Georgia’s 2026 Emerging DB’s – Part II
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Tristan Lester HEIGHT 5'11" WEIGHT 165 POS ATH CLASS 2026 View Profile Tristan Lester Instagram Twitter State: Georgia School: Milton Highschool Lester is one of the more athletically gifted outside cornerback. He is rarely beaten in a vertical foot race…
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Continue ReadingLester is one of the more athletically gifted outside cornerback. He is rarely beaten in a vertical foot race down the field in coverage. He carries vertical route concepts well and remains in phase to force tight window/risky throws by the quarterback. His speed in a straight line is hard to overcome. Mesh concepts/crossing patterns play into Lester’s wheelhouse. He has tremendous recovery speed to sell trail technique and undercut passes to force PBUs.
Markell Ferguson-Coffee
Markell Ferguson-Coffee
Ferguson-Coffee has good ball skills when he locates and makes a play on the ball in flight. On his interceptions this season, he displayed reliable hands paired with his leaping ability to high-point the pass. When he is patient in bump-n-run coverage, he can cap routes quickly with disruptive punches. Ferguson-Coffee has coverage versatility because he is equipped and skilled in both man and zone concepts. His instincts in zone impressed me. Ferguson-Coffee understands how to read the route combinations as he is hitting his zone landmarks. He does a good job leveraging as a Cover-2/flats defender when tasked with a Hi-Lo route combo.
Hicks is a gifted and explosive athlete at the cornerback position. In coverage, Hicks is an irritant for opposing wide receivers. He combines elite deep speed, oily hips, and quick-and-light feet to mirror and match his assignment. I love the patience and instincts he plays with, especially in man-to-man coverage.
Darrius Favors
Darrius Favors
Favors has shown the ability to run with nearly every wide receiver he has faced this season. One of the best terms to describe his game is “sticky.” On tape, he is routinely spotted in the hip pocket of opposing receivers. The ability to blanket talented receivers and remain in phase on most reps cannot be undervalued. An ultimate competitor, Favors plays the ball and the receiver’s hands to force pass breakups.
Drew Kalinauskis
Drew Kalinauskis
He does a nice job baiting quarterbacks into the throws he wants near his assigned zone. The athleticism and burst to close and drive on routes are impressive. Kalinauskis is a willing participant in the run game and tackles well for a cornerback. He does not appear to hesitate or make those back-breaking “business decisions” that hurt his team.