2020 Football Roster

21 Corey Straughter

  • Position Cornerback
  • Height 5-10
  • Weight 183
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Monroe, La.
  • Highschool Neville HS

Biography

All-America candidate heads into his third season as a starting cornerback, his second at field corner . . . has been named to 2020 preseason watch lists for three major national awards, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers Association of America National Defensive Player of the Year), Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s best defensive back) and Bednarik Award (Maxwell Football Club Defensive Player of the Year) . . . Preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team selection by the league’s head coaches and media panel, Phil Steele, Lindy’s, Street & Smith’s and Athlon Sports . . . rated the Sun Belt’s “Best Cover Corner” by Lindy’s . . . described as “a complete corner, who has great ball skills, outstanding tackling ability, outstanding change of direction and plays the deep ball very well … also has the knack for making big, game-changing plays,” according to ULM head coach Matt Viator . . . local product has appeared in 36 career games, including 27 consecutive starting assignments . . . already ranks among ULM’s all-time leaders in interception return yards (second with 250), pass break-ups (ninth with 19) and interceptions (15th with 9) . . . 2019 SEASON (JUNIOR):  Named All-American by both USA TODAY (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) as well as First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2019 . . . his 15 passes defended led the Sun Belt and his five interceptions tied for the league lead . . . allowed the nation’s lowest passer rating (13.5), lowest completion percentage (28.6) and fewest combined receptions for first downs and touchdowns (7) . . . his 89.9 coverage grade ranked sixth-highest among all NCAA FBS cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus . . . allowed only one touchdown reception in 2019 (came in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns) and one explosive pass play (20-plus yards; came on the opening drive of Game 11 vs. Coastal Carolina) . . . also contributed 23 tackles (18 solos, 5 assists) . . . registered three tackles and a pass break-up in the home finale vs. Coastal Carolina . . . selected to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Defensive Team of the Week three times last season: vs. South Alabama, at Texas State and vs. Georgia State . . . intercepted Arkansas State’s Layne Hatcher’s third-down pass attempt at the Warhawk 36 and returned it 22 yards to set up ULM’s game-tying touchdown (34-34) late in the third quarter; also contributed three tackles and a pass break-up against the Red Wolves . . . recorded an interception in three consecutive games (back-to-back road games at Florida State and Iowa State and the Sun Belt opener against South Alabama) . . . his interception and 25-yard return to the Texas State 2-yard line in the final 90 seconds iced ULM’s 24-14 win over the Bobcats; also recorded a career-high four pass break-ups and a solo tackle at Texas State . . . limited Memphis’ leading receiver Damonte Coxie (entered the game with 18 catches for 278 yards and TD) to just two receptions for 18 yards . . . (with the score tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter of ULM’s Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama) ended an 11-play, 62-yard drive to the Warhawk 13 by intercepting Cephus Johnson’s third-and-goal pass attempt into the end zone; added two tackles against the Jaguars . . . matched his season high with four tackles (all solo hits) to go along with an interception at Iowa State . . . changed the complexion of the game at Florida State (with ULM trailing 24-7 midway through the third quarter) by intercepting James Blackman’s first-down pass attempt along the sideline and returning it 57 yards for a touchdown; it marked his second career interception return for a score; also tallied four stops against the Seminoles . . . 2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Started all 12 games at boundary corner in 2018 . . . led the team in interceptions (2 for 116 yards) and pass break-ups (6) . . . finished with a career-best 29 total tackles (18 solos, 11 assists) . . . made two solo stops and returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter against the Ragin’ Cajuns in the regular-season finale. . . credited with four tackles each vs. Troy and at Coastal Carolina . . . recorded a career-high five tackles at Texas A&M . . . named to Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Defensive Team of the Week vs. Southeastern Louisiana . . . tallied three stops, an interception and two pass break-ups in the season opener vs. SLU . . . 2017 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2017, including starts in the last three games at boundary corner (at Auburn, vs. Arkansas State and at Florida State) . . . posted 22 total tackles (14 solos, 8 assists) and three pass break-ups . . . tied Roland Jenkins for the team lead with two interceptions (16 yards) . . . earned his first career start at Auburn and matched his season-high with four tackles . . . also produced four stops at Idaho . . . recorded three tackles and an interception at South Alabama . . . his first career interception came late in the third quarter in his home debut vs. Southern Miss . . . HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterman for Coach Mickey McCarty at Neville High School in Monroe, La. . . . helped the Tigers to a combined record of 40-2 (.952) during his prep career, including back-to-back Class 4A Championships in 2014-15 . . . earned all-state honors as a senior in 2016 after recording 30 tackles, two interceptions and six pass break-ups; also blocked a kick . . . had a season-high three pass break-ups vs. Bastrop . . . credited with six solo stops vs. Ouachita Parish . . . made three solo tackles and returned a fumble for a TD vs. Evangel Christian Academy . . . also accounted for 239 combined kick return yards as a senior . . . returned 14 punts for 161 yards (11.5 avg.) in 2016, including a 46-yard return for a touchdown vs. Grant . . . born Oct. 16, 1998 . . . majoring in psychology.

 

Statistics

Season:
2020

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 21

    2017Freshman

    Cornerback
    5'10" 165 lbs
    21
  • 21

    2018Sophomore

    Cornerback
    5'10" 165 lbs
    21
  • 21

    2019Junior

    Cornerback
    5'10" 180 lbs
    21
  • 21

    2020Senior

    Cornerback
    5'10" 183 lbs
    21