The ACC Digital Network has been gradually releasing the ACC Top 25, an annual list compiled by ACCDN that highlights some of the best players in the conference. Each day, a new player is featured. For each new player, the ACC Digital Network interviews that player’s teammates, coaches, etc.
Today’s player was cornerback Dorian Strong. Strong was listed as the 14th best player in the ACC, coming in ahead of Jasheen Davis (15), Quincy Riley (16) and Aeneas Peebles (17). Strong was the second Virginia Tech player to make the list. Notably missing was Antwaun Powell-Ryland, but it’s still possible Ryland makes the list.
In his portion of the video, head coach Brent Pry praised Strong: “Dorian Strong has tremendous skill for his position. But he is also one of the best technicians I know.”
ACC Digital Network highlighted some of Dorian Strong’s stats, the most notable of which is his completion percentage of 27.3%, which ranks him first among all cornerbacks in the FBS.
Strong also had a lot to say about his coverage: “That makes me one of the best players in the country. I’m a real lockdown corner. I feel like you can take me on with anyone anywhere on the field. I’m a man-to-man corner, I like to play man coverage, I’ll take a zone here and there, but I’m man coverage, a real fighter, and I don’t want anyone to catch a ball from me.”
Strong was a true lockdown corner last year, recording three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and allowing the lowest completion rate in the country. Strong is very reminiscent of Marlin Humphrey at his best, a corner known for not allowing completions when throwing in his direction.
Other Hokies players also had high praise for Dorian Strong. Kyron Drones, quarterback of Virginia Tech, said: “Dorian deserves to be one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the country. I’m very happy for him and I know he will give it his all this year to get to the next level.”
Antwaun Powell-Ryland said something similar: “Yeah, he’s a sure-fire cornerback, man. He works every day, perfects his craft every day and (you) should definitely see him make a splash this season.”
Strong is frankly the best man-to-man cornerback in the ACC and one of the best cornerbacks in the conference. This ranking only reinforces that, he has covered current and future NFL talent and held his own well, and Strong will surely hear his name called at the NFL Draft.
Right now, his focus is on leading the Hokies’ defense to the ACC championship title, and if Brent Pry and Chris Marve can rely on Dorian Strong, there’s no question how good the defense could be this year.
