Janoris Jenkins was one of the best pure cover corners I've seen in college football over the past 10 years. This kid single handedly shut down Julio Jones, A.J. Green, and Alshon Jeffrey without a single ounce of help. Along with being a dynamic return specialist.
Herbal Badger was the guy that Alabama picked on constantly during the last football game that he played. Kevin Norwood absolutely destroyed him one-on-one.
Jenkins was a little bigger and a tenth faster. He had a very, very unique ability to match up with big, physical, fast receivers that have been destroying the NFL since the moment they entered it. Sugar Possum was completely outmatched trying to cover a very pedestrian bigger receiver in Kevin Norwood.
Now, Mathieu was absolutely one of the best special teams players in the country. But he did most of his damage blitzing from the slot. If you put him in position to make plays, he can make some. But he can't hang in there downfield in coverage, especially against bigger receivers.
Janoris Jenkins is an entirely different level of player than Mathieu. There's no way I could be convinced by The Pope himself that this kid is one of the 15 best players in the draft, so I share in the stubborness.