2021 CFN Preseason All-America Team: Defense

Who are the best and brightest stars going into the 2021 season? The CFN Preseason All-America Team – the defense.

CFN 2021 All-America Cornerbacks

CFN 2021 First Team All-America Cornerbacks

Derek Stingley Jr., Soph. LSU
The guy played and looked the part from Day One. A key part to the 2019 national title team, the 6-1, 195-pounder picked off six passes and broke up 15 as everyone tried – and too often failed – to test the new guy. Teams stayed away from No. 24 in 2020 – he only broke up five passes and didn’t come up with any interceptions – but that’s because he’s an eraser on one side. Speaking of not getting thrown at …
LSU Preview | Schedule

Kaiir Elam, Jr. Florida
The 6-2, 195-pounder doesn’t have the hype of Derek Stingley Jr., but don’t be all that shocked if he ends up going before the LSU star in the 2022 NFL Draft – he probably won’t, but again, it wouldn’t be crazy. He has four interceptions and 15 broken up passes in his first two years, and he became more of a tackler as a sophomore. He’s got the size, length, and tools to be on everyone quarterback’s must-avoid list.
Florida Preview | Schedule

CFN 2021 Second Team All-America Cornerbacks

Chris Steele, Jr. USC
Expected to be a key part of the secondary right away, he didn’t disappoint with a great 35-tackle season with five broken up passes. He followed it up with 26 tackles, his first and only interception, and four broken up throws in just six games. A few more picks would be nice, but as is he’s a tall, tough shutdown corner with first round skills.
USC Preview | Schedule

Derrick Canteen, Soph. Georgia Southern
A baller’s baller, he was tested time and time again as a redshirt freshman, and he passed with flying colors as one of the nation’s top ball-hawkers. He led all cornerbacks in college football with six interceptions with ten broken up passes and 48 tackles – he even took a fumble for a score in the tight loss to Army. Now he’s a main man for what should quietly be one of the Sun Belt’s better defenses.
Georgia Southern Preview | Schedule

CFN 2021 Honorable Mention All-America Cornerbacks

5. Mykael Wright, Soph. Oregon
6. Sevyn Banks, Sr. Ohio State
7. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Jr. TCU
8. Emmanuel Forbes, Soph. Mississippi State
9. Shaun Jolly, Sr. Appalachian State
10. Jarron Morris, Jr. Texas State
11. Coby Bryant, Sr. Cincinnati
12. Steven Gilmore, Jr. Marshall

2021 CFN All-America Team: Defense
DE/Edge Rush | DT | LB | Saf

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