Blueprints for Chris Platt moving to cornerback

To say there’s a long-standing tradition of converted defensive backs in college is a stretch. However, thanks to upper echelon players like Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey, there’s an expectation for athletes playing both ways or studying the opposite playbook to be a success story. Few can live up to that expectation. Plenty of converts have fallen and wondered what would have been if their coach didn’t tap their shoulder to move over.

The latest to get his shoulder tapped is Baylor’s own Chris Platt who Matt Rhule called a potential second or third-round pick in next year’s NFL draft as a defensive back despite his two years in Waco exclusively at receiver. That’s a bold prediction that boosts confidence of Platt’s ability to play a position he hasn’t touched in four years since high school.

That said, an overview of receivers to make the move to defense is in store to temper expectations.

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Davion Hall — Baylor

Though not a cornerback, this couldn't go unmentioned. Hall made the move to defense last season after beginning his career with the look of a potential integral piece to the offense’s future. Baylor’s staff came in and not only kept him on defense but has him listed as a starting safety too. In nine games, Hall averaged nearly six tackles per game and had one interception and three passes defended. At 6-foot-2, Hall has the size and speed to keep up with the best Big 12 pass catchers.

Derrek Thomas, Nathan Hairston — Temple

Platt isn’t the first player Rhule wants to play both sides of the ball. He had Hairston make the jump last season after sitting on the receiver bench in 2015. Thomas immediately took to his number change, leading the team with seven disrupted passes. Hairston had been a receiver his first two years at Temple but found his home in the Owls secondary to close his career, totaling 38 tackles and four pass breakups with two interceptions.

Richard Sherman — Stanford

The cream of the crop this century. Sherman asked Jim Harbaugh to move him from receiver to cornerback after a season-ending injury his junior season. He immediately took to the switch as lockdown corner with an extra year of eligibility, getting the Cardinal to the 2011 Orange Bowl. Now Sherman is the epitome of the position at the NFL ranks.

Adoree' Jackson — USC

The 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson is most recognized as a top notch man cornerback but his talents at receiver can’t be forgotten. In just three receptions his freshman year, three were touchdowns. His career TD-catch ratio was 13:2, punching in six touchdowns for the Trojan offense. But most of Jackson’s highlights came on defense where he had 28 passes defended and six interceptions in three seasons, enough to get him drafted Day One in this year’s draft.

James Onwualu — Notre Dame

One of the only receivers to move to a position outside the secondary. Brian Kelly found Onwualu’s strength most beneficial at linebacker. After recording just two receptions his freshman year, he made the move to middle of the field as a situational player playing alongside Jaylon Smith. When Smith went down for all of 2015, Onwualu saw more playing time and gradually built himself into one of the defense’s leading tacklers and best cover-linebacker the next two years. He’s now fighting for a roster spot with the San Diego Chargers.

Rickey Jefferson — LSU

One of the schools staking claim for Defensive Back U, it takes something special to play in the Tigers’ secondary. Though Jefferson was a star receiver out of high school, Les Miles moved him to defensive back his first year in Baton Rouge. If not for an injury-ridden four years, Jefferson would have been recognized more alongside Jalen Mills and Jamal Adams.

Brian Allen — Utah

Without a reception to his name through two seasons, Allen moved positions his final two seasons only to become the height of the Utes secondary. After some growing pains in 2015, he broke out last season with four intersections and six passes defended, playing an integral role in wins over UCLA and USC.

Tony Lippett — Michigan State

Lippett came to the Spartans as a defensive back out of high school in 2011 but played receiver part-time. He closed out his college career as MSU’s go-to receiver and has since converted to cornerback with the Miami Dolphins. Despite being a top receiver his senior season, Lippett also made an impact as a part-time DB for Sparty, recording two tackles and a defended pass against Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl. Last season with the Dolphins, Lippett led the team with four interceptions.