4 college cornerbacks for Bengals fans to watch in 2021

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Derek Stingley Jr. #24 of the LSU Tigers (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Cornerbacks for Bengals to Watch – No. 4: Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU)

Should the Bengals be unfortunate enough to find themselves selecting in the top 10 of next year’s draft, LSU’s Derek Stingley would be a popular selection. He would join college teammates Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase as the third high-profile addition from Baton Rouge.

If Stingley was in the picture the likelihood would be that neither Trae Waynes nor Chidobe Awuzie had established themselves as the No. 1 corner. Stingley is a true, lockdown cornerback whose elite combination of size and speed makes him perfect for the NFL.

He is heavily favored to follow in the footsteps of other corners who have been recent high picks in the draft. Both Jeffrey Okudah and Denzel Ward had similar skill sets that saw them projected to be effective man cover corners at the next level.

Arriving at LSU in 2019, Stingley didn’t disappoint. During the Tigers’ National Championship run, he was unplayable, locking down one side of the field. The subsequent loss of talent at LSU and a nagging ankle injury meant that Stingley was less impressive in 2020. If he returns to full fitness this season, his cornerback tandem with Eli Ricks could be one of the best partnerships in college football.

Key Games to Watch in 2021: Miss St. on September 25 (vs Jaden Walley), Alabama on November 6 (vs John Metchie), Arkansas on November 13 (vs Treylon Burks)