Havon Finney

Bio

Height 6'2"
Weight 170 lbs
Hometown Chatsworth, CA
High School Sierra Canyon
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recruiting

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Class of 2026
#93 National
#24 CB
#18 State
0.9582 Rating

Scouting Report

A+
96 / 100 Ceiling 96 • Floor 88
year 1 contributor NFL Rd 3

Havon Finney Jr. is a 6-foot-2 press-man cornerback from national power Sierra Canyon who reclassified up from 2027 to 2026 and still profiles as a blue-chip prospect (4-star, top-100 composite at 0.9582, #7 CB nationally). A LSU commit since April 2025, he pairs rare length for the position with track-verified speed and four years of starting experience against an elite California schedule, giving him one of the highest ceilings of any corner in the class.

Physical Profile

Finney has prototype boundary-corner length at 6-2 with the long, loose frame coverage coordinators covet, currently a lean ~175 pounds that needs to fill out to a college playing weight of 190+. His speed is legitimate and quantified, not projected: a 10.81 personal best in the 100m as a freshman plus anchor leg on the 4x100 relay confirm sub-4.5 closing speed and the recovery gear to carry vertical routes from press alignment. The combination of height and verified top-end speed is the exact profile that lets a corner match up with the SEC's taller perimeter receivers without ceding the deep ball.

Play Style

Finney plays a physical, ball-hawking brand of corner. On film he is most comfortable in press, using his length to disrupt the release and his speed to ride routes vertically, then flashing the receiver's instincts (a product of his three-phase background) to locate and finish the football in the air. He is an aggressive downhill player who attacks the catch point and turns interceptions into return yardage, though his slighter frame currently shows up as inconsistent finishing in the run game.

Strengths

  • Elite length-plus-speed combination — 6-2 frame married to 10.81 100m speed gives him the wingspan to contest at the catch point and the recovery burst to stay over the top, a rare pairing at the position
  • Ball production and instincts — 4 INTs as a sophomore including a 90-yard pick-6 against Oaks Christian shows he tracks and high-points the ball like a receiver and turns takeaways into points
  • Battle-tested and versatile — four-year starter against one of the nation's toughest schedules, a true three-phase athlete who has played receiver and returned two punts for TDs, signaling rare ball skills, return value, and football maturity for his age

Areas to Improve

  • Functional strength and play weight — at ~175 he must add 15-20 quality pounds to hold up as a press corner against SEC receivers and to be a willing, reliable tackler in run support
  • Refinement against pro-style route trees — long-levered corners can be late out of breaks; he needs to tighten footwork and hip transition in off-coverage to avoid giving cushion on comeback and dig routes at the next level

College Projection

Reclassifying gives LSU a long, athletic developmental corner who likely redshirts or contributes on special teams as a true freshman while adding weight in a college program. With his length-speed baseline and starting pedigree, a realistic timeline is rotational/nickel-and-dime snaps by Year 2 and a starting boundary corner job by Year 3, with the ceiling to be an All-SEC-caliber cover man if the strength development hits.

NFL Outlook

Genuine NFL upside. The 6-2 frame, sub-4.5 speed, and demonstrated ball production form the exact athletic template the league values in outside corners, and his return-game ability adds positional flexibility. If he develops his frame and technique on schedule, he projects as a Day 2 draft prospect with the traits-based ceiling to climb higher; the chief swing factor is whether he adds the strength to play physical SEC-to-NFL coverage without giving up size.

Best Fit

An aggressive, press-man-heavy defense that lets him play on the boundary and use his length to challenge receivers at the line — exactly LSU's DB-factory profile. He maximizes his value in a scheme that asks corners to travel and lock down the perimeter, and his return ability is a bonus for any staff that prioritizes special-teams contributors.

Player Comparison

Christian McCaffrey Stanford • San Francisco 49ers 82% match

Both are 6'1" prospects from elite California high school programs who developed technical fundamentals and high football IQ. McCaffrey also came from Valor Christian, a premier prep program, and showed the same combination of strong academics, character, and versatility that Sierra Canyon develops in its players.