Mansoor Delane is considered by many to be the best cornerback in this year's draft class and could be taken with a top 10 pick, adding another exciting chapter to his playing career.
But Delane's story started years ago at Archbishop Spalding High School in Maryland, where the Tigers defensive back began his playing career. Four years later, Delane still has fond memories of his time at the school and what the program did to set the foundation for his development.
"Coach Tyrone, Coach Schmitt, love those guys. Really just a college system at a young level," Delane said. "So, when I came to college, it wasn't too big for me and nothing I hadn't seen before."
Delane, who grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, began his high school career at Landon School -- a small, private school down the road in Bethesda. However, the school was more popular for its lacrosse program, and games were played on Thursdays, rather than Fridays. He transferred to Archbishop Spalding ahead of his sophomore year looking for a program that could help prepare him to be a college athlete. At the time, Archbishop Spalding posted similar records to Landon but had a more talented roster with more opportunities for exposure with college scouts.
It didn't take long for Delane to fit into the Cavaliers' culture. He grabbed two interceptions in seven games and was a full-time starter during his junior and senior years. He became a three-star prospect and received offers from the likes of Maryland, Temple, Vanderbilt and several others before committing to Virginia Tech.
Delane was an immediate contributor in Virginia Tech's program. In three seasons, he played in 33 games with 29 starts, recording 146 tackles with six interceptions. He earned Third Team All-ACC honors in 2024, leading the Hokies with four interceptions and ranking second in pass breakups. That performance is what helped him become a four-star transfer prospect and the 15th-best cornerback in his transfer class.
"The DMV has a lot of hidden talent people don't know," Delane said. "Sometimes they don't get the respect California and Texas get because we're a small state, but I think there's a lot of talent."
Delane was even more successful at LSU. He earned First Team All-SEC honors and was a unanimous First Team All-American following an 11-pass breakup, two-interception season. He ranked No. 2 in the conference in passes defensed and only allowed 13 receptions for 147 yards, resulting in just six first downs.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Delane as his second-best cornerback in the draft, while NFL.com's Lance Zierlein grades him as a Year 1 starter.
"He excels in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides," Zierlein wrote. "Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football. While he locks in on the route at times, he's rarely oblivious to the quarterback's actions, allowing him to slam catch windows shut and play the football."
Delane is not participating in drills at the combine, but he did come to Indianapolis for the interview process. On Thursday, he confirmed that he had already met with the Washington Commanders and about his skill set and what he can offer at the professional level.
And while he admitted that he grew up a Ravens fan, he also acknowledged that he had a positive meeting with Washington's coaches.
"It was great just talking to the coaches there," Delane said. "It felt like a home environment being from that area. It was great meeting them."
