2023 NFL Combine: 5 Cornerbacks For the Jaguars to Watch

From Kelee Ringo to Deonte Banks, we take a look at which cornerbacks can be the most interesting to keep tabs on next week.

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off next week, bringing the 2023 draft class fully into focus for all 32 teams. 

With general managers and coaches set to speak on Tuesday and Wednesday and players kicking off workouts on Wednesday, the week of athletic testing and evaluations is set to fully come into view.

With the combine now ready to set the stage before free agency and the draft, we take a look at players worth monitoring for Jaguars' purposes. Whether it be players who are options at No. 24 or players who make sense elsewhere in the draft, we will pick out five players at each position who should be watched closely next week.

First up: cornerbacks. 

Kelee Ringo, Georgia

In terms of players who are worth watching because they are obvious candidates for the No. 24 overall pick, Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo makes the most sense. Ringo also earns a spot because his impressive physical traits suggest he is set to potentially put on a show in Indianapolis, with the ability to set testing numbers that are among the best in the class. Ringo has a track background, and there is a reason he was No. 6 on Bruce Feldman's 2022 'Freak List'.

"The 6-2, 215-pound Ringo, a World Class junior sprinter from Arizona who ran a 10.43 100- and 21.18 200-meter time, is a legitimate 4.3 40 guy and consistently clocks in the high-22 mph range on the GPS," Feldman said. 

Ringo has some holes to his game but ultimately looks to be one of the best height/weight/speed profiles of any defensive back in this class. How he performs in not just the 40 but also in his jumps and agility drills will be telling and will likely ultimately determine if he makes it to No. 24 or not.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU

If the Jaguars leave the first round and are still looking for a hard-nosed cornerback who can fit in the slot from Day 1, TCU's Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson would make a lot of sense. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Hodges-Tomlinson makes up for his lack of size with tenacious aggressiveness and red-hot instincts. 

If Hodges-Tomlinson can make up for his lack of size with strong testing numbers, it would go a long way toward his stock. A short cornerback who tests like a great athlete can be a Day 2 pick. A short corner who doesn't impress athletically? It is a bit tougher to make that case.

Deonte Banks, Maryland

Listed as 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Deonte Banks is a silky-smooth athlete for his size. He is one of the most interesting cornerbacks in this class, with some projections having him as a potential first-round talent and others having him outside the top-50. For Banks, who has a track and field background from high school, the combine will likely decide where he is ultimately drafted. With Banks having the size and length the Jaguars covet in the secondary, seeing how he stacks up to the other cornerbacks in the class could create serious questions at either No. 57 or No. 24 overall.

DJ Turner, Michigan

In terms of physical specimens at cornerback, there might not be many more impressive in this year's class than Michigan's DJ Turner. Turner has reportedly hit three-cone times of 6.29 at Michigan, close to the combine all-time record. Listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds, he could make sense as a nickel option after the first two rounds and give the Jaguars an athletic prospect to develop behind their veteran cornerbacks. 

Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina

Standing at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Coastal Carolina's Lance Boykin is one of the largest cornerbacks in the class. If the Jaguars want a developmental outside press cornerback who can develop behind Tyson Campbell, Boykin could fit the bill. If he has a good day at the combine and impresses in interviews, the team captain could find himself flying up boards on Day 3.