field as soon as he steps foot on campus.

Deshawn Raymond

The state of Louisiana has produced a bevy of talented defensive backs in recent years, with studs such as Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins headlining the list.

One of the top corners in the Pelican State this year is 4-star standout Deshawn Raymond.

The 6’1”, 190-pounder, who committed to TCU last week, snared three interceptions as a junior. 

While he doesn’t carry a lofty rating like many of the other players on this list, his size, length and ability to be physical at the line of scrimmage are traits that most NFL personnel look for when scouting top cover corners.

Kevin Toliver II

When it comes to drawing up the ideal cover corner suited for today’s game, Florida 5-star Kevin Toliver is atop the list of specimens available in the 2015 class.

The 6’2”, 185-pounder, who is committed to LSU, has the perfect combination of size, speed, technique and athleticism to become the next great corner to emerge from the Tigers program.

He excels with being physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage, but that trait doesn’t come at the expense of having the deep speed necessary to stay with quick receivers downfield. 

Toliver—who has recorded 14 pass breakups and three interceptions over the last two seasons—appears to be a player who has the physical attributes necessary to ensure a smooth transition into the nation’s toughest conference.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani