Kendall Fuller: 2014 All-American Frontrunner

Sep 6, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Kendall Fuller (11) after a short gain at Ohio Stadium. Virginia Tech won the game 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the 2014 season, Kendall Fuller was one of the top returning cornerbacks in all of college football after being named a Freshman All-American in 2013 for his strong first season in Blacksburg. Expectations were high this season for the fourth Fuller at Virginia Tech and he has already lived up to expectations and then some.

Fuller has been absolutely dominant and the numbers are only part of the story as his 21 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery form a very impressive stat line for the sophomore. However, Fuller’s numbers don’t explain how dominant Fuller has really been in 2014.

From watching Fuller play this season, you can tell that Fuller is a great man-to-man cover cornerback and outside of one or two passes, the only way to beat Fuller is to have the sophomore slip or have the receiver run a great route with a perfectly timed pass to meet him. Outside of this, the sophomore cornerback has been a shutdown player who has made some big plays.

Fuller has great speed and athleticism to go with very good ball skills which have helped him to make some very good plays. Fuller also does a great job of watching the quarterback while covering his receiver which puts him in a better position to make plays on the ball. Fuller is one of the best cornerbacks at covering his receiver and watching the quarterback which is why the sophomore is arguably college football’s best cornerback and a clear frontrunner to be an All-American.

Fuller also makes plays as a blitzer with his two sacks already this season while adding additional speed to a bltiz to force a quick pass from a quarterback which could very easily end up being an interception.

Fuller was snubbed from ESPN’s mid-season All-American team but he did make another mid-season All-American team from a presitigious site.

This is a big time honor for Fuller to receive from Sports Illustrated though SI has done a great job recognizing how good Fuller is especiallsy since the sophomore was also on Sports Illustrated’s Preseason All-American team.

Fuller is one of college football’s best defensive backs and is currently one of the top 3 cornerbacks in college football along with Oregon’s Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Michigan State’s Trae Waynes. Fuller is the best cornerback not only only in the ACC but also in the country over Waynes and Ekpre-Olomu though the margin is slim.

Kendall Fuller is college football’s best man-to-man cover cornerback and is a clear frontrunner to be an All-American this fall. Fuller is a star and will battle Ekpre-Olomu, Wanyes, and others for the Jim Thorpe Award also and tonight’s game against Pittsburgh will be Fuller’s chance to make a big national statement for those who haven’t seen him.