Brandon Cisse 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for South Carolina, Cornerback

Brandon Cisse, cornerback out of South Carolina has some of the best Intangibles in the class

JT Ruhnke

Jan 15, 2026 6:36 PM EST

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Oscar Delp (4) in action against the Austin Peay Governors in the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. — Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Donavon Greene (3) tries to make a one handed catch behind South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Brandon Cisse (15) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
Year: Junior
Pro Comparison: Kyle Fuller, Darius Slay

2026 NFL Combine Results

Brandon Cisse, South Carolina, Cornerback

Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Pros of Brandon Cisse

Vertical speed is off the chart. Has the ability to accelerate and decelerate on a dime. Cisse will test out as one of the top corners in speed and agility drills. Incredible fluidity to turn hips and play the ball. Both combine to make his ball tracking at play speed some of the best in the class.
Monster in run defense as well, with 13 run stops this past season. Contributed to his run defense because of his versatile nature to line up on the boundary, slot, and at safety. Cisse’s speed really shows up in his lightning-quick release downhill. Closes gaps and muddies running lanes effectively. When Cisse hits, he hits hard and aggressively.
Instinctive, proactive defender. Able to diagnose and react as well as he is fast. Isn’t tricked by quarterbacks’ eyes when reading coverage very often. Allowed a 47.4 completion percentage on 38 targets in his lone season of SEC play.

Cons of Brandon Cisse

Slender frame that leads to less than ideal play strength on the outside. Tends to get beat by bigger bodied opponents at the top of routes and struggles to complete tackles. Cisse recorded five missed tackles in his last season with the Gamecocks, whereas he recorded just two in two seasons at NC State.
Less than ideal production from a boundary corner of his projected pedigree. Cisse recorded just two interceptions over his entire three year college career. Five of his seven pass breakups also came in the first four weeks.
Cisse’s production notably decreased as the season went on. He recorded just two run stops over the final seven games of the season, where he faced arguably tougher competition. Four of Cisse’s five missed tackles also came from Week Eight onward.

Background

A former three-star, Cisse began his collegiate career at NC State, where he played 21 games over two seasons for the Wolfpack. He then moved from ACC to SEC play by transferring to South Carolina, where he started 12 of 14 games for the Gamecocks and recorded a career high 26 tackles and his best reception percentage at a higher competition level.

Player Evaluation

Cisse has all the intangibles in the world to be the top cornerback in this year’s draft. His acceleration and closing speed can matchup with the NFL’s best instantly and his vision makes him hard to trick and is a good bet to record the fastest 40-time of any cornerback this cycle. He brings quite a bit of versatility to his game, with the ability to play both outside and inside positions. However, Cisse’s more slender frame and weaker playstrength means bigger bodied receivers can get the best of him in press-man and at the top of routes. At the end of the day, Cisse’s raw technique in man coverage and tackling needs refinement, but his raw athletic talent is too good to pass up.