The Big Ten is absolutely loaded at the cornerback position, and there are plenty of candidates for the top spot. If you like man-to-man shutdown players, zone specialists, playmakers and\/or all-around wrecking balls, this may be the conference for you.<\/p>\n
Here are our five best corners in the Big Ten heading into 2026.<\/p>\n
Lutmer did a bit of everything for the Hawkeyes as a redshirt sophomore, accumulating 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and three picks (one for a touchdown) en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and third-team from the media. PFF<\/a> graded him an impressive 83.5; however, perhaps the most impressive part of his game is his versatility. Lutmer lined up at slot (398 snaps), out wide (118), in the box (125), on the defensive line (76), and was all over the place on punt team.<\/p>\n Sharpe grasped the National Championship-sealing interception for the Hoosiers during their bout with Miami, and the door is open for a standout fifth year now that standout corner D\u2019Angelo Ponds is in the NFL. Already a two-year starter, Sharpe has been at Indiana since the Tom Allen days; his current coach, Curt Cignetti, appears to have no issues leaving him on an island without over-the-top safety help.<\/p>\n No. 3 Jyaire Hill, Michigan<\/p>\n Hill had a bit of a down 2025 season based on expectations, but he still has all the physical tools to build upon his honorable mention All-Big Ten campaign. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder notched one pick and one sack last fall, and PFF<\/a> rated his overall defensive game with a 77.6 grade. He can boost his draft stock by reaching his potential and blossoming into a marquee, shutdown corner who can line up all over the field.<\/p>\n You may have forgotten about Scott after he was limited to only three games in 2025, but the fifth-year senior returns to action after suffering a right foot\/ankle injury<\/a> in September and should quickly reestablish himself among the Big Ten\u2019s premier corners. Back in 2024, the coaches voted him as a second-team All-Big Ten member and the media voted him first-team \u2014 he picked off four passes, one for a touchdown, had two tackles for loss, a sack, and earned a very solid 80.6 overall grade from PFF<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1 Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon<\/p>\n