Most Interesting Prospects: Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings

There’s really no reason to doubt Charles Demmings’ prospects at the NFL level.

Blessed with prototypical size (6-1, 193) and athleticism (9.1 RAS, 4.41 40-yard dash, elite traits across the board), Demmings produced excellent results across four years of FCS-level play at Stephen F. Austin. In 42 games, he intercepted nine passes and deflected another 35. On a rate basis, practically nobody in the 2026 draft class made more plays on the ball than he did. Even the tape grinders loved him; Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 80.4 for his final season of college football.

There really is no reason to doubt what he can do. Except for all the reasons to doubt what he can do.

Yes, Demmings was great in college, but he was an elite athlete playing at a small school. Elite athletes should dominate small school competition. He’s simply playing against worse competition.

He’s also pretty new to the game. The 2026 season was just his sixth consecutive year of playing football; he took up the game for the first time as a freshman in high school, took two years off, then picked it up again as a senior before playing five years of college ball. He’s still learning the game, and it’s an open question as to whether or not he’ll be able to take the next step.

It’s also an open question as to whether or not he has the skills to do so. Sure, he has the athletic ability, but, somewhat predictably, his college coaches realized what they had and played him accordingly. They did exactly what you’d expect with an elite-but-raw prospect: they gave him a simple job. That’s not to say man coverage is simple, but Demmings was primarily a press man corner in college, and that’s an anachronistic skill set in an increasingly zone-oriented NFL. It worked in college; the Stephen F. Austin staff got what they needed out of him. But is he ready to make the jump?

This dichotomy is exactly what makes Demmings interesting. You may have some motivated reasoning, but there’s good thinking to guide your reasoning on either side. You can make Demmings out to be whatever you want him to be if you’re inclined to do so, and I’m keenly interested in that process — especially since my job isn’t on the line for wasting too many draft picks on guys that I just think are neat.

But if I were in the big chair and fancied grabbing a cornerback, I’d at least have to give Demmings a look. I think there’s too much good here to ignore, especially since we’re talking about a likely Day 3 prospect here. Demmings has all the tools to succeed in the NFL. At the very least, he has all the tools to be an absolute demon on special teams. And as we bring this series to a close, it’s worth remembering that sometimes, a small role is all a player needs to be interesting.