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The NFL is a copycat league. So when you see the success that some teams have had in recent times like the Seattle defensive backs and the Baltimore defensive backs, other will try to follow suit. Even three weeks removed from Superbowl 49, we all remember the clinching play of the game being an interception by a non-starting defensive back. There are two ways to shut down a passing game, either get pressure on the quarterback or play great, tight, coverage in the secondary. This year has numerous high potential secondary guys, so it’s a good year to find a playmaker.

This year’s class highlights one top Safety in Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey, who is also being look at as a cornerback. As a cornerback, he seems to be better in a zone defense rather than man to man, but as a safety, he would be a supreme ballhawk centerfield. The top cornerback in this draft is also from the state of Florida, Vernon Hargreaves III from the University of Florida. Hargreaves III has shut down corner potential and exhibited his ball skills with 10 INTs in the last 3 years, including 4 last year. He shows unbelievable change of direction skills and maybe a starter from day 1.

Some other defensive backs of note include Kendall Fuller of Virginia Tech, Xavier Howard from Baylor, Eli Apple of Ohio State, and Mackensie Alexander of Clemson. All have proved to be solid corners with good ball skills. Their forty times will likely be what separates them from each other to decide who will be the 3rd corner off the board, possibly at the back end of round 1. One safety I really like is Darian Thompson of Boise State. He is the ultimate centerfielder with 17 career INTs and 11 in the last 2 years. With a good forty time, he could find himself at the back end of round 1 or very early in round 2.

Below is a list of all the heights, weights, arm lengths, and hand lengths of all the defensive backs who will be at the 2016 NFL Combine.

Player School Height Weight Arm Hand
Mackensie Alexander Clemson 5-10 190 31 3/8 9 1/8
Eli Apple Ohio State 6-1 199 31 3/8 9 3/8
Vonn Bell Ohio State 5-11 199 32 3/8 9 1/2
Briean Boddy-Calhoun Minnesota 5-10 193 31 9 1/8
James Bradberry Samford 6-1 211 33 9 1/8
Anthony Brown Purdue 5-11 192 31 3/4 8 1/4
Lamarcus Brutus Florida State 6-0 206 31 1/2 8 3/4
Artie Burns Miami 6-0 193 33 1/4 9 1/2
Juston Burris N. C. State 6-0 212 31 1/2 8 7/8
Deon Bush Miami 6-0 199 30 7/8 9 1/4
Taveze Calhoun Mississippi State 6-0 192 31 7/8 9
Maurice Canady Virginia 6-1 193 31 5/8 9 1/8
Tevin Carter Utah 6-1 218 32 9 1/4
Jeremy Cash Duke 6-0 212 32 3/8 10
Ken Crawley Colorado 6-0 187 30 1/2 9
Sean Davis Maryland 6-1 201 31 3/8 9 1/2
K.J. Dillon West Virginia 6-0 210 31 5/8 9 5/8
Deandre Elliott Colorado State 6-1 188 32 9 5/8
Kavon Frazier Central Michigan 6-0 187 31 1/2 10
Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech 6-0 187 31 1/2 10
T.J. Green Clemson 6-3 209 32 9 5/8
Deiondre Hall Northern Iowa 6-2 199 34 3/8 9 3/4
Vernon Hargreaves Florida 5-11 204 30 5/8 8 3/4
De’Vante Harris Texas A&M 5-11 176 30 5/8 8 1/8
Deandre Houston-Carson William & Mary 6-1 201 30 1/8 9 1/8
Xavien Howard Baylor 6-0 201 31 1/4 9 1/8
William Jackson Houston 6-0 189 31 3/4 9 1/4
Cyrus Jones Alabama 5-10 197 31 3/8 9 1/8
Jonathan Jones Auburn 5-9 186 30 1/4 8 3/4
Karl Joseph West Virginia 5-10 205 32 1/8 9 3/4
Jayron Kearse Clemson 6-4 216 34 1/4 9 5/8
Miles Killebrew Southern Utah 6-2 217 32 1/8 9 1/2
Derrick Kindred TCU 5-10 207 31 1/4 9 3/8
Jordan Lomax Iowa 5-10 202 32 8 3/4
Jordan Lucas Penn State 6-0 201 30 1/8 10
Harlan Miller Southeastern Louisiana 6-0 182 31 3/8 9
Jalen Mills LSU 6-0 191 31 1/8 9 1/8
Eric Murray Minnesota 5-11 199 31 3/4 9
Keanu Neal Florida 6-1 211 32 3/4 10 5/8
Kevin Peterson Oklahoma State 5-10 181 31 8 5/8
Tyvis Powell Ohio State 6-3 211 32 9 1/2
Jimmy Pruitt San Jose State 6-0 198 30 3/8 9 3/8
Jalen Ramsey Florida State 6-1 209 33 3/8 9 1/2
Will Redmond Mississippi State 6-0 182 30 3/8 9 1/8
Rashard Robinson LSU 6-2 171 32 1/4 9
Keivarae Russell Notre Dame 5-11 192 31 5/8 10
Zack Sanchez Oklahoma 5-11 185 31 3/8 9 3/8
Kevon Seymour USC 6-0 186 30 3/4 9
Elijah Shumate Notre Dame 6-0 216 31 1/8 9 3/4
Justin Simmons Boston College 6-2 202 32 5/8 9 5/8
Leshaun Sims Southern Utah 6-1 203 31 5/8 8 1/8
Ryan Smith North Carolina Central 5-11 189 30 1/2 8 7/8
A.J. Stamps Kentucky 5-11 193 31 3/8 9 5/8
Darian Thompson Boise State 6-2 208 30 3/8 9 1/8
Cleveland Wallace San Jose State 5-11 188 31 3/4 9 1/2
D.J. White Georgia Tech 5-11 193 31 1/2 9 1/4
Brandon Williams Texas A&M 5-11 197 32 1/2 8 5/8
Daryl Worley West Virginia 6-1 204 33 3/8 10 1/4
Tavon Young Temple 5-9 183 30 5/8 9 1/8