Jan 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter Jr. looks during the first half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center.

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2025 NFL Scouting Combine Day 2 – Will Travis Hunter Work Out At the Combine Today? Top Defensive Backs To Keep An Eye On!

Defensive backs get ready for their day for on-field drills at the NFL Combine!

The NFL Scouting Combine is now in full swing. After the defensive linemen and linebackers put on a show yesterday, it is now time for the defensive backs, which include the cornerbacks and the safeties, to get on the field and show everyone what they are capable of. This year a total of 56 defensive backs have been invited to the Combine.

Travis Hunter is the most notable absentee from the NFL Combine Day 2!

Travis Hunter, the winner of the latest edition of the Heisman Trophy, will not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine today! He is not only the number one defensive back in this year’s draft class but he is considered as a leading candidate to be selected in the top 5. At one point, Hunter was even trending as a potential number-one pick. He has earned quite a bit of recognition including Unanimous All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Walter Camp Award in 2024.

Travis Hunter insists he wants to play both offense and defense in the NFL—something that may complicate his professional future.

“I’m going to play both,” Hunter said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.

More from @_DavidRumsey ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 28, 2025

His absence from the NFL Scouting Combine is heart-breaking but there is plenty of talent to watch out for!

Hunter displays qualities such as versatility and athleticism. Being a two-way receiver and corner player, he has capable hands and is able to use his entire skillset from the offense to his defense. Thus, he can play both man and zone defense with great potential. Hunter’s NFL comparison is DeVonta Smith on offense and Darius Slay Jr. on defense. All in all, Hunter will be a solid pick for whichever team selects him later on in the 2025 NFL draft.

Who Are The Top Defensive Backs At This Year’s NFL Combine?

One name that has garnered plenty of appeal is that of recently crowned Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who is in reality a two-way player. Hunter has played as a wideout as well as a corner in college, but he has entered the Combine as a cornerback.

1) Will Johnson – Cornerback

Will Johnson is another cornerback whose stock is already quite high. A good showing at the Combine will only help him rise in the rankings. Johnson played his three-year college football career with the Michigan Wolverines where he was a member of the 2023 CFP national championship. He was also proclaimed the defensive MVP of the National Championship game. He has First and Second team All-American honors.

Johnson is known for his instinctive play and overall good coverage. His versatility allows him to play both man and zone defense at a high level. Johnson is a patient corner and his back peddling skills are exquisite. One of his strengths is his tackling ability, limiting players from gaining extra yards.

2) Nick Emmanwori – Safety

Nick Emmanwori is a safety who has played his three years of college football on the South Carolina Gamecocks football team. He earned First-team All-SEC and First-team All-American honors in 2024 and has emerged to become one of the strongest players at his position in this year’s draft class.

Emmanwori started out playing as a linebacker and he possesses rare size and ability for the safety position. In fact this combination of size and physicality enables him to do well against tight ends. He is a strong tackler who seldom allows extra yards and is capable of playing over the top.

3) Malaki Starks – Safety

Malaki Starks is another safety who has performed well during his collegiate career. He played three years with the Georgia Bulldogs where he became the CFP national champion in 2022. Starks has earned the First-team All-American honor in 2024 and is a two-time First-team All-SEC in 2023 and 2024.

Starks has many qualities, including being a great tackler, and a strong run defender. He has excellent ball skills and his athletic ability helps him with contested catches. Considered to have a sharp football IQ, Starks should be one to watch out for.

Also Read: Top 7 Defensive Linemen To Watch At The NFL Combine!

4) Jahdae Barron – Cornerback

Cornerback Jahdae Barron has been with the Texas Longhorns from 2020 to 2024. The 23-year-old senior had a tremendous outing in 2024. He earned Consensus All-American and First-team All-SEC honors and was also awarded the Jim Thorpe Award this past year.

Barron is a versatile and strong defender who can be used in many ways. He has a good run game. He excels as a nickel corner despite his above-average size for the position.

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!