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Ranking the 50 best college football players for 2016

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) celebrates with teammates after he scores a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) celebrates with teammates after he scores a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Iowa’s Desmond King and Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis are often interchangeable when talking about the Big Ten’s best defensive back. King won the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award, but Lewis looked to be a strong candidate for that and might just be ready for another impressive season after deciding to come back.

Lewis decided he had some business to take care of with Jim Harbaugh heading into his second season as the Wolverines’ head coach, so he passed up a potential first-round pick to get back to Ann Arbor, finishing his degree and potentially winning a Big Ten title — it would be Michigan’s first since 2004.

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Reigning from Detroit and attending powerhouse high school Cass Tech, Jourdan Lewis was on the radar of both Michigan and Michigan State but ultimately chose the Wolverines. Although Michigan State has sent two cornerbacks to the NFL via the first round, Lewis is paving his own path.

The senior cornerback finished with 52 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and 20 pass deflections. The kid was as locked in as they come and he was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks as well as receivers. He went toe-to-toe with Big Ten Receiver of the Year Aaron Burbridge of MSU in 2015 and it made for an epic battle.

Lewis improved his reaction tremendously from his sophomore to junior year and his break on the ball and ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes has been impeccable recently.

Next: 7. Baker Mayfield

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