What happened to the number 1 CB recruit from 2010-2015?

2010: Dee Milliner CB Millbrook, Alabama. 14th ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 1st best in the state of Alabama. 3 seasons for Alabama (2010-2012). 1st round pick in 2013 NFL Draft (9th overall) by New York Jets. 3 seasons for Jets. 14 games started out of 48, 3 INT, 19 Pass Deflections, 63 total tackles. Currently retired from NFL and referred to as a draft bust. 

2011: Demetrious Nicholson CB Virginia Beach, Virginia. 50th ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 2nd best in the state of Virginia. 5 seasons for Virginia (2011-2015). Never drafted in NFL, never played in NFL. Currently head coach for Virginia Episcopal School’s football team. 

2012: Tracy Howard CB Hollywood, Florida. 23rd ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 4th best in the state of Florida. Played 4 seasons for Miami (Fl) (2012-2015). Undrafted in 2016. Played 1 season for Cleveland Browns, 2 seasons on NFL practice squads (1 for Jaguars, 1 for Dolphins). 3 games started out of 16, only played for special teams. Currently a 27 year old free agent hasn’t played in NFL since 2016. 

2013: Vernon Hargreaves III CB Tampa, Florida. 3rd ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 1st best in the state of Florida. Played 3 seasons for Florida (2013-2015). 1st round pick in 2016 NFL Draft (11th overall) by Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 5+ seasons in NFL (4 years for Buccaneers, 2 years for Texans). 52 games started out of 80, 3 INT, 28 Pass Deflections, 258 total tackles. Currently starting cornerback for Houston Texans. 

2014: Adoree’ Jackson CB Gardena, California. 7th ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 1st best in state of California. 3 years for USC (2014-2016). 1st round pick in 2017 NFL Draft (18th overall) by Tennessee Titans. 4+ seasons in NFL (4 for the Titans). 46 games played, 2 INT, 33 Pass Deflections, 189 total tackles. Currently starting cornerback for New York Giants after signing 3 year $39 million contract this offseason. 

2015: Iman Marshall CB Long Beach, California. 4th ranked national, 1st best cornerback, 1st best in the state of California. 4 years for USC (2015-2018). 4th round draft pick in 2019 NFL Draft (127th overall) by Baltimore Ravens. 1+ seasons in NFL (1 for Ravens). 3 games played, 0 INT, 0 Pass Deflections, 1 total tackle. Currently on Baltimore Ravens practice squad. 

From 2010-2015:

Drafted in NFL Draft (3): Adoree’ Jackson, Iman Marshall, and Vernon Hargreaves III

Currently on NFL roster (3): Adoree’ Jackson, Iman Marshall, and Vernon Hargreaves III

Played in NFL (5): Adoree’ Jackson, Iman Marshall, Tracy Howard, Dee Milliner, and Vernon Hargreaves III

Made a Pro-Bowl (0)

Out of the 6 prospects mentioned, only 2 are currently starting cornerbacks in the NFL today (Vernon Hargreaves III and Adoree’ Jackson). The remaining 4 prospects are considered busts. Iman Marshall is only 24 years old, so he has time to turn his career around, but as a 4th round pick the opportunities for success may be very limited in his future in the NFL. Being a number 1 prospect, out of high school, as a cornerback does not automatically translate to success in the NFL.